The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
Carrie Furnaces — 1880s, 1907
Site Name: Carrie Furnaces

Location: Rankin, Allegheny County

Dates of Operation: 1880s to 1978

Owners: Homestead Works; Carnegie Steel Company; United States Steel

Historical Significance: The Carrie Furnaces, a group of blast furnaces operated by the Homestead Works, produced a significant portion of Pennsylvania’s iron. Built in 1907, Carrie Furnaces 6 and 7 set world records in iron production in the 1950s and 1960s with 1000 - 1250 tons a day. When they shut down in 1978, they produced about 2,500 tons a day. Carrie Furnaces 6 and 7 still stand today as rare examples of pre-WWII furnaces. They are on the National Register of Historic Places, and plans exist to stabilize and renovate them for visitation.