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Forges du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site of Canada

On-line Visit

The Blast Furnace

This photograph shows visitors and a guide-interpreter on the blast furnace footbridge. They are learning about the big wheel, which is activated by water, its mechanism and how it operates. Hydraulic system, blast furnace complex.
© Parks Canada / Eugen Kedl / CDMG-3820-05, 2002

The archaeological vestiges of the blast furnace have been displayed in a way that may be initially surprising, if not actually disturbing. The framework of metal tubing was designed to provide a gauge of the exterior volumes of the various buildings which at one time surrounded the blast furnace, forming an intricate complex with the latter.

The blast furnace was the very heart of the Forges. For more than 150 years, thousands of tons of pig iron were produced on this site, in what amounted to an important first step toward producing castings and wrought iron objects.

Come on in! The inside is as surprising as the outside. Follow the guides.

Inside The Blast Furnace

This photograph shows a guide-interpreter describing flask moulding (wooden boxes filled with sand), used at the Forges du Saint-Maurice. On a table in front of them there are a wooden flask and instruments that were used at the time, for this type of moulding. Moulding shop, blast furnace complex.
© Parks Canada / Eugen Kedl / CDMG-3828-09, 2002

What raw materials went into the production of cast iron? How and where was iron ore to be found? Why were limestone and charcoal used?

The guide-interpreters will explain in detail how the blast furnace worked, and how quality cast iron was produced on site. They will also show you how molten iron was cast in sand moulds. You will have the opportunity of handling a number of site-related objects and participating in an interpretation activity in the moulding shop.

The guides will also start up the hydraulic mechanism of the great wheel outside, which was once used to operate the bellows of the blast furnace. The effect is nothing short of spectacular!

Once you have finished exploring the blast furnace, head down to the lower forge, where the pig iron was converted into bar iron.

The Lower Forge

This photograph shows the lower forge's stone chimney, surrounded by remains. Further away is a group listening to a guide-interpreter . Chimney and remains of the lower forge.
© Parks Canada / Pierre Ferrer / CDPF-03-08-27, 2001

By taking the trail along the St. Maurice Creek, you will pass in front of the vestiges of the upper forge and of the flour and wood mill.
You will soon seen a very tall stone chimney, an amazing vestige rising almost 15 m above the ground. It is in fact the chimney of the lower forge, which was built a few dozen metres from the St. Maurice River.

An amphitheatre is now located on the spot. There, you may sit in comfort while the guides explain how ingots or pigs were refined and rehammered until forming bar iron.

It's a beautiful riverside site you won't want to pass up.

Date Modified 2009-07-13
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