NPS Website; Local Website
WHAT IS IT?Typical rural American 19th Century Iron Plantation. Includes working farm, blast furnace, blacksmith shop, carriage house, ironmaster’s mansion and other representative structures.
BEAUTY (3/10)
Pleasant combination of rural and industrial. Very Pennsylvanian. Grass, rolling hills, forest, farmland. Ugly pre-fab Visitor Center.
HISTORICAL INTEREST (7/10)
Hopewell Furnace is unique because it is very typical. It is a valuable example of the many furnaces that brought the United States into the early Industrial Revolution.
CROWDS (8/10)
There weren’t many people there. We hope it was only because of the cold and blustery weather.
EASE OF USE/ACCESS (3/5)We thought the park was going to be right off the turnpike exit. It wasn’t. The circuitous route was aided by very helpful brown National Park Service directional arrows at every bend,
CONCESSIONS/BOOKSTORE (2/5)
No food. A good selection of books, including a first-rate National Parks Publication focusing only on Hopewell Furnace.
COSTS (3/5)
There is a $4 entrance fee to the Historical Site. Hiking at the surrounding State Park is free.
RANGER/GUIDE TO TOURIST RATIO (5/5)
The three Rangers that we saw were more than helpful and quite accessible to the sparse crowd. Bonus points because they live on site and take care of the livestock. The chickens, they say, are the most difficult.
TOURS/CLASSES (7/10)Lively audio commentary in the walking tour. Informative film. I learned what a blast furnace is. Audio commentary focuses on first person testimony of the occupations they would have had in the Village. Might need to ask the Rangers to break the surface level of information and for further clarification.
FUN (5/10)
We would have had more fun if it had been warmer. In general Hopewell Furnace is not a place where the word fun jumps out. It’s primarily a learning experience and a nice exercise for one’s imagination. Hiking in the neighboring State Park can be a very calming.
WOULD WE RECOMMEND? (5/10)
If one lives in the surrounding areas, or is traveling nearby, I would highly recommend a trip to this historical snapshot. Just come when it’s warmer so spend more time outside and enjoy the rural-industrial charm.
TOTAL 48/80
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