Entry No. 25 — the Pittsburgh file — filed under: metal-casting
Rivers of Steel (Carrie Blast Furnaces)
Set inside a towering, preserved pre-WWII industrial landmark, Rivers of Steel's Metal Arts program invites you to create art where Pittsburgh's historic steel was once forged. They offer hands-on workshops in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and aluminum casting led by expert local artisans.
The story
You are standing along the Monongahela River between Swissvale and Rankin, dwarfed by towering pre-WWII industrial iron structures that once ran non-stop to feed Pittsburgh's steel mills. Most blast furnaces from that era were dismantled and sold for scrap, but Carrie Furnaces survived as a massive rusting shell until Rivers of Steel took over the site and turned the industrial landmark into an active metal arts foundry.
Instead of staring at industrial ruins behind velvet ropes, you're brought directly into the historic powerhouse to work with high-heat tools. Through their Metal Arts program, local artisans teach hands-on workshops in blacksmithing, bladesmithing, and aluminum casting—letting you make your own art on the exact grounds where blast furnaces once forged raw steel.
What it's like
Expect grit, heavy rust, and zero climate control. The powerhouse is an authentic historic structure exposed to the elements, so you need to dress specifically for the outside weather and wear strictly natural fibers like heavy cotton jeans and boots—synthetic fabrics like polyester can melt if exposed to high ambient heat or stray sparks. During sessions like the 'Doodle Bowls' aluminum casting workshop, you will carve custom line-art into sand molds before watching artisans pour red-hot liquid metal right into your design.
The move: Sign up for a 'Doodle Bowls' aluminum casting workshop, where you and your partner carve custom designs into sand molds, then watch as they are filled with molten metal in the historic powerhouse to create your own cast-metal bowls.
- 📍 Swissvale / Rankin
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 801 Carrie Furnace Blvd, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- The Carrie Deer — While you are on the furnace grounds, hunt down this covert 40-foot deer sculpture built secretly out of industrial debris by guerrilla artists in 1997.
- Trundle Manor — Trade heavy industrial ironwork for a tour of Swissvale's private, gothic cabinet of taxidermy and jarred specimens just down the road.
- Pittsburgh Glass Center — Swap molten sand-cast aluminum for glowing liquid glass-blowing over in nearby East Liberty.
Good to know
Do I need any metalworking or blacksmithing experience?
No. Beginners are welcome, and expert local artisans walk you through carving sand molds, metal casting safety, or basic forge work.
What is the proper clothing to wear for a workshop?
Wear closed-toe leather shoes or work boots, long pants, and layers made strictly of 100% natural fibers like cotton or denim to prevent melting near heat.
Are the indoor workshop spaces heated or air-conditioned?
No. The historic powerhouse and surrounding furnace areas are unconditioned industrial spaces, so come prepared for whatever the weather is doing outside.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-07-21