đź“… Saturday, March 21, 2026
⏰ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
đź“Ť Meet at Musselman/Vesta Iron Furnace, 26 Furnace Road, Marietta, PA 17574
Uncharted Lancaster invites you to step back in time for a guided history hike through the industrial heart of 18th and 19th-century Marietta. Known in its day as the “Pittsburgh of the East,” this little river town thrived on lumber and iron production that fueled the American Industrial Revolution and the westward expansion of the railroad.
Leading the way is David Haneman, President of Rivertownes PA USA and longtime Marietta resident. With his deep knowledge of the town’s heritage and hands-on work restoring the Musselman/Vesta Iron Furnace Office, Haneman will bring to life the people, places, and industries that once made Marietta a center of commerce along the Susquehanna.
What You’ll Discover
On this 1.5- to 2-hour, 1.5-mile walk along the scenic Northwest River Trail, you’ll explore:
The Lumber Industry
- Why Marietta became a lumber hub.
- Sites of the old sawmill on Chickies Creek.
- Images of the grand homes built by Marietta’s lumber barons.
The Iron Industry
- Step inside the Musselman/Vesta Iron Furnace Office, part of the last of eight “Hot-Blast” anthracite coal iron furnaces in the region.
- Learn what “pig iron” really is.
- See how Sanborn Insurance Maps helped model the Musselman/Vesta Furnace Complex diorama.
- View artifacts unearthed by Millersville University’s summer archaeology digs at the Henry Clay Furnace.
- Visit the sites of six furnaces that once blazed along the Susquehanna River.
- Understand why this location was so important for canal and rail expansion.
- Glimpse images of the Iron Masters’ stately homes.
- Discover why Marietta earned the name “Pittsburgh of the East.”
Event Details
- Distance: About 1.5 miles.
- Duration: 90 minutes–2 hours (depending on Q&A).
- Terrain: Easy walking on the Northwest River Trail with an optional extension past additional furnace sites.
- Weather: Rain or shine. (Severe weather cancellations will be made on-site.)
- Parking: Limited free parking at the Musselman/Vesta Furnace (26 Furnace Road, Marietta, PA 17574). Additional free parking at the Marietta Iron Furnace Park Northwest River Trail lot (29 Furnace Road, Marietta, PA 17547).
- Capacity: Limited to 15 participants.
- Cost: $20 per person.
Reserve Your Spot
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience Marietta’s industrial past through the eyes of one of its most passionate stewards. Space is limited—and tickets will go fast!
Step into history. Explore the industries. Experience Marietta like never before.
Supersize Your Adventure
Supersize your adventure by including one of Adam Zurn’s books with your adventure ticket purchase.
📖 Learn about the many unique places Lancaster County has to offer when you step off the beaten path with Uncharted Lancaster: Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This one-of-a-kind 239-page guidebook uncovers 56 fascinating sites, from the county’s very own fountain of youth to the oldest continuously operating short-line railroad in the western hemisphere.
📖 Uncharted Lancaster’s Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure takes readers on a spine-tingling journey through Lancaster County’s haunted history, eerie legends, and hidden treasures. From ghostly apparitions to outlaw loot, these 64 true local stories blend real history with gripping folklore.
📖 Step back in time and meet Canassatego, a wise Onondaga chief whose powerful words helped shape a nation. Based on real events that took place right here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, this picture book recounts the Great Treaty of 1744—and the unforgettable moment when Canassatego broke a single arrow, but could not break a bundle of six in Canassatego and His Six Arrows.
