đź“… Saturday, October 25, 2025
⏰ 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 once blazing 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 20 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.