Press Room

Join the Team!

Looking for a Summer Internship? Interested in being an Event Coordinator? Rivers of Steel is hiring.

Application Instructions

Please review the individual job listings for specific application instructions.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.

Rivers of Steel Announces Folk Arts Grant Opportunity

Call for applications for the 2023 – 2024 Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Homestead, PA (February 8, 2023)—Rivers of Steel is excited to announce the official call for applications for the 2023 – 2024 Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Open to folk and traditional artists from across the state of Pennsylvania, these grants provide funding over a one-year period to a partnership between a master artist and a qualified apprentice, enabling them to work together for in-depth learning that encompasses the acquisition of techniques and artistry as well as the context of the culture. Apprenticeships are offered annually in both performing and craft traditions.

Interested artists can read more about the grants guidelines and download an application here. All applications must be submitted to Dana Payne at danpayne@pa.gov by April 17, 2023.

As the Folk and Traditional Arts Partner Organization representing PA Region 14, Rivers of Steel is happy to work with artists residing in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, or Washington counties who are interested in submitting an application for this program. Artists living in counties outside of this region can find their representing organization here.

Rivers of Steel has been a PA Folk Arts partner for two decades, helping to celebrate and conserve this region’s diverse cultural heritage. This system of local and regional organizations convened under the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts forms a mutually supportive network specializing in folk and traditional arts.

Current partnership organizations, including Rivers of Steel, collectively serve 40 counties by promoting the creation and documentation of folk art; engaging the public in understanding the quality, breadth, and diversity of folk and traditional arts across the state; conducting critical discovery fieldwork in under-represented communities; and providing technical assistance for folk and traditional artists through workshops and gatherings.

About Rivers of Steel

Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Join the Team!

Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that we are hiring part-time positions for the Explorer riverboat!

Application Instructions

Please review the individual job listing for specific application instructions.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.

Pittsburgh Edition of Monopoly Available through Rivers of Steel

Homestead, PA (November 18, 2022)—Rivers of Steel is excited to share the news of a new Pittsburgh Edition of the iconic Monopoly game—complete with a square featuring the Carrie Furnaces!

The game is available for purchase in the giftshop of the Bost Building in Homestead, which serves as the Visitors’ Center for the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area. It retails for $44.99 with proceeds benefitting the Rivers of Steel Heritage Corporation.

To purchase, contact us at 412.464.4020 to reserve your gameboard and to make arrangement for pickup in Homestead. You may also stop by the Bost Building at 623 E. Eighth Avenue, Homestead, PA 15120 during regular working hours. The Bost Building will be closed November 24 and 25 in observance of Thanksgiving. Regular hours are Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Possible pickup hours extend beyond those times, but arrangments must be made in advance. If you call outside of working hours, please leave us a message and we’ll return your call as soon as possible.

About Rivers of Steel

Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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The Festival of Combustion Returns to the Carrie Blast Furnaces

After a two-year hiatus, the event expands with more activities, demonstrations, and thrills!

Homestead, PA (August 30, 2022)—Rivers of Steel’s signature event―the Festival of Combustion―will return to bring our region’s rich heritage into focus for a spectacle of flame and excitement in the only place hot enough to host it: the Carrie Blast Furnaces.

This one-of-kind extravaganza on October 8 from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. invites audiences of all ages to celebrate the industrial arts and American crafts through hands-on activities, trade demonstrations, tours, live music, fireworks, and more!

“Carrie has become ground zero for the intersection of the industrial arts and American craft that define southwestern Pennsylvania,” said Chris McGinnis, Director of Arts for Rivers of Steel. “As both a revered historical landmark and place for creative vision, the furnaces are an ever-evolving chimera of industry, culture, and nature—an experience that resonates with all who visit this special site that is so important to our region’s legacy.”

The heart of the festival takes its inspiration from the iron-making legacy of this National Historic Landmark. The metal team will be pouring iron throughout the day, and festival-goers can carve their own mold to be cast in front of their eyes! In the evening, sparks will light up the sky during a performance iron pour. The flames do not stop there: fire is integrated to artworks on display, and flame performers will keep crowds captivated throughout the day.

The Festival of Combustion goes beyond the molten iron and flames to showcase the creativity and innovation of our region’s artists, makers, and builders in a variety of ways. The day features glassblowing demonstrations, stations for welding, metal fabrication, and more.

