ELVERSON, PA — Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site, in collaboration with the Friends of Hopewell Furnace, announced it is accepting essay submissions for inclusion in this year’s Independence Day programming at the park on July 4th. Students in Grades 6 – 12 attending school within the boundaries of local school districts of Antietam, Boyertown, Coatesville, Daniel Boone, Downingtown, Exeter, Governor Mifflin, Oley Valley, Owen J Roberts, Phoenixville, Pottsgrove, Pottstown, Reading, Spring-Ford, Twin Valley, and Wyomissing are encouraged to participate.
Students in grades 9 – 12 may submit a 500-word or less essay and students in grades 6 – 8 may submit a 300-word or less essay related to the prompt: What does the phrase created equal mean to you? Essays will be reviewed by a panel of judges with the top 3 from each grade group receiving cash awards of $100 for 1st, $75 for 2nd, and $50 for 3rd. Top 3 selectees from each grade group will also be invited to participate in the park’s Independence Day public program at 2pm on July 4th. Submission are due Sunday, April 30, 2023. More information available on our website at www.nps.gov/hofu.
Hopewell Furnace was established as a National Historic Site on August 3, 1938 and preserves the late 18th and early 19th century setting of an iron-making community, including the charcoal-fueled furnace, and its natural and cultural resources. This community illustrates the essential role of industrialization in the growth of the early United States. The furnace was established in 1771 by Ironmaster Mark Bird and operated as a furnace for the next 112 years.
The park’s facilities are currently open seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA 19520 about five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off Route 345. Admission to the park is free. For more information, call 610-582-8773 or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu.
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