On Saturday, my husband and I had a chance to visit the Bethlehem Steel Stacks. I don’t think it was at all like I imagined.
Bethlehem Steel Corporation was America’s second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder. Their demise was an a significant illustration of the US economy shifting away from industrial manufacturing as we as its inability to compete with competitive foreign labor which ultimately led to the company’s bankruptcy in 2001.
Bethlehem Steel was largely responsible for ushering in the age of the skyscraper establishing Bethlehem Steel as the principal supplier of steel to the construction industry.
In the 1890’s the US decided to rebuild the United States Navy with steam-driven, steel-hulled warships reshaped Bethlehem Iron Company’s destiny.
The furnaces each produced 2,600-3,000 tons of iron per day. Producing one ton of iron requires 3,366 pounds of ore, 1,676 pounds of coke and 724 pounds of limestone
One interesting faq: Bethlehem Steel Produced the beams to create the Golden Gate Bridge!
Rather than demolish this iconic piece of history or let it fall apart, the community rallied to bring new life to the former industrial giant. Today, the former steel plant is once again thriving, this time as one of the ultimate destinations in the Northeast for the arts.
This past June a recently elevated walkway bridge was opened to allow visitors an up close and personal steel stack experience. The bridge is free to the public.
http://www.kaltura.com/p/557781/sp/55778100/embedIframeJs/uiconf_id/11824851/partner_id/557781http://www.kaltura.com/index.php/kwidget/wid/1_119zg32t/uiconf_id/11824851
Today this area is host to many events full of arts and culture. Don’t forget to check out the website for any events at this site.
Plus many MANY more!
A Tattoo On His Palm 
i remember always hearing about them when i was growing up 😀
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Wow! This is really cool!!! ❤
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Thanks! And thanks for visiting!
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I bet there was a ton of smoke coming from all those steel stacks at one time, and tons of people running around everywhere who used to be employed there. Thanks for sharing. #MidLifeLuv
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Yes, it looked very busy!
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While I reading this, all I could think was, wasn’t Bethlehem Steel one of the companies used in Madmen?
Love seeing the pictures and hearing about the history. Thank you
Marissa
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I honestly dont know if it was used for that or not. Maybe I will try to look it up.
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Very interesting! The next time I’m on the Golden Gate Bridge I will remember this.
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It’s a small world. 🙂
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My husband and I LOVE history like this – even though it is an old non-productive building and site, it is beautiful and full of life and stories. This is awesome!
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Thank you so much! Please come back again!
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That looks like an amazing place to explore. My son would like the train tracks best.
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Yes, I thought they were cool.
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I live in the steel town of the north and we have two functioning steel plants in our city. Pretty much everyone I know has a family member that works for one or the other. My father, retired now, was the hoisting engineer that unloaded and loaded the ships. I found his stories fascinating. Thank you so much for sharing on my linky #MidLifeLuv. And I love your photos!
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I love your photos – looks like the perfect setting for a murder mystery or a post apocalyptic science fiction movie.
#midlifeluv
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LOL. Yes, it certainly does!
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Wow! Great info…and I love your photos. That’s cool that it’s open to the public and they host a lot of arts events there. I especially love your title…it cracked me up.
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Definitely worth a visit!
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Wow so much history here! Bethlehem Steel Stacks was a iconic company in U.S. history. I love all the really great pictures! May try to visit sometime.
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It is very interesting. My husband would like to see it lit up.
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