Information
Landmark: Tannehill Ironworks Historical State ParkCity: Bessemer
Country: USA Alabama
Continent: North America
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Bessemer, USA Alabama, North America
Overview
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park spreads across roughly 1,500 acres in McCalla, Alabama, about a 15-minute drive south of Bessemer.
Founded in 1969 and opened to visitors in 1971, the park safeguards one of the South’s most important 19th-century ironworks, where the scent of coal once hung thick in the air.
It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and marked along the Civil War Discovery Trail, a reminder of the gunfire and marching boots that once filled the area.
The ironworks, once part of the Roupes Valley Iron Company, has stood since the 1830s, when the clang of hammers echoed through the valley.
During the Civil War, it churned out tons of iron for the Confederate Army, the clang of hammers echoing through the yard.
Union forces destroyed the furnaces in 1865, but the stone ruins still stand, their rough gray blocks a stubborn reminder of Alabama’s-and the South’s-industrial past.
At the heart of the park stand the Tannehill Furnaces, massive stone structures that once roared with heat, bringing the 19th-century ironmaking process to life.
The Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama, founded in 1981, showcases more than 10,000 artifacts, from a recreated 1870s machine shop smelling faintly of engine oil to exhibits tracing the evolution of iron-making technology.
John Wesley Hall Grist Mill still hums with the sound of grinding stone, showing visitors how grain was milled the old-fashioned way.
Crafts Cabins: Step inside these pioneer cabins to watch artisans hammer glowing iron, carve smooth wood, and keep centuries-old skills alive.
Scenic trails wind through the park’s wild landscape, where you might catch a deer stepping softly between the trees or pause to explore a hidden bend in the path.
At Roupes Creek, you can cast a line by the water’s edge, then head to the park’s shaded picnic tables for a laid-back family lunch.
Miniature Railway: On certain days, a little train chugs along the track, giving families a charming ride past the grassy banks.
The park has 195 upgraded campsites with water and electricity, two clean bathhouses, and a few dump stations tucked along the road.
Visitors can dive into local history, then head outside for a hike through pine-scented trails, a picnic under the sun, or a quiet wander along winding paths.
At Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, visitors can wander through rust-red ruins, learn the site’s rich history, and still find time to relax or explore the trails.
You can wander through the crumbling ironworks, watch sparks fly as artisans shape metal, and roll up your sleeves to try your hand at 19th‑century industry.
The park hosts events, festivals, and hands-on programs, turning it into a living museum where you can hear the clang of old machinery and admire Alabama’s forests in the same afternoon.
It brings together industrial history, Civil War landmarks, and open-air trails, creating an experience where history buffs, families, and hikers can wander past rusted ironworks and along shaded paths.
Founded in 1969 and opened to visitors in 1971, the park safeguards one of the South’s most important 19th-century ironworks, where the scent of coal once hung thick in the air.
It’s on the National Register of Historic Places and marked along the Civil War Discovery Trail, a reminder of the gunfire and marching boots that once filled the area.
The ironworks, once part of the Roupes Valley Iron Company, has stood since the 1830s, when the clang of hammers echoed through the valley.
During the Civil War, it churned out tons of iron for the Confederate Army, the clang of hammers echoing through the yard.
Union forces destroyed the furnaces in 1865, but the stone ruins still stand, their rough gray blocks a stubborn reminder of Alabama’s-and the South’s-industrial past.
At the heart of the park stand the Tannehill Furnaces, massive stone structures that once roared with heat, bringing the 19th-century ironmaking process to life.
The Iron & Steel Museum of Alabama, founded in 1981, showcases more than 10,000 artifacts, from a recreated 1870s machine shop smelling faintly of engine oil to exhibits tracing the evolution of iron-making technology.
John Wesley Hall Grist Mill still hums with the sound of grinding stone, showing visitors how grain was milled the old-fashioned way.
Crafts Cabins: Step inside these pioneer cabins to watch artisans hammer glowing iron, carve smooth wood, and keep centuries-old skills alive.
Scenic trails wind through the park’s wild landscape, where you might catch a deer stepping softly between the trees or pause to explore a hidden bend in the path.
At Roupes Creek, you can cast a line by the water’s edge, then head to the park’s shaded picnic tables for a laid-back family lunch.
Miniature Railway: On certain days, a little train chugs along the track, giving families a charming ride past the grassy banks.
The park has 195 upgraded campsites with water and electricity, two clean bathhouses, and a few dump stations tucked along the road.
Visitors can dive into local history, then head outside for a hike through pine-scented trails, a picnic under the sun, or a quiet wander along winding paths.
At Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, visitors can wander through rust-red ruins, learn the site’s rich history, and still find time to relax or explore the trails.
You can wander through the crumbling ironworks, watch sparks fly as artisans shape metal, and roll up your sleeves to try your hand at 19th‑century industry.
The park hosts events, festivals, and hands-on programs, turning it into a living museum where you can hear the clang of old machinery and admire Alabama’s forests in the same afternoon.
It brings together industrial history, Civil War landmarks, and open-air trails, creating an experience where history buffs, families, and hikers can wander past rusted ironworks and along shaded paths.
