Welcome to Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
This
is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, 1646-1668.
It includes the reconstructed blast furnace, forge, rolling mill, and
a restored seventeenth century house.
With the archeological site of the seventeenth-century iron-making plant,
the museum collection, the seventeenth-century Iron Works House, and the
reconstructed iron works complex, Saugus Iron Works National Historic
Site illustrates the critical role of iron making to seventeenth-century
settlement and its legacy in shaping the early history of the nation.
The site's enclave setting on the Saugus River, featuring an open-air
museum with working waterwheels, evokes a unique experience for park visitors.
These resources demonstrate seventeenth-century engineering and design
methods, iron-making technology and operations, local and overseas trade,
and life and work in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
The original manufacturing
site served as a training ground for skilled iron workers for what would
become America's iron and steel industry. Iron making provided the infrastructure
for the rise of other colonial industries. Called, "the forerunner
of America's industrial giants," the site served as a center for
technology, innovation and invention. The site interprets early industrial
manufacturing, with its enduring social, political and environmental ramifications.
Operating Hours
& Seasons
April 1 through October
31, daily, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00p.m. November 1- March 31, daily, 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
Communities
Surrounding Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site
Note: The times listed below are approximate driving times to the park.