May 2, 2026
Spring Open House
Saturday, May 2, 2026
9am - 4pm
Celebrate the arrival of spring with a day of history, hands-on learning, and family fun at the annual Spring Open House at the Cornwall Iron Furnace.
Visitors of all ages are invited to explore the historic furnace grounds and experience the sights, sounds, and flavors of early American life. The event features guided furnace tours, the return of the ever-popular Cast Iron Cooking demonstrations, and a variety of engaging new living-history presentations debuting for 2026. Admission includes access to all demonstrations, activities, guided furnace tours, Visitor Center exhibits, and the museum store.
NEW for 2026: This year’s program highlights how families living and working in the Cornwall community welcomed the spring season in the 18th and 19th centuries. Knowledgeable historians and costumed interpreters will demonstrate historic skills and traditions, such as militia mustering, textile dyeing and spinning, bread baking and butter churning, industrial charcoal burning, and more. Guests will have plenty of opportunities to ask questions and participate in hands-on activities with living-history interpreters throughout the day.
Cast Iron Cooking Demonstrations: Gather around the fire pit to watch skilled volunteer cooks prepare delicious recipes using traditional cast iron cookware over open flame. Visitors can learn practical cooking tips, sample freshly prepared dishes (while supplies last), and discover inspiration for recreating these historic recipes at home.
Guided Furnace Tours: Step inside the only surviving intact charcoal cold-blast iron furnace in the Western Hemisphere, a remarkable reminder of the once-thriving iron industry that shaped south-central Pennsylvania and helped build the nation. During this guided experience, visitors will explore the heart of this exceptional National Historic Landmark by entering the Charging Room and descending 32 feet down the furnace stack. Along the way, guides will explain how ironworkers produced high-quality Cornwall iron during the furnace’s 141 years of operation, from 1742 to 1883.
Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children, and FREE for members. Admission includes access to all demonstrations, activities, guided furnace tours, Visitor Center exhibits, and the museum store.
