Visit Frederick County 2023-2024 Visitor Guide - Flipbook - Page 21
Face to Face with History
History Forged in Fire
Catoctin Furnace was once busy with enslaved workers toiling
in hot, dirty conditions to power the Industrial Revolution.
Today, in the shadow of the hulking forge stands a quiet village
surrounded by nature trails. Tucked into one of the old workers’
cottages is the Museum of the Iron Worker, where you will
come face-to-face with two African American enslaved workers
discovered in the Furnace’s cemetery during an archaeological
dig. Forensic research recently performed by the Smithsonian
Institution resulted in the lifelike facial reconstructions now
on display. Get to know the furnace’s workers through their
compelling stories, the belongings they left behind, and the
daily dangers they faced on the job.
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