Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Pennsylvania Lock Haven Farrandsville Iron Furnace
AO Edited

Farrandsville Iron Furnace

This abandoned iron furnace was one of the first to use coke—a type of high-carbon fuel—to make iron.

Lock Haven, Pennsylvania

Added By
tatianac9816
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Farrandsville Iron Furnace   Ruhrfisch
Farrandsville Iron Furnace   Ruhrfisch
Farrandsville Iron Furnace  
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Farrandsville iron furnace constructed in 1837 stands 54 feet tall and is composed of sandstone. It is one of the largest iron furnaces in the United States and a beautiful example of stone construction. 

This furnace was one of the first in America to use the "hot blast" iron technique, with pipes imported from Scotland for that purpose. This technique improved furnace capacity by shooting preheated air into the furnace which increased the temperature. It's also one of the first to use coke, made from bituminous coal, as a source for ironmaking. At its peak, the furnace could produce 50 tons of iron a week and was only exceeded by Lonaconing Furnace in Maryland. 

Unfortunately, the nearest supply of iron ore was over 100 miles away. Even the addition of the West Branch Canal was not enough to save the furnace and it closed in 1838, never to smelt again. A brickworks operated on the site until 1925. The furnace was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1991. 

Related Tags

Architecture History & Culture History Abandoned

Community Contributors

Added By

tatianac9816

Edited By

jonathancarey

  • jonathancarey

Published

July 13, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://gis.penndot.gov/CRGISAttachments/SiteResource/H079071_01H.pdf
Farrandsville Iron Furnace
2791 Hazard Rd
Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, 17745
United States
41.174812, -77.514439

Nearby Places

Penn's Cave

Spring Mills, Pennsylvania

miles away

Thomas Pursell’s Escape Burial Hatch

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wildwood Cemetery and Crematorium

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

United States

Places 417
Stories 28

Nearby Places

Penn's Cave

Spring Mills, Pennsylvania

miles away

Thomas Pursell’s Escape Burial Hatch

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

miles away

Wildwood Cemetery and Crematorium

Williamsport, Pennsylvania

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania

United States

Places 417
Stories 28

Related Places

  • Granary in Jankowo up close

    Jankowo, Poland

    Walter Gropius's 1906 Spichlerz

    A Bauhaus co-founder designed this quirky, abandoned granary.

  • Sethi House Complex

    Peshawar, Pakistan

    Sethi House

    A rare instance of a historical Peshawari mansion restored and opened to the public.

  • Remains of the flume supports

    Naples, Utah

    Dry Fork Flume Site

    This hiking trail is scattered with the remains of a failed attempt to provide water to farmers in Dry Fork Canyon.

  • Hall of Edification

    Tainan City, Taiwan

    Tainan Confucius Temple

    The first Confucian temple in Taiwan, founded by the son of a pirate lord, doubled as the island's first state-sponsored school.

  • View of the Majestic, from a bridge

    Singapore

    The Majestic Theatre

    The elaborate façade of this old Cantonese opera house celebrates the building's history and the love story that founded it.

  • Velha Goa, India

    The Arch of Conception

    One of the few surviving gates into Old Goa, the former capital of Portuguese India.

  • New Port Richey, Florida

    Richey Suncoast Theatre

    This historic silent film-era theater is now a community playhouse with a chilling visitor.

  • Velha Goa, India

    Gate of St. Paul's College

    All that remains of a 16th-century Jesuit school is this carved, worn gate.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.