McClurg Iron Foundry
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Established in 1804, it was the first air foundry in Pittsburgh. During the War of 1812, it supplied cannons and ammunition, primarily destined for the fleet on Lake Erie. In 1835, the first locomotive steam engine made west of the Alleghenies was built on this site.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Established in 1804, the McClurg Iron Foundry was Pittsburgh's first air foundry, casting metal in a young industrial city perched at the gateway to the West. During the War of 1812 it forged cannons and ammunition, much of it destined for the American fleet that would contest control of Lake Erie. In 1835 the site achieved another milestone, producing the first locomotive steam engine built west of the Allegheny Mountains.
Why it matters
The foundry marks Pittsburgh's early rise as an iron-making powerhouse, arming the nation in wartime and helping launch the railroad age that would open the American interior.
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Related events
- · War of 1812
- · Battle of Lake Erie
Themes & tags
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