Visit the Virginia Iron Furnace in NCWV #0423

A unique and beautiful location in Preston County, W.Va., the Virginia Iron Furnace may be found just north of Albright on SR26. Harrison Hagans opened the furnace in 1854. Except during the Civil War, the furnace operated intermittently until 1888. Workers layered limestone, charcoal, and iron ore to forge pig iron that went into steel. A wooden raceway brought water from Muddy Creek and Crab Orchard Run. Now Muddy Creek is orange from acid mine drainage. This resulted from coal mining in the 1900s.

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Contained in galleries: Appalachian Culture, History and Landscapes

A unique and beautiful location in Preston County, W.Va., the Virginia Iron Furnace may be found just north of Albright on SR26. Harrison Hagans opened the furnace in 1854. Except during the Civil War, the furnace operated intermittently until 1888. Workers layered limestone, charcoal, and iron ore to forge pig iron that went into steel. A wooden raceway brought water from Muddy Creek and Crab Orchard Run. Now Muddy Creek is orange from acid mine drainage. This resulted from coal mining in the 1900s.