Catoctin Furnace is an historic iron forge located within Cunningham Falls State Park, originally constructed in 1774 by brothers James, Baker, Roger, and Thomas Johnson as a facility for the production of pig iron from locally-mined hematite. The furnace famously supplied ammunition during the American Revolutionary War and is believed to have created plates for the USS Monitor. Three furnaces have been operated at the site, including the current furnace structure. Though the furnace ceased operation in 1903, its remains can be explored as part of self-guided walking tours with maps available from the park's visitor center. It is protected through the efforts of the Catoctin Furnace Historical Society, which celebrates the history of the region's pre-revolutionary industrial village.
12610 Catoctin Furnace Rd, Thurmont, MD 21788, Phone: 443-463-6437