the national iron and steel heritage museum

We live about 45 minutes from here and did it during a day trip that included other short stops. The Museum covers the history of Lukens steel and the family that founded it. You can choose to follow the history of the steel industry or the Lukens family. We chose to do a little of both, but mostly the family history. We had a little trouble finding it, or more accurately, finding the entrance and parking area. It's at the start of the complex and we missed it. It wasn't a big deal as we turned around and found it only adding about 2 minutes to our trip. I only mention it because I think it's easy to miss.The first building you enter has a good bit of the steel industry information. You can tour the grounds and that building by yourself for free. They give you a map, which we had printed out from the website to familiarize ourselves before we got there.We chose the guided tour which cost $5.00 per person.... yep $5.00. I have to say it was quite a bargin. The young lady who took use was knowledgeable and open to talking along the way. She started briefly in the building we were in then moved on to Terracina, which was the house of the daughter of Rebecca Lukens. Rebecca's house is currently being restored so we couldn't go there. After that we crossed the street to Graystone, which was owned by the grandson of Rebecca Lukens. The houses are furnished with actual furnishings from family members so they span over the years.We like historical homesteads and this one, although it was limited in areas you could go, had all the family history that we like to learn. It's so interesting to have been to historic family homes in three adjoining states and to see how they all interacted. We found a piano that is believed to have come from the Aca Packard mansion in Jim Thorpe as well as a Pennock on the family tree.... a well known name from our area.The tour took about an hour, but I think that was because we were the only ones on the tour and asked lots of questions. They have a small gift shop, free parking and clean, roomy bathrooms.If you go, be sure to find the chandelier in Terracina. It's in the living room. It looks like it's carved wood,.... but looks are deceiving!!

Outstanding custom tours describing the proud iron and steel history of the area. Visit pristine historic homes of the Lukens family and enjoy the Sept. 11 memorial. The actual steel beams from the North Tower are reverently displayed. A wonderful afternoon. The national historic site only request a small donation for the two hour tour (although you can request a shorter, family-friendly one). Time well spent!

We just visited this museum this morning. It's an atypical museum in that it's not a series of rooms with curated exhibits. The charm of the museum lies in the guides who've been part of the steel industry for decades and are knowledgeable about Rebecca Lukens (an amazing story of an unlikely female industrialist), the steel and iron operations of the area, the residences of past owners of Luken steel--three wonderful houses reflecting the period they were built in, and how the steel produced by the steel mill is used. This was an intergenerational trip-- 9 and 11-year old kids and grandparents in the 70s and we all enjoyed it. Fun place for anyone who likes even a bit of history.