Brierfield Furnace

Brierfield Furnace is a 486-acre industrial complex along the Little Cahaba River in Alabama. The site contains several stone and brick furnaces plus building foundations that show how the operation was laid out.

The facility started as a private iron factory in the 1800s but was bought by the Confederacy in 1863 and converted into a war production facility. Union troops destroyed the operation in 1865 and ended manufacturing there.

The site shows how iron production worked in the 1800s and what techniques workers used at that time. The ruins tell the story of industrial labor during this era and how people made iron using fire and stone.

The site is open today as Brierfield Ironworks Historical State Park with hiking trails and camping areas for exploring the ruins. Visitors should bring sturdy shoes and water since the terrain is uneven and offers little shade.

During its time as a war facility, the blast furnace produced about 25 tons of iron per day, making it one of the most important factories for the Confederacy. This output was remarkable for a single operation and shows how powerful production was back then.