Isabella Furnace

Isabella Furnace is an iron-making facility from the 1830s in West Nantmeal Township with original buildings that display industrial construction methods of that era. The structures include the blast furnace itself along with supporting buildings that together show how the operation worked.

The furnace was built in 1835 and was the last of its kind constructed in Chester County. The facility changed ownership and experienced phases of expansion and economic shifts across several decades.

The site reflects how iron production shaped life in this region and how local families built their wealth and influence around this industry. Visitors can see how extensive the operations were and how central this work was to the community.

The site sits on rural grounds best explored on foot to properly understand all the buildings and their layout. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and wear weather-appropriate clothing, especially if visiting after rain.

The facility was later modernized under new leadership with production capacity significantly increased, showing how technological improvements could revive older operations. Such transformations were not uncommon in Pennsylvania's industrial belt.