Tredegar Iron Works
Tredegar Iron Works (historic), Richmond, Virginia
Tredegar Iron Works on the James River in Richmond, Virginia, was chartered in 1837 and grew under Joseph Reid Anderson from 1841. During the Civil War it was the leading ordnance foundry of the Confederacy, making most Confederate armaments as well as locomotives and the iron plating for the CSS Virginia. The company left the site in 1958, and Tredegar is now part of the American Civil War Museum.
- Company
- Tredegar Iron Works (historic)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1837
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Steel and metals
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Former ironworks that made artillery, iron plating for the CSS Virginia and steam locomotives.
Facts
| Chartered | Chartered in 1837 and named for the ironworks at Tredegar in Wales; Joseph Reid Anderson took over in 1841 (state: dhr.virginia.gov) |
|---|---|
| Civil War | The leading ordnance foundry of the Confederacy; its gun foundry produced most Confederate armaments (state: dhr.virginia.gov) |
| Left the site | The company declined to a small local concern and left the site in 1958 (state: dhr.virginia.gov) |
| Landmark | Listed on the National Register on July 2, 1971 and as a National Historic Landmark on November 11, 1971 (state: dhr.virginia.gov) |
| Today | Part of the American Civil War Museum (state: dhr.virginia.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
We haven't found a public tour of this factory. See factory tours in Virginia.
Sources
- Virginia DHR: Tredegar Iron Works (state, checked November 12, 2026)
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