Cornwall Iron Furnace

10/25/2026

On October 25, 1777, the Pennsylvania Council of Safety appointed Curttis Grubb as sub-lieutenant of Lancaster County. His main responsibility was to enforce the “Act to Regulate the Militia of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.” This law, passed on March 17, 1777, required that all white men between the ages of 18 and 53 to serve two months of militia duty on a rotating basis. Those who refused to serve were required to pay a fine, which could be used to hire a substitute.

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress

10/24/2026

Join us tonight for our evening tours! Tours depart from the Visitor Center every half hour, starting at 5:00PM. The Last hour departs at 7:00PM. Your admission includes light autumnal refreshments (while supplies last) and family-friendly fall activities offered from 4:00pm to dusk.

Price is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 3-12, and free for children ages 0-2. Members FREE

RSVPs encouraged. Call the Furnace at 717-272-9711 to reserve your spot!

10/23/2026

Ever wonder what it was like to work the night shift at Cornwall Iron Furnace? Join us tomorrow on October 24 for our evening tours to experience the furnace after dark. Tours depart from the Visitor Center every half hour, starting at 5:00PM. The Last hour departs at 7:00PM. Your admission includes light autumnal refreshments (while supplies last) and family-friendly fall activities offered from 4:00pm to dusk.

Price is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 3-12, and free for children ages 0-2. Members FREE

RSVPs encouraged. Call the Furnace at 717-272-9711 to reserve your spot!

10/22/2026

The 1992 archaeological dig focused on both the area around the Casting Room and the area near the Charcoal Barn/Visitor Center. Like in the previous dig, most of the artifacts found were iron-producing materials and waste products like charcoal, iron, and slag. They also found architectural building materials. One of the most significant finds was a fragmentary fireback pictured here.

10/21/2026

Welcome to Clash of the Collections, a lively virtual showdown wher...

10/21/2026

Curttis Grubb informed the Lancaster County Committee that Cornwall had successfully produced and tested cannon in letter dated on October 21, 1776. While the creation of the cannon was a great achievement, the cannon still needed to be transported 85 miles to Philadelphia. Because of the war, wagons and horses were scarce, so the Lancaster County Committee had to impress wagons and horses in order to transport the cannons, a journey which took about four days.

10/19/2026

Join us this Saturday for our evening tours to experience what it was like working the night shift at Cornwall Iron Furnace. Tours depart from the Visitor Center every half hour, starting at 5:00PM. The Last hour departs at 7:00PM. Your admission includes light autumnal refreshments (while supplies last) and family-friendly fall activities offered from 4:00pm to dusk.

Price is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 3-12, and free for children ages 0-2. Members FREE

RSVPs encouraged. Call the Furnace at 717-272-9711 to reserve your spot!

10/18/2026

Ann Caroline Coleman was born on October 18, 1796. As the daughter of Robert Coleman, Ann was expected to marry well like her other sisters. She caught the eye of a young lawyer James Buchannon, and the two got engaged in 1819. Although her father agreed to the engagement, he had reservations about the match and Buchannon. Ann broke off the engagement that year after James visited another woman. She went to visit her sister Margaret Hemphill in Philadelphia and was planning on attending a dance to get over the breakup. Tragically, Ann died after receiving a heavy dose of laudanum on December 9, 1819. Her death has long been surrounded by mystery and questions about whether her overdose was intentional or accidental.

10/17/2026

Missed Tuesday’s lecture “The Revolutionary War Hospital at Ephrata” by Brad Smith? Check out the recording on our YouTube channel:

In 1732, German pietists established a semi-monastic community that...

10/16/2026

Margaret Coleman Freeman Buckingham died today on October 16, 1946. Margaret was the great-granddaughter of Robert Coleman and the last Coleman to own Cornwall Iron Furnace. After its closure in 1883, Margaret and her family cared for the property, ensuring that it stayed in good condition. In 1932, she donated the property to the state of Pennsylvania in order for it to be preserved as a museum. She is buried in Laurel Hill East Cemetery in Philadelphia with other members of her family.