New this year for the Festival of Combustion is the Heritage Craft Tent presented by Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey. This festival within the festival explores American heritage traditions, including the most tasty of American crafts—whiskey distilling! The team from Knob Creek will be educating participating adults on the varieties of rye whiskey. There will be the opportunity to sample spirits and to enjoy a cocktail. Blacksmithing demonstrations, live Appalachian music, and hands-on experiences with West Overton Village and the David Bradford House round out the experience under the tent!

Also, for the first time ever, visitors to the Festival of Combustion can see the Monongahela Valley like never before—far above the Carrie Blast Furnaces in the basket of a hot air balloon!  Pending good weather, tethered rides will be offered throughout the day.

Craft beer, food trucks, live music, tattoos, and a maker marketplace with regional artisans will add to the festival atmosphere.

The live music this year features the talents of all-local musicians, a rotating showcase on a single main stage located in the festival grounds, including the Bindley Hardware Company, The Moon My Twin, and World 2.

The maker marketplace will host a curated selection of the area’s most talented makers and artisans who will be selling their wares throughout the day.

For patrons looking to commemorate the event in an indelible way, tattoo artists with KSD & The Radio Room from Homestead will be offering a flash sale of Rivers of Steel- and Festival of Combustion-inspired tattoos.

Hands-on workshops allow festival-goers to experience the industrial arts and American crafts for themselves. They may try their hand with graffiti arts, carve a scratch mold to be cast during the iron pour, glaze raku-fired vases, create a Fiestaware mosaic, or join in on free kids’ zone workshops. Mini-tours of the Furnaces will be offered throughout the day.

To cap off the night, Rivers of Steel will light up the Mon Valley with a fireworks display above the Carrie Furnaces.

Free parking is available on the grounds; paid VIP parking is also an option. Tickets are $20 in advance which covers both day and evening activities, with free admission for those under 18. Live demos, marketplace admission, and workshops are included in the event ticket. Additional fees apply for the hot air balloon rides.

This event is made possible, in part, through financial sponsorship from Eaton Corporation, UPMC Health Plan, and Knob Creek Bourbon Whiskey. Additional support is provided by Pitt Ohio Supply Chain, TMS International, American Gas Lamp Works, and Jackson Welding Supply Company, with media sponsorship from Pittsburgh City Paper.

For a full schedule of activities and tickets, go to FestivalOfCombustion.com.

About Rivers of Steel

Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Join the Team!

Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that we are hiring!

UPDATE: Thank you for your interest. These positions have been filled.

Application Instructions

Please review the individual job listings for specific application instructions.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.

Join the Team!

Rivers of Steel is excited to announce that we are hiring an additional part-time captain and deckhands for the Explorer riverboat!

Application Instructions

Please review the individual job listing for specific application instructions.

Rivers of Steel is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring, transferring, promoting, terminating, paying, training, benefits or any other actions affecting employees. Rivers of Steel does not make any personnel decisions based on an employee’s race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, ancestry, marital status, veteran’s status, non-job related disability or handicap, or other prohibited criteria as these terms are used under applicable law. Rivers of Steel abides by applicable federal, state, and local laws that govern human rights in the employment process.

Rivers of Steel Announces Folk Arts Grant Opportunity

Call for applications for the 2022 – 2023 Folk & Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts

Homestead, PA (March 19, 2022)—Rivers of Steel is excited to announce the official call for applications for the 2022 – 2023 Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeship grants through the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Open to folk and traditional artists from across the state of Pennsylvania, these grants provide funding over a one-year period to a partnership between a master artist and a qualified apprentice, enabling them to work together for in-depth learning that encompasses the acquisition of techniques and artistry as well as the context of the culture. Apprenticeships are offered annually in both performing and craft traditions.

Interested artists can read more about the grants guidelines and download an application here. All applications must be submitted to Dana Payne at danpayne@pa.gov by April 18, 2022.

As the Folk and Traditional Arts Partner Organization representing PA Region 14, Rivers of Steel is happy to work with artists residing in Allegheny, Beaver, Greene, or Washington counties who are interested in submitting an application for this program. Artists living in counties outside of this region can find their representing organization here.

Rivers of Steel has been a PA Folk Arts partner for nearly two decades, helping to celebrate and conserve this region’s diverse cultural heritage. This system of local and regional organizations convened under the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts forms a mutually supportive network specializing in folk and traditional arts.

