Virtual Museum: Blast Furnaces

Did you ever wonder how the massive SteelStacks, a block away from the Museum, worked? Did you know that they never made steel? This presentation will explore the inner workings and history of “blast furnaces” with a special focus on the Bethlehem, PA, “blast furnaces.” We will trace the evolution of the furnaces themselves, as well as the raw materials going into them, and how the hot metal emerging from them was handled. Listen closely to discover what words like Monkey, Pig, Salamander, and Submarine mean to blast furnace workers.

This lecture is presented by NMIH Historian Mike Piersa. Mike graduated with a bachelor’s in history from Moravian College and a master’s in history from Lehigh University. He has been with NMIH for over 17 years and has been instrumental in the research and interpretation behind the museum’s collections as well as the restoration of historical industrial equipment both at the museum and at outside facilities. His quarry machinery preservation work resulted in him becoming an MSHA Certified Miner and taking leading roles in important restoration and preservation projects across the country, including the Bangor Quarry Hoist Project, a collaboration between the Totts Gap Arts Institute, the American Industrial Mining Company Museum, and the Borough of Bangor, PA.

Part of NMIH’s Virtual Museum Live Programs. Get more info at https://nmih.org/virtualmuseum

ALL LIVE STREAMS WILL BE AT https://www.facebook.com/NMIHorg/live_videos/