ELVERSON, PA — Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will offer a rare after-dark experience on Saturday, October 18, when visitors can explore the historic grounds by lantern light while listening to stories that echo the fears and folklore of nearly two centuries ago.
The guided evening tours will run every hour from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., each lasting just over 30 minutes. Participants will walk along gravel and grassy paths, some with hills and slopes, as rangers share chilling tales once familiar to the furnace community. Organizers caution that some stories may be unsettling for younger children.
Tour groups are limited in size, and advance registration is required beginning Friday, October 3. Prospective visitors must email hofu_superintendent@nps.gov with preferred times and party details, with slots filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Each registration is capped at eight people.
The historic site, established in 1938, preserves the landscape and structures of an 18th and 19th-century iron-making community. Founded in 1771 by Ironmaster Mark Bird, Hopewell Furnace operated for more than a century and played a role in the growth of early American industry. Today, the site maintains the original charcoal-fueled furnace, worker housing, and surrounding natural resources.
Hopewell Furnace is located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, about five miles south of Birdsboro off Route 345. The park is open Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free admission year-round. More information is available at www.nps.gov/hofu or by calling 610-582-8773.
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