Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site

Last updated: January 8, 2023

I love that I was able to take nine days and explore New England. While that’s definitely not enough time to thoroughly visit Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, it was enough time to get just a taste to know I want to go back!

My main goal while in Massachusetts was to visit Salem and see all 15 National Park Service sites, but only had time for 13 (and I barely got those in!). Not to mention Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Oh well… I guess I’ll have to go back, darn it. 😉

Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site

Saugus Iron Works National Historical Site is the site of the first integrated ironworks in North America, founded by John Winthrop the Younger and in operation between 1646 and approximately 1670. It includes the reconstructed blast furnace, forge, rolling mill, shear, slitter and a quarter-ton trip hammer.

The facility is powered by seven large waterwheels, some of which are rigged to work in tandem with huge wooden gears connecting them. It has a wharf to load the iron onto ocean-going vessels, as well as a large, restored 17th-century house.