Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

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Melted iron pouring into a mold from a metal bucket.
Iron poured into sand molds to make stove plates.
Side view of Hopewell Stove in front of wagon running gear.
The most notable manufactured product Hopewell Furnace made was its stoves. They were produced by the thousands at Hopewell and other like furnaces in the early 19th century and were transported for sale by horse and wagon.
a large dirt pile with smoke coming out of the top. A park ranger scopes more dirt with a shovel.
Charcoal was the fuel used to fire Hopewell Furnace and other furnaces of its age. Thousands of bushles of charcoal were made from hardwood trees on the furnace lands and entered into the furnace to keep it "in blast."
buildings varying in size on either side of a gravel path.
A community grew around the furnace, it yielded iron and a way of life.
Photos: National Park Service

About Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

Hopewell Furnace showcases an early American landscape of industrial operations from 1771-1883, Hopewell and other iron plantations laid the foundation for the transformation of the United States into an industrial giant for the time. The park's 848 acres and historic structures illustrate the business, technology and lifestyle of our growing nation.

Plan a Visit

NPS DesignationNational Historic Site
Park State / Territory MembershipPennsylvania
Current Alerts1
Visitor Centers1
Campgrounds0
Things To Do0

Core visitor information on this page is sourced from the National Park Service. NPD proximity sections use NPS reference coordinates and straight-line distance. Local source bundle updated Sep 27, 2026. View the official NPS page.

Weather & Conditions

Summers are generally humid with daily temps. averaging 83 degrees (F) for a high and 60 degrees (F) for a low. Daily temps. in January average 38 degrees (F) for a high and 20 degrees (F) for a low. Precipitation averages 3-5 inches of rain per month during spring, summer…

NPS Reference Location

Park state / territory membership: Pennsylvania. This map uses the National Park Service reference coordinate. It may represent an administrative or reference point rather than a park entrance, trailhead, visitor center, or the nearest access point. Use the official NPS directions below when planning travel.

Operating Hours

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. On days the park is closed, its historic buildings, parking lot and visitor center are unavailable for use, but its trails (which interconnect with trails from French Creek State Park) remain open. Restrooms will remain open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on days that the park is closed between Memorial Day and Labor Day. During the rest of the year, restrooms will remain closed on days when the park is closed.

Friday9:00AM - 5:00PM
MondayClosed
Saturday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Sunday9:00AM - 5:00PM
Thursday9:00AM - 5:00PM
TuesdayClosed
Wednesday9:00AM - 5:00PM

Activities

Arts and CultureCraft DemonstrationsCultural DemonstrationsAstronomyStargazingBikingCompass and GPSGeocachingFoodPicnickingGuided ToursSelf-Guided Tours - WalkingHands-OnVolunteer VacationHikingHorse Trekking

Current Alerts

Apple Picking will not be Available for the 2026 Season.

A limited yield was expected this year but as particular varieties approached their ideal ripeness, virtually no apples were present. Learn more about the historic orchard.

Getting There

On PA Route 345, 5 miles South of Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.

View Official Directions

Contact & Address

The NPS-listed address may be an administrative office, visitor center, mailing/contact location, or other park facility rather than a park entrance.

NPS-Listed Address2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA, 19520
Phone6105828773
Emailhofu_superintendent@nps.gov

Topics & Themes

Architecture and BuildingAfrican American HeritageAmerican RevolutionArcheologyArtsBurial, Cemetery and GravesiteCommerceEnslavementFarming and AgricultureIncarcerationJails and PrisonsIndustryFactoriesMillsMiningLogging and Timber Cutting

Visitor Centers

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Visitor Center - 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520

Your first stop should be the Hopewell Furnace NHS Visitor Center where you will find staff eager to assist with your orientation to the park.…

Nearby National Park Service Sites

These sites are ordered by straight-line distance between NPS reference coordinates. This is useful for comparison, but it is not road mileage. Trails, parkways, rivers, and distributed units may extend far from their reference point.