It was standing-room only when members of the media and tourism industry got a first-hand look at two century-old iron furnaces - the last of their kind left intact in the United States.
   A media day at the Carrie Furnace site drew visitors to the Mon Valley in August, as area leaders revealed their vision for the former iron making complex that used to be part of the U.S. Steel Homestead Works. The furnaces were key in the defense of the U.S. during two World Wars, providing the iron that was used in the production of armor plating for ships and tanks.

   "These furnaces will stand as a testament to a monumental industry," said August R. Carlino, President and CEO for the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation which took possession of Carrie Furnaces No. 6 & 7 and its surrounding acreage in May. Carlino, along with Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato and Congressman Mike Doyle (D-PA) expounded upon their plans for the 168-acre brownfield site.

   "The Carrie Furnace site sat dormant for two decades before Allegheny County purchased the land to reclaim and redevelop it," said Onorato. "This is a remarkable development opportunity for the Mon Valley, and we've been working with the five boroughs that span the site, the Commonwealth, and the Steel Industry Heritage Corporation to ensure that we not only create jobs and revitalize this prime riverfront property, but that we also preserve a piece of what made our region a manufacturing giant."

   To that end, Congressman Doyle recently introduced a bill to establish a Steel Industry National Historic Site which includes the Carrie Furnace complex, the Pumphouse and Water Tower which was location of the 1892 Battle of Homestead and the Rankin Hot Metal Bridge.The furnaces already were designated a National Historical Landmark in 2006. Development plans also include homes, businesses and trails as well as the historic park, according to Onorato.