Elizabeth Furnace facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Elizabeth Furnace |
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Elizabeth Furnace in early spring
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| Location | Shenandoah Valley, Virginia |
| Designated | March 17, 1999 |
| Reference no. | 085-0940 |
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Elizabeth Furnace was a special place in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. It was like a big, old factory that made pig iron from 1836 to 1888. A "blast furnace" uses very high heat to melt iron ore and turn it into iron. This furnace used the power of Passage Creek to help it work.
Miners found iron ore nearby. This ore was then cleaned and melted in the furnace. The "pig iron" that was made looked like big, heavy bars. These bars were carried over the Massanutten Mountain to the Shenandoah River. From there, they went to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to be shaped into useful iron tools and parts.
Even today, the old road used to carry the iron is a hiking trail up Massanutten Mountain. You can still see much of the original stone building. There's also a restored old cabin and a fun outdoor area for everyone to enjoy.
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Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area
The Elizabeth Furnace Recreation Area is a cool spot in the George Washington National Forest. It's located near Fort Valley, Virginia. This area has three main parts for visitors to enjoy: a group camping area, a picnic area, and a family camping area.
Group Camping Area
The group camping area is perfect for larger groups. It has special spots where you can build a campfire. There are also simple outdoor toilets available for campers.
Picnic and Trails Area
This part of Elizabeth Furnace is great for a day trip. You'll find picnic tables where you can enjoy your lunch. There are also open fields for playing games. Simple outdoor toilets are available here too.
You can also find many fun things to do outdoors. There are well-marked hiking trails, like parts of the famous Massanutten Trail and Tuscarora Trail. You can also go mountain biking on special trails. If you like fishing, you can try your luck in Passage Creek.
Fishing in Passage Creek
Near Passage Creek, there's a place where they raise trout. If you want to fish for trout, you will need a fishing license. It's a great way to spend time by the water.
Family Camping Area
The family camping area has 33 campsites. These spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and there's a small fee to use them. Each campsite has a fire ring where you can have a campfire.
Historic Cabin
In the family camping area, you can also see a restored cabin from the 1830s. It gives you a peek into what life was like long ago.
Images for kids
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This picture shows how pig iron was made at Elizabeth Furnace.
