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Hopewell Furnace National Historic SiteThe Cast House covered with a blanket of snow.
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Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Things To Do

Visitor Center:   First stop should be at the park's Visitor Center.  Inside are museum exhibits, restrooms, a bookstore, audio-visual programs and staff who can inform and orient visitors to the site.      

Self-Guided Tour: Visitors can take a self-guided walking tour of the historic furnace community, enter its many buildings and visit the animals on the farm.  

Living History Programs and Demonstrations:  Programs are presented during summer months and during special events at other times of the year.

Picnic:  Eat under the trees in the park's  picnic area or spread out a blanket in the historic apple orchard.

Hike: Walk the many miles of blazed trails and historic roadways that travel through Hopewell and neighboring French Creek State Park.

Watch Wildlife: Enjoy bird watching, deer watching or looking for some of the more reclusive animal species that reside in the park.  

Become a Junior Ranger:  Children may participate in the park's Junior Ranger Program. Each child receives a booklet in which they answer questions and find important items while they tour the park. Upon completion of the booklet, each child receives a Junior Ranger badge.

Pick Apples: During September and October visitors are allowed to pick from the many historic varieties of apples in the orchard. A charge is collected for the amount of apples picked.

Charcoal mound steaming and smoldering as it changes from wood into charcoal.  

Did You Know?
Early iron works depended on large stands of forests to produce their fuel. The Hopewell Furnace consumed approximately one acre of woodland (converted into charcoal) per day of iron production.

Last Updated: September 06, 2006 at 15:56 EST