ELVERSON, PA — Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will host a special event on Saturday, April 26, to commemorate National Park Week and highlight the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The event will feature ranger-led tours, reenactments, and interactive displays honoring the CCC’s vital role in restoring the historic site during the Great Depression.
The day’s programming, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free to the public. Park rangers will lead two guided tours, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., exploring areas where the CCC worked and resided. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage with reenactors portraying CCC members. Demonstrations throughout the day will showcase activities such as CCC enlistment procedures, cooking, woodcutting, and branding, with one of the historic tenant houses transformed into a mock CCC barracks.
Established in 1938, Hopewell Furnace preserves an 18th and 19th-century iron-making community, providing insight into the industrial development of early America. Originally founded in 1771 by Ironmaster Mark Bird, the furnace operated for 112 years. Restoration efforts led by the CCC in the 1930s set the stage for its designation as a National Historic Site.
Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA, approximately five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off Route 345. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission for visitors. For more information, visit the park’s website.
This National Park Week event offers an immersive experience into the history and contributions of the CCC, bringing to life the early efforts that preserved this vital piece of America’s industrial heritage.
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