News Releases

The National Park Service (NPS) invites the public to celebrate an “Iron Plantation Christmas” and stroll through the historic community of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. This free event will take place on Saturday, December 7, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature Christmas as celebrated during the 19th century at Hopewell Furnace.

Hopewell Furnace invites you to join in commemorating the contributions of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) with a special guided hike and encampment on site Saturday, September 28. All programming is free to the public and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

A new National Park Service report shows that 54.3 thousand visitors to Hopewell Furnace in 2023 spent $3.6 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 51 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $5.8 million.

The National Park Service and the Friends of Hopewell Furnace invite you to join in commemorating the 248th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site on July 4, 2024.

Hopewell Furnace invites you to join in commemorating the beginning of National Park Week with a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) encampment on site Saturday, April 20. All programming is free to the public and will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, in collaboration with the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, is accepting essay submissions for inclusion in this year’s Independence Day programming at the park on July 4th. Students in Grades 6 – 12 attending school within the boundaries of local school districts of Antietam, Boyertown, Coatesville, Daniel Boone, Downingtown, Exeter, Governor Mifflin, Oley Valley, Owen J Roberts, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Reading, Spring-Ford, Twin Valley, and Wyomissing are encouraged to participate.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience and engage with various Christmas traditions from the early/mid 19th Century. These activities include making gingerbread ornaments, creating holiday decorations out of greens and other natural sprigs, the traditions of writing holiday letters and cards, plus discovering the customs, foods, and traditions of the holiday season from an early American perspective. Visitors will also get to meet Der Belsnickel, a mischievous character similar to Santa Claus, who rewards good children with treats. Support for these programs comes from park volunteers, the Berks and Chester County Master Gardener chapters, and the Friends of Hopewell Furnace.

On Saturday, August 19 from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, the National Park Service and the ChesMont Astronomical Society will celebrate the night sky during the 25th annual StarFest at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. This free event will include formal presentations and kids' activities beginning at 7:00 PM, followed by the opportunity to observe the night skies through a variety of telescopes provided by members of the ChesMont Astronomical Society.

The National Park Service and the Friends of Hopewell Furnace invite you to join in commemorating the 247th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site on July 4, 2023. 

Hopewell Furnace invites you to attend its annual sheep shearing and spring charcoal burn on Saturday, May 13. Visitors will have the opportunity to observe both 21st and 19th century techniques for shearing sheep from 11:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., rain or shine. At 11:00 a.m. park volunteer colliers will light and begin the spring charcoal burn demonstrating the process for converting wood to charcoal in the 19th century. The charcoal burn will last 7 days around the clock with the conclusion occurring on Saturday, May 20. Support for these programs comes from the Friends of Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. Along with these demonstrations, park staff and volunteers will be present to discuss and demonstrate fiber arts, blacksmithing, and gardening techniques from the time period. All programs are open to the public and free of charge.