Exploring the Abandoned Joliet Iron Works Site
Exploring the Abandoned Joliet Iron Works Site
Hey guys! Join us in Joliet, IL as we explore the abandoned Joliet Iron Works. The Joliet Iron Works was the site of the second largest iron and steel mill in the United States. The factory was opened in 1869 and was abandoned in the 1980’s. In the 90’s, the county forest district preserved the integrity of the area, leveled most of the buildings, and turned it into a hiking trail. Come along with us!
Parking: There is a designated parking lot.
Worth a Visit: YES! This place is interesting! There are signs that say to stay on the path and warn you of the dangers of the structures, but it is fascinating to walk the grounds while partaking in the buildings. If you are like us and want to walk into the structures, we recommend hiking boots or a more stable shoe, not even gym shoes. The terrain is uneven in most areas if you plan to trek around. There are informational plaques, but what is the fun in reading if you can play! The Joliet Iron Works Historical Site is located on Columbia St, Joliet IL.
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Joliet Iron Works Historic Site
Just outside the downtown area, the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site features a paved trail with a self-guided interpretive tour of the site's historical significance.
The 52-acre Joliet Iron Works Historic Site was acquired between 1991 and 1997 by The Forest Preserve District of Will County. Originally, this linear park was the site of the Joliet Iron Works, an iron manufacturing facility from 1869 to the 1980's.
Remains include the foundations of the blast furnaces and other structures from this abandoned factory. Walking among what appears to be centuries-old ruins (hard to believe it's only been 30 or so years!), it's both easy and difficult to imagine the amount of people that had worked here.
Kudos to the county forest district for preserving this historically important cultural site. It's a truly unique hiking spot and is the perfect place for a family outing.
Read more on the blog
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Joliet Iron Works Historic Site
The Joliet Iron and Steel Works Historic ruins gives us peek into America's bygone Industrial age. A half mile of paved trail winds through the former plant, providing an up close view of the mill ruins and posted are interpretive sign explaining the steel works process.
Joliet Iron Works Historic Site.
In 1879 a large Steel Mill opened on the banks of the Des Plains River in Joliet Illinois. It was the 2nd largest steel mill outside of Pittsburgh PA. It closed in 1933 because of the added expense of insufficient water transport and the distance of hauling in iron ore, coal (for making Coke= Blast furnace fuel) and limestone. In the 1970's it was reopened on the other side of the railroad tracks. This time with Electric Arc Furnaces and a rolling Mill built next to the original buildings. US Steel, which bought the Joliet Iron Works, closed it in the 1980's. The Hot Works= Blast Furnaces etc was torn down down. One of the blast furnaces was reassembled at the US Steel Duluth(Minnesota) Works where it increased the Duluth Works Pig Iron capacity. It closed in 1973 and was torn down soon after. The tour is free and is on a paved half mile long path. Sighs are posted at various sites explaining what went on there. I tried to include am Ariel Photo of the site. But Bing wouldn't let me copy it.
Joliet Iron Works - Historic Site
Standing in the middle of the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site, there first thought that came through my mind was “Joliet’s Stonehenge.” But, this was much more than a circular array of standing and balanced stones. This used to be the second largest steel factory in the United States, which opened in the late 1800’s.
Read more at heritagecorridorcvb.com/Reliving-City-Of-Steel-Joliet-Historic-Iron-Works
Ruins of the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site
Ruins of the historic Joliet Iron Works in Joliet, Illinois.
Joliet Iron Works Historic Site: The Ruins That Remain
This preserve offers a great opportunity to enjoy a short hike while also taking in local history.
Joliet Iron Works
The Joliet Iron and Steel Works was once the second largest steel mill in the United States operating from 1869 until all operations ceased in the early 1980's.
