Near Raceland in Greenup County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Caroline Furnace
⎯⎯⎯
Iron Made in Kentucky
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
1. Caroline Furnace face of marker
Caroline Furnace. Stood 1½ mi. south. Built 1833 by Henry, Blake & Co. Stone stack was 35 ft. high, with a maximum inner diameter of 10 ft.; burned charcoal. Air blast powered by steam. In 1838, produced 750 tons of iron, consuming 2062 tons of ore, 225,000 bushels of charcoal. Made 1200 tons of iron, 1857. Furnace operated until 1890.
Iron Made in Kentucky. A major producer since 1791, Kentucky ranked 3rd is U.S. in 1830s, 11th in 1965. Charcoal timber, native ore, limestone supplied material for numerous furnaces making pig iron, utensils, munitions in the Hanging Rock, Red River, Between Rivers, Rolling Fork, and Green River Regions. Old charcoal furnace era ended by depletion of ore and timber and the growth of railroads.
Erected 1968 by Kentucky Historical Society, Kentucky Department of Highways, and Armco Steel Corp. (Marker Number 1132.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources. In addition, it is included in the Appalachian Iron Furnaces, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1833.
Location. 38° 32.501′ N,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Kentucky’s Kyova Tri-State Region. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Race Track (within shouting distance of this marker); Camp Swigert (approx. 1.9 miles away); Wurtland Union Church (approx. 2 miles away); Iron made in Kentucky / Steam Furnace (approx. 2.1 miles away); McConnell House Complex (approx. 2.4 miles away); John M. McConnell House (approx.
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
2. Iron Made in Kentucky side of marker
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 30, 2018
3. Caroline Furnace / Iron Made in Kentucky Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 16, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 579 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 16, 2018, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
