Rivers of Steel Preserves History and Expands Knowledge

By Layla Joseph

Whether you are a tourist or a townie there is always more to learn about southwest Pennsylvania. Rivers of Steel is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1992 to honor the region’s culture after the death of the steel mills.

According to their website, Rivers of Steel “strengthens the economic and cultural fabric of western Pennsylvania by fostering dynamic initiatives and transformative experiences.”

The organization hosts a variety of workshops, tours, internships, festivals and exhibitions in addition to their five attractions in the area.

Sticking to their roots, they offer a variety of metal arts workshops with holiday specials, teaching interested community members the craft. Learn how to sculpt aluminum casting, the basics of iron casting, bladesmithing and other valuable skills. Other workshops include graffiti arts and photography tours.

Along with the nonprofit, is the Rivers of Steel National Heritage area, which was recognized by Congress in 1996. The National Heritage area preserves an important period in the development of the nation.

The Rivers of Steel National Heritage area includes eight counties, all of which played their part, progressing the industrial movement in the 1900s.

In addition to their unique workshops, Rivers of Steel manages five attractions around the Pittsburgh area.

The Bost Building is a national historic landmark, according to Rivers of Steel’s website. The building that was originally a hotel, was built in 1892 and sat in the middle of the Homestead Lockout and Strike.

Since 2002, the building has served as the Rivers of Steel National Heritage area’s welcome center and hosts exhibits that carry-on the cultural and industrial legacy of the region's heritage.

Carrie Blast Furnaces, in Rankin, Pa. is a fraction of what it once was, serving as a reminder of the steel industry’s impact on the history of our community. According to Rivers of Steel’s website, Carrie Furnaces six and seven are the only non-operative blast furnaces left in the region.

Carrie Furnaces hosts a variety of the workshops put together by Rivers of Steel as well as tours that highlight the site’s old-time technology, the garden and the grounds.

The Explorer is a riverboat that will take you on a cruise down the three rivers that flow through the city. The Uniquely Pittsburgh Sightseeing Tour allows you to spend 90 minutes enjoying the sites of the city from the Ohio, Monongahela and Allegheny River. The tours have extended their hours just in time for summer, allowing people to tour Pittsburgh from a new perspective for $25 per person and special deals for college students, seniors, and children.

The Pump House, which also originated in 1892, is located in Munhall, Pa., and was founded by the Carnegie Steel Company and is preserved by Rivers of Steel and holds its relevance because of the Battle of Homestead. It now serves as an entertaining trail for walking and riding, with historical artifacts along the route.

Located in Rices Landing, W.A. Young and Sons Foundry and Machine Shop and hosts guided tours on Sunday afternoons as well as group tours, and the Hammer-In Festival that takes place in April every year.

Rivers of Steel melts history and entertainment into solid experiences, hosting a number of events and workshops throughout the year.