Saturday, June 15, 2024

A scene from a previous Iron Casting Spectator Event.

Yes, temperatures are forecast to reach the mid-90s next week, but we're looking forward to another type of heat—the glow of molten iron from our first public iron pour event of the season. You don't have to wait until the Festival of Combustion this fall to have an authentic experience centered on creation of iron at the Carrie Blast Furnaces; join us for our Iron Casting Spectator Event on June 29! It's a scaled-down version of what was produced onsite for nearly 100 years.

And if you are looking to be actually immersed in the experience, you can join in the Intro to Iron Casting or the Weeklong Iron Intensive workshops. You'll create molds that will be cast during the event and have the option to be an apprentice as part of the metal pour crew.

Of course, safety and safety equipment are paramount in the iron-pouring process, just as it was during the era of Big Steel. Our newest exhibition at the Bost Building—Safety First—invites you to experience what workers were exposed to on a daily basis to ensure their safety and promote an accident-free environment in the workplace. It includes manuals, posters, signs, personal protection devices, artifacts, and more!

Speaking of the mills, did you know each mill had its own ethnographic mix of workers? At Carrie, during years of the Great Migration and afterwards, their workforce had the highest concentration of emigrants from the South. One of our speciality tours, The Black Experience at the Carrie Furnaces explores this journey, from the recruitment story that was told to potential workers to the generational experience for their families. Offered each Sunday this June, you won't want to miss this tour opportunity!

Another opportunity at Carrie is the experience of being a volunteer . . . and we are thrilled to share our volunteer crew's most recent accomplishment—the restoration of the Unity Railways caboose! Take a moment to read about the restoration process and how this collections object will aid interpretation.

Other upcoming opportunities in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area include FriendsFest '24, a member-appreciation event by Friends of the Riverfront and the Gledaj Sketching Sessions offered by the Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka.

Stay hydrated, and we hope to see you soon!

A crew of volunteers poses with the Unity Railways Caboose 53A that they restored.

FEATURED STORY

The Historic Preservation of the Unity Railways Caboose 53A

With the help of a dedicated team of volunteers—and a donation from a longtime community partner—a second railroad car has been restored at the Carrie Blast Furnaces. The caboose will help interpret the relationships between local railways and the mills, and also share the specific stories about a short line operation and small mining communities in eastern Allegheny County.

FEATURED TOUR

The Black Experience at the Carrie Furnaces

Sundays in June, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces

Join Rivers of Steel this summer for a special tour of the Carrie Blast Furnaces that connects the landmark with the legacy of the Great Migration. This one-hour tour sifts through the history of the Carrie Furnaces through the lens of a pivotal resource—the Black migrants who traveled from the South and created a career path for themselves and future generations, amassing seniority and skills in some of the most difficult roles at the mill. Through the stories of changemakers like Cumberland “Cap” Posey and everyday workers like union officer John Hughey, this tour paints a picture of life inside—and outside—the mill in the twentieth century.

SPECIAL EVENT

Iron Casting Spectator Event

Saturday, June 29, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces

Heat, flame, sparks—words alone cannot encompass the excitement and awe of an iron pour event. Pictures don't do it justice either. It's an orchestrated scene of controlled combustion. Experience it for yourself on June 29! Witness a scaled down version of what took place at the Carrie Furnaces during its peak industrial era. Make a picnic out of it—you are welcome to bring your own food and beverages, and don’t forget a camp chair. 

EXHIBITION

Safety First

On view now through November 15, 2024, The Bost Building, Homestead

During the twentieth century, "Safety First" became the mantra of every aspect of life in the mill.

Reminders were found at every turn—from the locker room to the work floor, and from the meeting hall to the boardroom. Safety was paramount. Safety meant success for all. Visit this exhibition to experience what workers were exposed to to ensure their safety and promote an accident-free environment.

METAL ARTS WORKSHOP

Iron Casting Workshops

June 24 – 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., Carrie Blast Furnaces

Of all the varied experiences you can have at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, pouring hot iron is the most authentic. Develop the skills to become part of the metal arts crew, or simply focus on creating molds to have your handiwork cast during the culminating iron pour event. Intro to Iron Casting offers a chance to explore the process, while the Weeklong Iron Intensive offers a more immersive experience.

THINGS TO DO IN THE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

Support Rivers of Steel's work in communities throughout the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. Your tax-deductible contribution will help champion community collaborations and ensure that Rivers of Steel can continue to offer vital, engaging, community-based arts, education, and heritage programs for the residents of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond.

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