Washington Iron Furnace

The granite furnace stands 30 feet high on its south face, constructed against a hillside for efficient material transport by wagon along the ridge.

Colonel John Donelson established the iron works in 1773, employing four white men and six enslaved workers to operate the furnace for iron production.

The furnace changed its name from The Bloomery to Washington Iron Works in 1779 to honor George Washington during the Revolutionary War period.

The furnace processed magnetite from nearby mines, producing 160 tons of iron annually by 1836 with a workforce of 100 men.

The structure operated until 1850 when a dam burst on Furnace Creek caused water flow that cracked the hot furnace structure.

Location: Rocky Mount

GPS coordinates: 36.98690,-79.89190

Latest update: September 23, 2025 14:25