For decades the Mon Valley has been divested in, trades jobs and facilities abandoned, meanwhile everyday people still need care and support systems for a prosperous life. Your support is an investment in our shared future in the gateway to the Mon Valley. 

Through sustained partnerships, programs such as the Metal Arts at Carrie Blast Furnaces have provided countless opportunities to craftspeople of all skill levels – from novice to expert alike.  In July, Rivers of Steel Metal Arts, Maintenance, and Archives staff along with the Workforce Development program students had the opportunity to learn traditional Hot Riveting from Vernon Messler at the AC Powerhouse. Messler is one of few experts left in the country and has over forty years experience working as an adjunct welding instructor at Lansing Community College. There he created two welding courses for the two-year welding program and has taught basic and advanced welding, print reading for welders, and creative welding courses for artists. Over the years metal workshops and arts facilities have dwindled. Establishing partnerships like this with Vernon Messler are integral and critical to preserving these skills and spaces. 

At the turn of the 20th century hot metal riveting was industry standard and the strongest way to form a bond in structures including buildings and bridges alike. By the 1960s rivets were phased out for mass-produced, high-strength bolts which are still used to this day. Being conservators of Carrie Blast Furnaces, a historic national landmark, means we are held to high standards and expectations of maintaining a magnificent moment in time. While this is an honor that we hold with reverence it comes with a significant cost. Our facilities maintenance and preservation teams are required to build and keep these facilities to the specifications in which they were built over a hundred years ago. For this reason, establishing a workforce development program that honors and maintains these traditions and skills is critical to preserving our past and forging our future. 

In 2023 we launched the Workforce Development program and currently host 4 students for a nine-month period in a learn and earn model of teaching. This means students are hosted with Rivers of Steel staff and industry partners for 30 hours a week and are paid $20 an hour. Students are exposed to a variety of industry trades including masonry, carpentry, and welding, with a focus on traditional methods used in the repair and restoration of historic industrial structures and buildings. We incorporate tool safety, construction mathematics, safety training, project management, historic materials science, and preservation tenets, all while allowing students to apply what they learn on active worksites, restoring historic structures in our community. 

Join us in weaving a tight knit community that keeps craft and industry skills alive for generations to come. Support our Workforce Development Program by donating to Rivers of Steel with an end of year gift.

On Thursday, October 16, 2025, in front of a crowd gathered at the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale, Preservation Pennsylvania presented August R. “Augie” Carlino with the F. Otto Haas Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Historic Preservation—a fitting recognition for a lifetime spent in service to place, memory, and revitalization.

For more than 40 years, Augie Carlino has stood at the crossroads of history and progress. His vision transformed what might have been forgotten industrial ruins into living, breathing sites of heritage, community, and creative energy. As the founding president and CEO of Rivers of Steel, Carlino led the effort to save the Carrie Blast Furnaces National Historic Landmark, expand the Steel Industry Heritage Task Force into a nationally recognized model of industrial heritage preservation, and help generate more than $90 million in annual economic impact for southwestern Pennsylvania.

Carlino’s influence goes far beyond regional boundaries. He played a pivotal role in shaping the network of National Heritage Areas across the country, helping to elevate heritage as a driver of economic renewal, civic identity, and cultural pride. His advocacy in preservation policy, governance, and funding—across political lines—has made him a respected figure among both preservationists and civic leaders.

The F. Otto Haas Award, first established in 1987 by Preservation Pennsylvania, honors individuals whose work in historic preservation spans decades and leaves a lasting legacy. In selecting Carlino, the organization recognized not only his past achievements, but his ongoing commitment to mentoring, advising, and advancing the field.

A Legacy of Place, Purpose, and People

Augie’s journey began in public service—on Capitol Hill and in advocacy—but it was in Pittsburgh that his greatest impact took shape. His work with the Steel Industry Heritage Task Force, launched in 1990, laid the foundation for Rivers of Steel’s mission: to protect, interpret, and revitalize industrial landscapes. Under his leadership, Rivers of Steel became a bridge between heritage and community, preserving structures like the Carrie Blast Furnaces while also creating space for art, workshops, education, and economic activity.

