People Exhibits
The last generation of Lukens Steel workers was invited to tell their stories and
have their portraits taken. In the background are the oldest sections of the mill,
which are now in disuse, filled with dusty steel shavings and now quiet motors from
a bygone time of steel making.
This iron and steel Hall of Fame reveals a sampling of those inventors, engineers,
investors, and owners. These men and women had some of the greatest influence on the
iron and steel industry over the last few centuries.
John S. Worth & William P. Worth are the 2024 Hall of Fame inductees.
The Rebecca Lukens Award was established by the Graystone Society to honor individuals
who exhibit the qualities of Rebecca Lukens: resilience, leadership, courage, and
strategic outlook.
The heat, the danger, the long hours, and the low pay made the steel industry a tough
place to work. Explore the people, technology, and events that shaped the industry
we know today.
The Rebecca Lukens story has been the subject of many articles and presentations,
including a DuPont “Cavalcade of America” national radio production in
which she was portrayed by Helen Hayes. Rebecca’s life resonates on many levels
— as a mother, an entrepreneur, a female business owner, and an influence in
industry. Her story reflects the growth and values of nineteenth-century
America. In her honor and in recognition of those values, in 2007, the Graystone Society
began presenting the Annual Rebecca Lukens Award Presentation. This is her story...
In November 2012, The National Iron & Steel Heritage Museum took ownership of
the entire personal collection of industrial artist Klaus Grutzka.