On a recent hike in the Catoctin Mountain Park, we hiked the Charcoal trail.  It was super informative and sparked our interest in the industry.  We had stumbled upon the preserved Catoctin Furnace a few months earlier while we were the way to the Catoctin Zoo.  We hadn't explored to deeply, so we decided to go back and check it out and see where the charcoal that we created up on in the mountains was used.

The signs along the road are unobtrusive, announcing the 'historic Catoctin Furnace District".  I had driven by them numerous times and paid them no attention, but when I finally drove down that road, a whole new world of history opened up to me.  

The Catoctin Furnace was in blast and operational as early as 1776 when it was instrumental in providing munitions to George Washington and his men.  The furnace remained in operation, under different ownership until 1903.  The grounds are well maintained and where applicable, beautifully restored. The Catoctin Furnace complex is spread out throughout the historic district but is all within short walking distance 

The Catoctin Furnace Museum is housed in a restored iron workers house.  This free museum is bright and cheery and the volunteers were quite friendly.  As you walk in, a map of the complex is affixed to the floor allowing you to get a clear view of where you are and what there is to see as you explore this historical site. 

The museum has a good number of artifacts on display.  There are both items that were used at the iron works as well as items that were created and manufactured at this site.  The displays are informative and interesting to see.  The museum is not large.  It only took us about 30 minutes give or take to view all it had to offer.  Before we left, the volunteer manning the visitor center reminded us of the places that we should check out within the complex.   We headed outside and started to explore. 

The museum has restored two of the old houses in the area to use for museum purposes.  The first building is a two story log cabin that was a colliers house.  This home in particular housed two different families.  Many times, these families would take in boarders to supplement their income.

The second house  is the Forgemans house  This stone house is absolutely adorable and has been renovated to include a working bathroom and kitchen.  We were advised that we could peer into the windows but this building can be rented out for overnight trips. 

The furnace is still standing and the historical society has rebuilt the shed that is connected with it.    The size of the furnaces always enthralls me as I can only imagine the heat that must have emanated!

Some of the buildings at the Catoctin Furnace complex are lying in ruins, too far gone to restore.   One of these is the Iron masters Mansion.  This mansion was built on a small hill so that the iron master could keep an eye on the workings of the whole village from the comfort of his own home.   

It is hard to not stand at the ruins of what was once a large and grand house and not notice the difference between the iron master and the colliers houses.

There are two main trails at the Catoctin Furnace.  The first is a short interactive trail that is dotted with signs that give information about the history of the area and the ironworks.  The trail ends at the site of an African America gravesite where workers from the ironwork lay.  The gravesites were discovered during the building of the nearby route 15.  In recent years, archeologists have worked to identify the remains in that are buried here and in the museum they have two busts that were created using the information that they discovered during their archeology expeditions.

The other trail that is on this property is a trail that meanders over streams and through the woods.  It is also an interactive trail that has signs to give more historical information.  This trail will lead you right to the Cunningham Falls State Park. 

This small historical site has been well maintained and preserved.  The history is rich and displayed in a manner that is interesting as well as easy to understand.   Our entire visit took about 2 hours.  That includes visiting all sites and hiking all portions of the short trails.  It is well worth the visit!

To see where they made Charcoal to fuel this furnace check out the Catoctin Charcoal Trail post. 

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We were hiking in the Catoctin Mountain Park recently and I couldn't help but laugh about a situation we had about two years ago during one of our hikes in this gorgeous National Park system area.  It was the day of the great big rattle snake!

Our hike was over and we piled into the car, ready to get cooled down and relax on the drive home.  We didn't have too far to travel.  We lived somewhat locally and had both grown up in the general area surrounding this beautiful park.  We hadn't gotten far from the parking lot when we saw a huge rattlesnake crossing the road.   I had never heard the rattle of a rattlesnake and it had been discussed quite a few times that we wished that I would hear one in a safe environment so that I would immediately know what it sounded like were I to ever encounter one in the wilderness during one of our hikes.  Without thinking we decided to stop the car and get out so that I could hear the rattle from a safe distance.

Very conveniently there was a pull off on the side of the road.  I whipped the car into that pull off, watching the snake the whole time.  We jumped out of the car and made our way to a safe distance from the snake.  IT was watching us, but was never threatened enough to shake it's rattles in a warning.  I snapped a few pictures but nothing.  We were not going to push our luck, so we walked the few feet back to the car.  That is when I realized my mistake!

Big signs dotted the edge of the turn around.  The stated 'no stopping at any time' and big signs prohibiting any pictures being taken.  Oooops!  How could I forget that Camp David was nestled in these woods.  I grew up in this area, I know about this fact but I had somehow just let it slip my mind in my quest to see the snake.   We laughed about our snafu and quickly left the area and drove toward home.

We didn't even make it a half mile down the road before I saw a park police car sitting beside the road.  I knew that they were there because of me.  The pulled behind me and followed me.   I laughed about how I could make a run for it and I could be out of the park before long.  But I knew that was not to be.  I knew that I was getting pulled over  and furthermore, I knew that it wasn't REALLY the park police that would be pulling me over.   

Sure enough, before long the lights flashed on.  I was caught!   I pulled over and remained calm.  It was after all a mistake, even if it was a mistake at a federal level of security.    Two 'park police' men got out of their vehicle.  The were dressed for serious business.  Flak jackets and numerous weapons, definitely NOT park police standard issue.   One came up on each side of the car and they asked us to both put down our windows and I began to answer questions and I tried to not laugh when they tried to skirt the issue and use euphemisms instead of calling it Camp David. 

"NO sir, I didn't pay attention to the signs until it was too late, my mind was elsewhere"

"Yes sir, I actually do know that there as you call it a 'military installation' in these woods'.   

"Well you see sir, I was just trying to see a snake"

"Yes, I did take pictures with my cellphone"

They actually took my cell phone and inspected the pictures that I took.  They could see when flipping through that we had been hiking on valid trails and to allowed places just a short time before.  But it was still nerve wracking.   

They finally let me drive away.  It was obvious that I had just been thinking about one thing and not paying attention to my actual surroundings.  We had a good laugh that day, but I know that in the future I will need to be careful. I am sure that my name is marked in some database system and a second infraction may not go as easily!