Carrie Furnace

Carrie Furnace is a blast furnace complex in Swissvale, Pennsylvania. The two preserved structures rise roughly 140 feet above the Monongahela River and retain their working platforms and pipework along the waterfront.

The facility began operating in 1907 and supplied molten pig iron to steel mills across the river for decades. The furnaces shut down permanently in 1978 and gained National Historic Landmark status in 2006.

The site takes its name from the wife of a steel magnate and belonged to a company town with its own shops and schools. Tours today show worker life through preserved tools and protective gear displayed throughout the facility.

Access is by guided tour only through the managing heritage organization, as active railroad tracks cross the grounds. Sturdy footwear is needed because of uneven surfaces and stairs linking different levels of the facility.

Several feature films and television series used the rusted steel frames as backdrops for action scenes and post-apocalyptic settings. Some of the original equipment was moved to other museums, while the heavy casting machines remain in place.

Location: Allegheny County

Part of: Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

Website: https://riversofsteel.com/attractions/carrie-furnaces

GPS coordinates: 40.41308,-79.89008

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30