His many honors—including induction into the Pennsylvania Heritage Hall of Fame and the Senator H. John Heinz Award for Community Service—reflect a career that blends bold vision and quiet stewardship. Even in semi-retirement, Augie continues to contribute through Acorn Hill Strategies, consulting, mentoring, and supporting preservation and heritage organizations across the country.

What This Means for Rivers of Steel and for You

This award underscores the deep roots of Rivers of Steel’s mission and the importance of our ongoing work: maintaining the integrity of industrial sites, opening doors for artists and makers, offering workshops and tours, and connecting people with history in a visceral, experiential way.

Over the coming weeks through November 2, we continue to offer Industrial Tours at Carrie Blast Furnaces—the last chance this season to walk among the furnaces, hear the stories, feel their scale, and consider the people who built them. We also invite you to explore our fall workshops (some spots still open!) and upcoming events.

Please join us in congratulating Augie Carlino and celebrating what his leadership has made possible—not just for Rivers of Steel, but for the entire region’s heritage.

 “No matter where you worked at Carrie, even in the offices, you were in danger.”

The Carrie Blast Furnaces is a site of immense industrial achievement, but also a place full of stories: some historic, some unexplained.

As we edge closer to Halloween, we’re revisiting a few of those unexplained moments—and letting you decide for yourself what to believe.

One staff member, who once investigated historic sites for paranormal activity, recalls an unforgettable encounter during the Festival of Combustion in 2019. As a storm rolled in, he spotted what looked like a man in coveralls and a hard hat standing at the corner of the Stock House—arms crossed, surveying the landscape. In an instant, the figure dissipated before his eyes.

The Stock House has long been associated with unusual phenomena. Visitors have reported rocks moving on their own, dogs refusing to enter, and the faintest whispers carried on the wind—sometimes playful, sometimes protective. There have even been recordings of voices responding to questions with words like “Straub” or “water,” as if the spirits of Carrie’s workers were still among us.

We’re sharing a few of these recordings as part of our “Eerie Echoes” series:

Continue Reading Eerie Echoes at Carrie Blast Furnaces

For a limited time, becoming a Rivers of Steel member comes with an extra spark!

From September 20–30, new members will receive complimentary tickets to the Festival of Combustion 2025, happening on Saturday, October 4 at the Carrie Blast Furnaces.

• Neighbor, Individual, Dual, and Senior Memberships receive 1 free ticket.
• Family Memberships receive 2 free tickets—and remember, kids under 18 are always free at the Festival!

Your complimentary tickets will be included in your membership confirmation email, so you’ll be ready to celebrate with us.

Why Become a Member?

Rivers of Steel’s membership program is an invitation to explore the entire National Heritage Area. As a member, you’ll enjoy:

• Four free tickets for our flagship Carrie Blast Furnaces Industrial Tour
• 15% off arts workshops and specialty tours
• 10% off in our museum gift shops
• Exclusive access to members-only offers and events throughout the year

Whether you’re curious about the region’s industrial heritage, interested in hands-on metal arts, or looking to attend signature events like the Festival of Combustion, your membership opens the door to unforgettable experiences.

Membership Levels

There’s a level for everyone:

• Senior (62+) — $50
• Individual (18–61) — $75
• Dual — $100 (one adult and a guest, or one adult and one child)
• Family — $250 (two adults and children)

Plus, for our neighbors in zip codes 15120, 15218, and 15104, we’re proud to offer a Neighbor Membership at no cost, which includes all of the benefits above.

Join Today

By becoming a member, you’re helping preserve the region’s industrial history and supporting programs that bring arts and culture to our communities.

Don’t miss this limited-time offer to join Rivers of Steel and get complimentary tickets to the Festival of Combustion—Pittsburgh’s hottest fall tradition.