The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
Durham Furnace — 1727
Site Name: Durham Furnace

Location: Durham Township, Bucks County

Dates of Operation: 1727 to 1791 

Owners: William Allen, James Logan, and Joseph Galloway; George Taylor

Historical Significance: When the colonial government took over the site, Durham Furnace was transformed into a munitions factory for the Revolutionary War. The site produced cannon, shot, and the “Durham Boat”. Although the boats were designed to carry natural resources and goods, George Washington and 2,400 men crossed the Delaware River in December 1776 on forty of these boats.