National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum

This year the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum is a stop on the Tour of Honor a season-long, self-directed ride to memorials and monuments around the continental U.S. benefiting Veteran charities. Check it out here : https://www.tourofhonor.com/pages/memorials22021axl5.html

The Golden Gate Bridge officially opened on May 27, 1937; made with 83,000 tons of steel, much of which came from Pennsylvania's own Bethlehem Steel Corporation. When it was completed, it was the longest bridge span in the world (length of suspension span was 1.2 miles, or 6,450 feet). Today, the Golden Gate Bridge remains one of the most iconic in the world. https://youtu.be/DnysytJJt2U

Pennsylvania Steel Company was America’s first steel company. In 1868, the site became the first in the U.S. dedicated exclusively to the process of making steel. Visit the online exhibit at https://steelmuseum.org/pais300_exhibit_2017/steelton.cfm

America's oldest continuously operating steel mill has seen its fair share of flooding (like yesterday's); the mill was strategically built upon the Brandywine River in 1810 to supply power to the mill and access to the region's main suppliers of raw materials. Check out these Lukens Mill photographs of floods of the past. Visit the mills virtual timeline at https://steelmuseum.org/timelines/lukens_steel_timeline.cfm

At 887 feet of armor-plated steel, the 45,000-ton USS New Jersey was commissioned into the United States Navy at the Philadelphia Navy Yard this week in 1943. The New Jersey is the longest, fastest, most decorated battleship in U.S. history. #museumfromhome at https://steelmuseum.org/shipbuilding_exhibit/new_jersey.cfm

A glimpse into one of our display cases. Dustfoe Respirators were used by steelworkers in the 1950s-1960s. #MuseumFromHome at steelmuseum.org

Home of the free, because of the brave. On #MemorialDay, we honor and remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Warm weather is here! Adventure seekers and history buffs alike can #getoutside and visit the Iron and Steel Heritage Tour. The National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum is on the trail alongside Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Works Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Pottsgrove Manor The Schuylkill River Heritage Center Valley Forge National Historical Park Hibernia Park, Chester County, Pa. Dowlin Forge Park Check out the map at https://steelmuseum.org//Iron%20and%20Steel%20Trail%20Digi

May is Historic Preservation Month. This year the initiative is asking, what special place in your community helps #TellTheFullStory and invites people to share... a place that helps tell a little-known or underrepresented piece of the American story. The National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum is proud to house Coatesville’s story of Steel; home to numerous historical milestones of the American iron and steel industry. Indeed, the plant's long history not only parallels that of the nation, but reflects the ambitions, struggles and accomplishments of successive generations in the continuing growth and development of the United States. Discover our story at steelmuseum.org/timelines/lukens_steel_timeline.cfm See more

Terracina was built by Rebecca Lukens in 1850-51 for her daughter Isabella and son-in-law, Dr. Charles Huston. Dr. Huston came into the family with his marriage to Isabella Lukens in 1848 and eventually became a partner in the Lukens Iron business. The Huston’s made Terracina their home until their deaths in the late 19th Century. Go inside this historic home with our virtual tour at https://steelmuseum.org/places/terracina_virtual_tour.cfm

Springtime in the Lukens Historic District take an outdoor, self guided tour of our grounds between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Steelmuseum.org

Happy Friday! Did you know the term blast furnace comes from the blast of hot air that is blown into the lower part of the furnace at between 1400 to 2100F. #museumfromhome at https://steelmuseum.org/steelmaking_exhib/blast_furnace.cfm

Tomorrow, May 12th at 7:00 p.m. the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum will host a virtual Rebecca Lukens Award Ceremony honoring Chester County Preservationist Karen Marshall with the 2021 award; for her influential career in historic preservation, education and outreach in the County. Coatesville Community Advocate, Minnie McNeil, will receive the 2020 Rebecca Lukens Award. Register to watch at: https://us02web.zoom.us//register/WN_1UnIz7IxQ5SAzR4DjzRvhw

On this day in history "Lukens Plate", the employee newsletter published for Lukens Steel Company, By-Products Steel Corporation, and Lukenweld Inc., was renamed to "Lukens Life" in 1945. Search the online archives of the newsletter at: https://steelmuseum.org/luk_newsletters.cfm

"Let nobody give you the impression that the problem of racial injustice will work itself out. Let nobody give you the impression that only time will solve the problem." Human progress, Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "comes through the tireless efforts and the persistent work of dedicated individuals," and they "realize that the time is always right to do right." https://www.cnn.com//martin-luther-king-jr-day-/index.html

Don't forget to tune in tonight at 6 p.m. for a living history virtual commemoration on Rebecca Lukens!

Check out these amazing shots photographed by Luis Rosso of our exterior grounds, thank you for visiting Luis. Our inside exhibits are closed, however you can take in these views, on a self-guided walk through the exterior grounds. https://steelmuseum.org/

Join us for Rebecca Lukens Birthday Virtual Commemoration, January 14th at 6:00 p.m. for a living-history presentation featuring Charles Schwab and Rebecca Lukens performed at the 1998 Bethlehem Steel Management Meeting. https://www.facebook.com/events/146707743892145

From our archives- a letter to Santa from a Lukenite. Seventy years later, this letter continues to hold important words for our modern lives. One resounding theme, when flipping through the Lukens Steel Newsletter, is the company's dedication to community; a culture created around steel. #museumfromhome https://steelmuseum.org/luk_newsletters.cfm

Let's start this week off with some #steelstories , we want to hear yours! Share stories and photos in our comment section or head over to our Iron and Steel Hall of Fame, online exhibit. https://steelmuseum.org/i-s-hall-of-fame/index.cfm #MuseumFromHome

U.S. Steel is restarting blast furnace #4 at its Gary Works steel mill earlier than anticipated as the steel market recovers.

We're saddened to say, the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum will not hold our usual Holiday Open House this year. For some holiday spirit, you can #museumfrom home and check out #vintage holiday issues from the Lukens Newsletter collection, a new online archive of ours made possible by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission https://digital.hagley.org/2020209_21_11-0

Today is #GivingTuesday ! Visit our donation page at steelmuseum.org/donate/ Your generosity makes it possible for the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum to fulfill its mission to preserve, exhibit and educate the public on our nations iron and steelmaking past. As we navigate the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, your support is more vital than ever. Our doors have been closed for 8 months, a small contribution can help ensure our stability as we reopen the museum and help us maintain an environment to learn, teach share and appreciate history, science and art.

Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country! For Veterans Day, the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum will share posts throughout the day that recognize the Veterans from our steel archives. Pictured are excerpts from Lukens Plate 1942. #MuseumFromHome and visit https://steelmuseum.org/ww1_exhibit_2016/index.cfm

From our archives, this man served in Company G, 368th Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division of WWI; and was suspected to be a Coatesville resident. The 92nd division, received a great number of awards for meritorious and distinguished conduct on the battlefields of France. https://steelmuseum.org/ww1_exhibit_2016/unknown_soldier.cfm

December 1st is #GivingTuesday We hope you will think of the National Iron and Steel Heritage Museum on this international day of giving! Visit our donation page at https://steelmuseum.org/donate/index.cfm Here at the museum, we work to cultivate a place that inspires stories, when you contribute to the museum you become a piece of this storytelling. Your support helps us sustain our educational outreach and a series of curated social and educational events. This year the programming may look different, but we are committed to maintaining an environment to learn, teach share and appreciate history, science and art!

For Veterans day we'd like to share a lecture from our archive of Historian Bob Ford's World War I Uniform Collection where he dives not only into his collection but the stories behind the uniform. https://youtu.be/ydwufblO6Z0