The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum
Scranton Iron Furnaces — 1840
Site Name: Scranton Iron Furnaces

Location: Scranton, Lackawanna County

Dates of Operation: 1840 to 1902

Owners: Scranton, Grant, & Company; Lackawanna Iron & Coal Company; Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company

Historical Significance: The Scranton Iron Furnaces were one of the earliest sites to use anthracite coal as fuel for their blast furnaces. Anthracite coal replaced charcoal as fuel by the 1840s, leading to a more efficient iron making process and better quality iron. The site was the nation’s leading producer of iron rails (T-rails) and had the largest iron production capacity in America in 1865. Remnants of 4 stone blast furnaces remain standing.