The story of southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial past is written in iron, steel, ingenuity, and the lives of the people who built the region. At Rivers of Steel, that story continues to evolve.
As a nonprofit organization and steward of some of the region’s most significant industrial landmarks, Rivers of Steel connects people to the places, processes, and people that shaped shared history. From the towering Carrie Blast Furnaces in Swissvale/Rankin to the historic Pump House in Munhall, these sites create opportunities to learn, make, discover, and imagine what comes next.
About Rivers of Steel
That work takes many forms. Guided tours bring visitors face-to-face with the scale and ingenuity of ironmaking. Hands-on arts and education programs introduce students to metalworking, environmental science, and the skilled trades. Paid workforce development opportunities give young people a chance to develop practical skills in historic preservation, welding, blacksmithing, and foundry work. Visiting artists and workshops bring new creative energy to industrial spaces built for production generations ago.
Together, these programs make industrial heritage relevant to new audiences while helping pass knowledge and skills to the next generation. They also create opportunities for people to experience the region’s history not as something distant or finished, but as a living part of their communities.
How Support Helps & Get Involved
Philanthropy makes this work possible. Contributions help support educational access, preserve historic structures and collections, bring students to Rivers of Steel sites, and sustain the programs that welcome thousands of visitors each year. A gift provides the flexibility to meet emerging needs and strengthen the organization’s work across its historic sites and educational programs.
Southwestern Pennsylvania’s industrial legacy is a remarkable resource. Its value lies not only in what it tells the community about where it has been, but in what it can make possible for the future.
A gift to Rivers of Steel helps keep that legacy active, accessible, and open to discovery.
To donate, visit RiversOfSteel.com/support.
Story and Photography by Rivers of Steel
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