At it’s height, the Joliet Iron Works employed 2,000 workers from Southern and Eastern Europe. The work was dangerous. Hazards included toxic fumes, falls from high places, and extensive heat. Illinois Steel Company owned five plants, North Chicago, South Chicago, Chicago Union, Milwaukee, and the Joliet works. Illinois Steel owned land and coke ovens in Pennsylvania, West Virginia,
iron ore in Michigan, Wisconsin, and limestone quarries in Indiana as well as controlling interest in railroads connecting Joliet with raw material for production. By 1899 Illinois Steel shipped to every US state, Canada, Mexico, South America, Africa, Europe, and Asia. In the 1990s, the Forest Preserve District of Will County purchased the ruins of the Joliet ironworks and established the Joliet Iron Works Historic Site.
Mound Cemetery-Joliet, Illinois
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Location: Joliet, IL
History: Final resting place to many civil war heroes, Mound Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Illinois. Some say the spirits of the soldiers still roam the grounds.
Filmed By: David Winkleman
Pictures By: David Winkleman
Joliet Prison and U.S. Steel Redevelopment Meeting
Members of the Technical Assistance Panel from the Urban Land Institute Chicago present findings regarding recommendations for the redevelopment of the old Joliet Prison and U.S. Steel sites in downtown Joliet. Meeting was held March 2012.
Illinois Adventure #1305 Joliet's Old Factory Site Now a Historical Nature Walk
Joliet is known as the City of Steel and Stone. Rich deposits of limestone led to a thriving quarrying industry, and in the years following the Civil War, a huge iron producing industry would, over 60 years, employ thousands at the Joliet Iron Works.
Following the dismantling of the Joliet Iron Works in the 1930s, the foundations of this once bustling factory were all but forgotten. However, in the 1990s the Forest Preserve saved this important link to Joliet's past.
Follow a one-mile walkway through the site on a self-guided tour through exhibits explaining the iron making process, and just as importantly, describing the men who worked there.
Bicycle trails extend both northeast and southwest from the Iron Works site, and I&M Canal Locks 3 and 4 are accessible by the bike trail just .3 mile north of the blast furnace trail. From downtown, follow the bicycle route signs and silhouette trail north .1 mile to the Joliet Iron Works historic site.
Joliet Iron Works: A Window Into the City's Past
We've never tried to restore anything here, but only tell the story of what remains, said Ralph Schultz, the Forest Preserve’s chief operating officer.
Illinois Adventure #1701 Joliet Area Historical Museum
The mission of the Joliet Area Historical Museum is to promote awareness, understanding and preservation of the Joliet area's diverse history through an active, community based collections acquisition program, engaging exhibits, and innovative educational programming.
Your visit to the Joliet Area Historical Museum is a journey through time. Here you will experience how people lived, worked, traveled and built the foundation for today's thriving community.
Walk through a life-size replica depicting the building of the historic Illinois Michigan Canal.
Stroll down a turn-of-the-century street past store fronts showcasing fashions of yesteryear.
Browse through a hardware store.
Take a virtual ride on a replica trolley.
Along the way, meet life-size models, interact with touch-screen visuals, view award-winning audio-visuals and learn how the past shaped the world you now enjoy.
The past comes alive as you travel through distinct zones depicting the stages of this area's growth.
Abandoned on Route 66 - The Joliet Iron and Steel Works
Meeting on Joliet US Steel and Joliet Prison Site, Part 11
Urban planners from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning lead a community meeting on the East Side of Joliet regarding how community members would like to see the Joliet Prison and US Steel sites redeveloped.
Joliet Prison and U.S. Steel Redevelopment Meeting, Part 2
Members of the Technical Assistance Panel from the Urban Land Institute Chicago present findings regarding recommendations for the redevelopment of the old Joliet Prison and U.S. Steel sites in downtown Joliet. Meeting was held March 2012.
West Park in Joliet
This is the first hole of West Park, Illinois' oldest disc golf course. My drive was within 30 feet of the hole, but I smacked my putt of the bar and had to settle for a three.
100 Videos of Downtown Joliet, 2
Here is another video of downtown Joliet, including historic Union Station.
Chicago's Steel Workers Park Ore Walls
This place is located where South Works Steel Mill used to be. Awesome what they did with the property!!! we found a way into one of the ore walls, pretty cool explore hope u guys enjoy!!!
East Side of Joliet, Winter
East Side of Joliet after big snowstorm