Carrie Furnace
Carrie Blast Furnace Number 6 and 7
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File:CFJan3rd2007 021.jpg | |
Carrie Furnace
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Location | Northern side of the Monongahela River 0.5 miles west of the Rankin Bridge in Munhall, Rankin, and Swissvale |
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
Area | 0 acres (0 ha) |
Built | 1884 |
NRHP Reference # | 06001070[1] |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | September 20, 2006 |
Designated PHLF | 1989[2] |
Carrie Furnace is a derelict former blast furnace located along the Monongahela River in the Pittsburgh area industrial town of Rankin, Pennsylvania. It had formed a part of the Homestead Steel Works. The Carrie Furnaces were built in 1884 and they operated until 1982. During its peak, the site produced 1000 to 1250 tons of iron per day.[3] All that is left of the site are furnaces #6 and #7, which operated from 1907 - 1978,[4] along with the hot metal bridge.
The site on which it stands may be developed into a historic parklet, the Homestead Works National Park, with Carrie Furnace forming an attraction. In May 2015, the summer reality TV show American Ninja Warrior filmed in Carrie Furnace.
Location: | Size: | Features: | Owner: | Current Use | Past Use: | Contaminants: | Total Actual Cost |
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Allegheny County, PA | 168 Acres | Large Parcel, Flat Land, and Riverfront Location | Allegheny County | Vacant Land | Blast furnace | PCBs, Sulfates | $70–$100 million to convert Carrie Furnace #6 & #7 into a Steel Heritage Museum and Allegheny County has projected that the environmental clean-up would cost between $3–$5 million |
Contents
History, topography, and environmental concerns
The table portrays the history of Carrie Furnace. Carrie Furnace is located along the Monongahela River, with 135 acres located on the north bank of the river and 33 acres on the south bank. The site, however, is not readily accessible as it is enclosed by railroad tracks. The surrounding areas include Rankin, Swissvale, Whitaker, and Munhall. After the Park Corporation purchased the site from U.S. Steel in 1988, both parties agreed to address the environmental concerns. In 2005, Allegheny County purchased the land from Park Corps. for $5.75 million.[3] Underground fuel storage tanks were removed in 1994 along with two above ground fuel storage units. In addition, asbestos from the buildings was removed. The soil was contaminated with PCBs and sulfates. Environmental assessment of the site has been conducted in two phases. The first phase was completed in 2007 and the second is currently underway.
1881 | 1892 | 1898 | 1901 | 1978 | 1988 | 2005 | 2006 |
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Carrie Furnace is built | Homestead Strike | Site purchased by Andrew Carnegie | Incorporated into U.S. Steel | Shutdown | Sold to Park Corporation | Sold to Allegheny County for $5.75 million | Furnaces 6 and 7 were designated a National Historic Landmark[1][3] |
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Monongahela River and Pinkerton's Landing Bridge in foreground
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CRW 4839.jpg
A View on the Hot Blast Stoves
Future development
Partners in the redevelopment of Carrie Furnace include Allegheny County, several nearby municipalities, and the Steel Industry Heritage Council. These organizations seek to preserve the remaining industrial structures while utilizing the site for economic development. The redevelopment plan is mixed-use as it contains plans for commercial and residential development, as well as light industrial manufacturing.[5] Housing, office buildings, a hotel, a conference center, transportation center, and a museum are included in the plan. For example, the hot metal rail bridge that connected Carrie Furnace to Homestead Works is to be converted into an automobile bridge, which will allow access to the site. The bridge also connects the site to the Waterfront – a retail development across the Monongahela River.[3] Additionally, the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corp. is working with Allegheny County on establishing a museum about the history of steel centered on the two blast furnaces still standing on the site.[6]
References
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carrie Furnace. |
- Travel Channel video 1
- Travel Channel video 2
- Carrie Furnaces Rivers of Steel Heritage page
- Big Steel Photographs - B&W Photos of the Carrie Furnace
- Library of Congress Archival Photos of Carrie Furnaces
- Flickr Carrie Furnace Group
- Post Gazette article
- Post Gazette Tour
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- Pages with broken file links
- Pages with reference errors
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Ironworks and steel mills in Pennsylvania
- Industrial buildings and structures in Pennsylvania
- Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
- Buildings and structures in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Visitor attractions in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Industrial buildings completed in 1884
- Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation Historic Landmarks
- National Historic Landmarks in Pennsylvania
- Blast furnaces
- Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area
- U.S. Steel
- Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania