Hope Furnace

Hope Furnace is a sandstone blast furnace with a truncated pyramid shape located near Zaleski along State Route 278. The structure displays visible slag deposits and shows the characteristic construction of a 19th-century industrial smelting facility.

The furnace began operations in 1854 and processed local iron ore using coal and charcoal until it closed in 1874. The facility was part of Ohio's rapid industrialization and supplied molten iron to factories and construction projects.

The furnace was the heart of a working community whose residents processed ores and supplied materials for production. People organized their lives around the demands of heavy industry and deeply shaped the social fabric of the region.

The site is freely accessible and you can view the structure from the outside and examine slag deposits around the building. Historical markers on site explain the industrial processes and provide context about how the furnace operated.

Only two iron furnaces of this type remain in Vinton County which earned it a spot on the national register of historic places in 1973. This rarity makes it an important record of the area's industrial past.

Location: Ohio

GPS coordinates: 39.33194,-82.34028

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:25