Existing comment:
Bluff Furnace Historical Park:
Dr. Jeffrey Lawrence Brown
This Park commemorates the history of one of Chattanooga's first heavy industries. Bluff Furnace, built in 1854 and put into operation in 1856, was a steam-powered blast furnace that reduced iron ore into usable cast iron. This iron was sent to local foundries to be made into tools, implements, and machinery. As a forerunner in iron technology of the 1800s, Bluff Furnace was the first in the southern Appalachian region to use coked coal as a fuel in a modern cupola-style furnace. It was torn down shortly before the Civil War began. The original foundations of the casting shed and furnace base appear behind you.
The signs and model in front of you explain the history and significance of one of the South's most innovative industrial sites. Reflecting the unique historical significance of the site, Bluff Furnace was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1980.
This Park celebrates the rich industrial heritage of Chattanooga and stands as a testament to the energy and dedication of all those who labor in the iron industry, both past and present. Contributors to the development of the Park include ...
Bluff Furnace Historical Park is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Jeffrey Lawrence Brown, who first discovered the site and recognized its ultimate importance to our shared historic past. |