Cornwall Iron Furnace

Cornwall Iron Furnace
Main building at Cornwall Iron Furnace
Cornwall Iron Furnace is located in Pennsylvania
Cornwall Iron Furnace
LocationRexmont Rd. and Boyd St., Cornwall, Pennsylvania
Coordinates40°16′14″N 76°24′22″W / 40.27056°N 76.40611°W / 40.27056; -76.40611
Area175 acres (71 ha)
Built1742; 282 years ago (1742),
shutdown 1883; 141 years ago (1883)
ArchitectPeter Grubb
NRHP reference No.66000671[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPNovember 13, 1966
Designated NHLDNovember 3, 1966[3]
Designated PHMCAugust 1, 1948 and June 1, 2005[2]

Cornwall Iron Furnace is a designated National Historic Landmark that is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission in Cornwall, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The furnace was a leading Pennsylvania iron producer from 1742 until it was shut down in 1883. The furnaces, support buildings and surrounding community have been preserved as a historical site and museum, providing a glimpse into Lebanon County's industrial past. The site is the only intact charcoal-burning iron blast furnace in its original plantation in the western hemisphere. Established by Peter Grubb in 1742, Cornwall Furnace was operated during the Revolution by his sons Curtis and Peter Jr. who were major arms providers to George Washington. Robert Coleman acquired Cornwall Furnace after the Revolution and became Pennsylvania's first millionaire. Ownership of the furnace and its surroundings was transferred to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1932.

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ "PHMC Historical Markers". Historical Marker Database. Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  3. ^ "Cornwall Iron Furnace". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on October 7, 2012. Retrieved July 2, 2008.