Saugus Iron Works
Historic (National Park Service), Saugus, Massachusetts
Saugus Iron Works north of Boston is regarded by the National Park Service as the first successful integrated iron works in the New World, operating from about 1646 to 1670. It made cast and wrought iron goods from pots and firebacks to bar iron for nails and horseshoes. The works were reconstructed and opened in 1954 and joined the National Park System in 1968.
- Company
- Historic (National Park Service)
- Status
- Closed
- Opened
- 1646
- Employees
- Not stated
- Industry
- Steel and metals
- Revised
- November 12, 2026
What is made here
Wrought iron and cast iron products in the 1600s; the reconstructed site is now a national historic site.
Facts
| Significance | Described by the National Park Service as the first successful, integrated iron works in the New World, operating from about 1646 to 1670 (federal: nps.gov) |
|---|---|
| Products | Pig iron, gray iron cast into firebacks, pots, pans and kettles, wrought iron, merchant bars and flat stock for nails, horseshoes and axes (reference: en.wikipedia.org) |
| Founder | Financed by the Company of Undertakers for the Iron Works in New England, organized by John Winthrop the Younger (reference: en.wikipedia.org) |
| Reconstruction | The primary elements were reconstructed by the American Iron and Steel Institute after archaeology begun in the 1940s, opening to the public in 1954 (federal: nps.gov) |
| National Park | Became part of the National Park System on April 5, 1968 (federal: nps.gov) |
Figures are as stated by the source named next to each one. Company figures are the company's own claims.
Can you visit?
Reconstructed works open to visitors as Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (nps.gov) Check the operator's site before you go.
Sources
- NPS: Saugus Iron Works history (federal, checked November 12, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Saugus Iron Works NHS (reference, checked November 12, 2026)
Something changed? Send a correction with a link and we'll recheck it.