Artistry. Industry. Innovation.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial and cultural heritage by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Experience Rivers of Steel
A group of tourists in hard hats walk through the ore yard with the Carrie Blast Furnaces behind them.
A multigeneration family tours the machine shop as a guide demonstrates how a machine works.
A woman with a long brown ponytail in a t-shirt takes a photo of a colorful mural.
A multicultural group shows off their aluminum doodle bowls.
A adult woman of Asian decent places her project in the forge.
One black woman photographs another black woman in front of a mural reading "Black Excellence"

Things to Do

Tours, workshops, special events—there is always something fresh to do with Rivers of Steel!

Molten iron is poured from a small ladle into a two-dimensional mold.

Metal Arts Workshops

Inspired by the legacy of iron-making at the Carrie Blast Furnaces, Rivers of Steel’s Metal Arts program offers educational workshops, public demonstrations, and team-building experiences highlighting foundry work.

a cantilevered home over a stream

Explore the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

Digging into the history of southwestern Pennsylvania and sharing themed itineraries filled with museums, attractions, collections, and sites, Rivers of Steel crafted a series of articles that offer innumerable ways to explore the Heritage Area.

A sign that reads "Safety First" is flanked by a dozen hard hats hung on aluminum fencing.

Visit Safety First

Visit the Bost Building in Homestead to see the Safety First exhibition.

Attractions

Visit, learn, and experience all five of the Rivers of Steel attractions that showcase the artistry and innovation of our region’s rich heritage.

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The Explorer Riverboat

Docked on Pittsburgh’s North Shore, an excursion on Explorer offers unparalleled opportunities to experience the beauty and history of Pittsburgh from its majestic rivers.

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The Pump House

Site of the 1892 Battle of Homestead and a key part of the U.S. Steel Homestead Steel Works

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W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop

This time capsule of America’s industrial heritage embodies the “can-do” spirit of early 20th-century craftsmen.

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Carrie Blast Furnaces

A vestige of Pittsburgh’s 20th-century domination of the steel industry

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The Bost Building

The Bost Building serves as the Visitors’ Center for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area and offers exhibits on the region’s industrial and cultural heritage.

Two women look up at the Carrie Furnaces

Public Notice

| Press Room | No Comments
Public Notice Regarding the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Section 106 Review of the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation, Restoration of Carrie Furnaces Stove Deck, Stock House, and Trestle of…
A yellow sunset softly illuminates the stack and stoves of the Carrie Furnaces with an Ore Bridge spanning the foreground of the image.

Catch Up with Rivers of Steel

| Newsletters | No Comments
Rivers of Steel Recent Newsletters You can stay up to date with all the fresh news and stories from Rivers of Steel when you sign up for our biweekly newsletter. …

Traditional Trades Workforce Development Program

| Blog, Getting to Know, Historic Preservation, Partners for Creative Economy | No Comments
Trainees Kiersten Lapen and Nathan Swiech pictured with Ron Baraff, Director of Historic Resources and Facilities First Cohort in the Traditional Trades Workforce Development Program Begins Rivers of Steel is…