Current partnership organizations, including Rivers of Steel, collectively serve 40 counties by promoting the creation and documentation of folk art; engaging the public in understanding the quality, breadth, and diversity of folk and traditional arts across the state; conducting critical discovery fieldwork in under-represented communities; and providing technical assistance for folk and traditional artists through workshops and gatherings.

About Rivers of Steel

Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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Rivers of Steel Awards Eight Mini-Grants

Funding for local nonprofits provides $60,000 for heritage tourism,
community development, and placemaking initiatives

Homestead, PA (March 10, 2022)—Rivers of Steel recently awarded $60,000 to eight nonprofit organizations within the eight-county region of southwestern Pennsylvania that the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area represents.

Rivers of Steel Heritage Area’s Mini-Grant Program assists heritage-related sites and organizations as well as municipalities within the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area to develop new and innovative programs, partnerships, exhibits, tours, and other initiatives.

Funded projects support heritage tourism, enhance preservation efforts, involve the stewardship of natural resources, encourage outdoor recreation, and include collaborative partnerships. Through these efforts, Rivers of Steel seeks to identify, conserve, promote, and interpret the industrial and cultural heritage that defines southwestern Pennsylvania.

Mini-Grants were awarded to:

Battle of Homestead Foundation, $4,881, for an archival project that includes the acquisition, digital conservation, and publication of the organization’s digital and physical assets to support community outreach.

Brownsville Perennial Project, $12,000, for the creation of a public greenspace in downtown Brownsville that supports recreation, community gathering, and a strengthened connection to businesses, historic tourist sites, and riverfront amenities.

Dragon’s Den, $6,500, for the restoration of an architectural model of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Homestead, crafted in 1895 by architect Frederick Sauer; the project will support heritage conservation and tourism efforts by showcasing the structure that was destroyed by fire in 1936.

Great Allegheny Passage Conservancy, $5,129, for a storytelling campaign that will capture first-person narratives among stakeholders in the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area and near the Great Allegheny Passage and will encourage tourists to explore the region’s recreational assets.

Kelly Strayhorn Theater, $6,490, for equipment upgrades and backstage renovations that will enhance the Producing Partners program, which supports local producers of diverse productions.

Fort Pitt Museum / Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, $5,000, for educational programming that is created in collaboration with federally recognized Indigenous American tribes historically present in western Pennsylvania to share their history and culture.

Society to Preserve the Millvale Murals of Maxo Vanka, $10,000, to complete conservation of the St. Francis and St. Clare murals, further refine the treatment plan for the next seven murals, and increase public accessibility to these nationally significant artworks.

West Overton Village and Museums, $10,000, for wayfinding and wayside signage that will allow for a more interactive and educational experience for guests.

The Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area is one of twelve supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). Funding is provided via DCNR’s Community Conservation Partnerships Program and the Environmental Stewardship Fund to Rivers of Steel, which administers the Mini-Grant Program.

As part of its ongoing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts, Rivers of Steel gave special consideration to black- or minority-led organizations and organizations that serve a majority BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of color) audience and communities. Rivers of Steel is committed to working with organizations who share our long-held belief in diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion and is committed to fighting systemic racism and discrimination against people of color.

About Rivers of Steel

Founded on the principles of heritage development, community partnership, and a reverence for the region’s natural and shared resources, Rivers of Steel strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.

Rivers of Steel showcases the artistry and innovation of our region’s industrial and cultural heritage through its historical and 21st-century attractions―offering unique experiences via tours, workshops, exhibitions, festivals, and more. Behind the scenes, Rivers of Steel supports economic revitalization—working at the grassroots level to deepen community partnerships, promote heritage tourism, and preserve local recreational and cultural resources for future generations.

About the Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area

This eight-county region is one of 55 National Heritage Areas designated by the U.S. Congress and one of 12 State Heritage Areas. A National Heritage Area is a place of national significance to America. For Rivers of Steel, Congress recognized the industrial and cultural heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania. Through a public-private partnership with the National Park Service and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Rivers of Steel supports heritage conservation, heritage tourism, and outdoor recreation as a means to foster economic redevelopment and enhance cultural engagement.

Contact Carly McCoy at 412.464.4020, ext. 243 or by emailing cmccoy@riversofsteel.com.

Rivers of Steel   |   The Bost Building, 623 East Eighth Ave, Homestead PA 15120

riversofsteel.com

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