Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Also known as: Hopewell Furnace; Hopewell Village National Historic Site
Why it's listed
Built in 1771 and operated until 1883, Hopewell Furnace is a charcoal-fueled, cold-blast iron smelting works in Berks County, Pennsylvania, surrounded by a community of workers' houses, a clerk's office and store, a blacksmith shop, and the Ironmaster's House. Its original owner, Mark Bird, supplied cannon, shot and shell to the Continental forces during the Revolution, and he also served in the Berks County Militia and shipped 1,000 bushels of flour to Valley Forge in 1778. The property is regarded as representative of the many charcoal ironworks that once operated in the eastern United States. Under the Buckley and Brooke families from 1800, the furnace was most profitable, producing the Hopewell stove. Its decline came with anthracite competition, and an 1853 anthracite furnace failed. The federal government bought the site in 1935, and restoration followed, with the Furnace and other structures rebuilt to show the 1820-1840 period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site is significant for its association with the American Revolution, through cannon, shot and shell cast for the Continental forces and the political and military service of its owner Mark Bird. It also argues the site illustrates life on an iron plantation and represents the hundreds of charcoal ironworks once common in the Eastern United States.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000645, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | R.D. #1, Box 345, 5 Miles S. of Birdsboro, Elverson |
|---|---|
| County | Berks County |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000645 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1771-1883 |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Military, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and operated as a park; the Furnace was permanently shut down in 1883 and the site was purchased by the Federal Government in 1935. |
| Acreage | 848.1 |
| Coordinates | 40.20498, -75.76664 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.