Catherine Furnace
Why it's listed
Catherine Furnace is a pyramid-shaped iron furnace built in 1836 of hand-laid stone without mortar, standing about 2 miles west of Newport in Page County, Virginia, within the George Washington National Forest. Its interior was originally 8 feet in diameter and 32 feet high above the firebox. It was loaded from the top with iron ore, limestone and charcoal, and like most Virginia iron furnaces it was built into a hillside. A water wheel powered the air bellows. The furnace produced high quality pig iron used during the Mexican War and the Civil War. A cited article states that during the Mexican War every shot and shell fired at the enemy was shipped from it, and that it made shells for the Confederacy. It was enlarged around the time of the Civil War, greatly increasing its output, though the reasons are unclear. It never returned to blast after the war and was abandoned in 1885. Only the stone stack remains, the related service buildings having disappeared.
Significance in brief: The furnace produced high quality pig iron used in the Mexican War and the Civil War. A cited article says every shot and shell fired at the enemy in the Mexican War of 1846-1847 was shipped from it, and it also made shells for the Confederacy. It was enlarged around the Civil War, greatly increasing output, and was abandoned in 1885.
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 74002141, listed January 21, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. W of Newport in George Washington National Forest, Newport |
|---|---|
| County | Page County |
| Listed | January 21, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002141 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition at the time of nomination; the associated service structures are gone. Later correspondence (1978) raised concern about its continued deterioration, and stabilization was proposed in 1979. |
| Acreage | 9 |
| Coordinates | 38.55783, -78.63562 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 74002141.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15208020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.