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.

The Explorer riverboat heads up the Allegheny River, about to go under a bridge, with the Pittsburgh skyline in the background.

A multicultural group shows off their aluminum doodle bowls.

A adult woman of Asian decent places her project in the forge.

A woman with a long brown ponytail in a t-shirt takes a photo of a colorful mural.

A black mom and her daughters pose for a photo on the riverboat.

Things to Do

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

A watercolor in yellows, browns and blacks depicting a man with his shoulder back, hand on hip, directly engaging with the viewer. He is wearing a wide-brim hat, a suit coat with a white collar and tie visible beneath a sweater.

The Art of Jeannie McGuire

Visit the exhibition, People in Industry—The Art of Jeannie McGuire.

An impressionistic self portrait of a white man in a brimmed hat with a beard and mustache wearing a plaid jacket and blue shirt.

Visit Gledaj! The Gaze of Maxo Vanka

Schedule a time to stop by the Bost Building in Homestead to view the new exhibition of works from Croatian artist Maxo Vanka.

Tour guide and group look at the Carrie Blast Furnaces

Take a tour!

Discover the artistry and innovation of southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich heritage on a Rivers of Steel tour!

Special Tour—The Black Experience at the Carrie Furnaces

Learn about changemakers, laborers, and migrants on The Black Experience at the Carrie Furnaces tour.

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

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 black woman with long braids looks through binoculars across a river towards a green bank.

Birdwatching Cruise with the National Aviary

Join the National Aviary and Rivers of Steel for a birding experience like no other!

See our attractions

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.

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.

The Pump House

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

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.

Carrie Blast Furnaces

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

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.