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

Things to Do

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

Join Rivers of Steel for a special evening in conversation with writer Sherrie Flick. Her latest publication is a collection of autobiographical essays that traces her journey from her hometown of Beaver Falls to her cultivated home on the South Side Slopes, with time spent living on the East Coast, West Coast, and a significant stop in between. While reflecting on the experiences that shaped her, Flick offers insights on culture, characters, and place—with a special emphasis on the fabric of southwestern Pennsylvania.

Connect with Pittsburgh’s steel industry heritage on this guided tour of the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark. Tours highlight the site’s iron-making technology, its workers, and their culture.

Experience what workers were exposed to on a daily basis to ensure their safety and promote an accident free environment in the workplace.

Take a guided tour of the W.A. Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop—a National Historic Landmark in Rices Landing, Greene County!

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.

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.

Read the latest updates on Rivers of Steel and activities with our partners in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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 bikers on a converted rail road bridge with blue skies, puffy white clouds, green hills and a healthy green river.

Rivers of Steel Announces Mini-Grant Funding Opportunity

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Rivers of Steel 2024 Mini-Grant Program Applications Available Homestead, PA (October 1, 2024)—Rivers of Steel is now accepting applications for its Mini-Grant Program, which assists heritage-related sites and organizations, as…
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

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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. …
a young girl spray paints a wall

Creating Legends: Graffiti Writers of the Past, Present, and Future

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Creating Legends: Graffiti Writers of the Past, Present, and Future By Jordan Snowden At the Carrie Blast Furnaces, energy and creativity have replaced molten iron as the leading commodities supporting…