Coplay Cement Company Kilns
Also known as: Saylor Park Industrial Museum
Why it's listed
Nine tall brick kilns in Coplay, Pennsylvania, preserve an early chapter in American cement making. Built by the Coplay Cement Company in 1892-93 as Schoefer vertical kilns, a Danish modification of an upright kiln first developed in Germany, they produced portland cement until 1904, when rotary kilns made them obsolete. The company later used them for storage. The surrounding factory building was torn down in the 1920s, and the upper 33 feet of the kilns were probably removed then. In 1975 the company gave the kilns and a small parcel to Lehigh County, and restoration began in 1976. Today the kilns, about 60 feet tall, house a cement industry museum. They are tied to David O. Saylor, who made the first portland cement in America in 1871 and received the first American patent for it. As the oldest surviving structures linked to the company and probably the only kilns of their type still standing, they illustrate the Lehigh Valley's role in the industry.
Significance in brief: The kilns represent the shift in cement kiln technology from bottle or dome kilns to rotary kilns. They also commemorate David O. Saylor, the Coplay Cement Company and the Lehigh Valley in developing the American portland cement industry. They are the oldest surviving structures associated with the company and are probably the only kilns of their type still standing.
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 80003556, listed September 2, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N. 2nd St., Coplay |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | September 2, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003556 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | ca. 1860-1904 (site); specific dates for structures 1892-1904 |
| Architect / builder | Coplay Cement Company |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and stabilized after the company donated them to Lehigh County in 1975; nine kilns house museum exhibits on the history of the American cement industry. |
| Acreage | 2.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.67655, -75.49603 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 80003556.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5168618
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.