Tannehill Ironworks
The historic ironworks date
from the Civil War era and are
a focal point of the park.
The historic ironworks date
from the Civil War era and are
a focal point of the park.
Alabama Scenery
Tannehill Ironworks Historical
State Park also offers a wide
variety of beautiful scenery.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical
State Park also offers a wide
variety of beautiful scenery.
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park - McCalla, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Alabama
ExploreSouthernHistory.com - Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park, Alabama
| Tannehill Ironworks Three massive Civil War era blast furnaces have been beautifully restored and can now be explored at Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park |
Civil War Ironworks in Alabama
Just as it became in later years for the nation
as a whole, the state of Alabama was a vital
center of iron production for the Confederate
states during the Civil War. This industry that
proved so vital to the Southern war effort can
be explored at the remarkable Tannehill
Ironworks Historical State Park.
Located in off Interstate 59 less than 30
minutes from downtown Birmingham,
Tannehill was a major facility for the
production of iron during the Civil War. The
well-preserved site has been beautifully
restored and now is the focal point of a park
that is among the finest in the state.
The production of iron at the site actually
began in 1830 when Daniel Hillman built a
forge on the banks of Roupes Creek. He died
within two years and the facility was taken
over by Ninian Tannehill, who operated it as
a sideline to his more profitable farming
operation.
In 1859, however, the small forge evolved
into something much greater. A slave labor
force began work on the massive Tannehill
No. 1 furnace, designed by ironmaster
Moses Stroup. Over the next four years,
hundreds of slaves hand cut sandstone
blocks and pulled them on skids to the site
for use in the building of three large blast
furnaces.
By 1863, the Tannehill Ironworks could
produce 22 tons of desperately needed iron
per day. Used for the casting of artillery,
cookware and even cast iron stoves for the
Confederate army, the iron produced at
Tannehill contributed significantly to the
Southern war effort. Around 500 workers lived
in cabins on the site and the facility also
included a gristmill, tannery and tax-in-kind
warehouse.
Remarkably, Tannehill operated to within one
week of the surrender of Robert E. Lee. The
death blow to the facility finally came on
March 31, 1865, when it was targeted by the
troops of Union General James Wilson.
As Wilson and his men pushed south
through Alabama, they targeted the iron
facilities throughout the central part of the
state. Three companies from the 8th Iowa
Cavalry seized Tannehill on March 31st and
by the end of the day, the wooden parts of the
facility had been reduced to ashes and the
massive stone furnaces were no longer
operational.
as a whole, the state of Alabama was a vital
center of iron production for the Confederate
states during the Civil War. This industry that
proved so vital to the Southern war effort can
be explored at the remarkable Tannehill
Ironworks Historical State Park.
Located in off Interstate 59 less than 30
minutes from downtown Birmingham,
Tannehill was a major facility for the
production of iron during the Civil War. The
well-preserved site has been beautifully
restored and now is the focal point of a park
that is among the finest in the state.
The production of iron at the site actually
began in 1830 when Daniel Hillman built a
forge on the banks of Roupes Creek. He died
within two years and the facility was taken
over by Ninian Tannehill, who operated it as
a sideline to his more profitable farming
operation.
In 1859, however, the small forge evolved
into something much greater. A slave labor
force began work on the massive Tannehill
No. 1 furnace, designed by ironmaster
Moses Stroup. Over the next four years,
hundreds of slaves hand cut sandstone
blocks and pulled them on skids to the site
for use in the building of three large blast
furnaces.
By 1863, the Tannehill Ironworks could
produce 22 tons of desperately needed iron
per day. Used for the casting of artillery,
cookware and even cast iron stoves for the
Confederate army, the iron produced at
Tannehill contributed significantly to the
Southern war effort. Around 500 workers lived
in cabins on the site and the facility also
included a gristmill, tannery and tax-in-kind
warehouse.
Remarkably, Tannehill operated to within one
week of the surrender of Robert E. Lee. The
death blow to the facility finally came on
March 31, 1865, when it was targeted by the
troops of Union General James Wilson.
As Wilson and his men pushed south
through Alabama, they targeted the iron
facilities throughout the central part of the
state. Three companies from the 8th Iowa
Cavalry seized Tannehill on March 31st and
by the end of the day, the wooden parts of the
facility had been reduced to ashes and the
massive stone furnaces were no longer
operational.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
The beautifully restored Civil War facility is
now the centerpiece of the 1,500 acre
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. In
addition to the ironworks, the park also
preserves a number of other historical
structures and is home to the outstanding
Alabama Iron and Steel Museum. Tannehill
also offers a variety of other attractions,
including hiking trails, picnic areas, camping,
cabins, a restaurant, miniature train and
much more. Please click here to visit their
official website for more information.
Easily accessed via either Exit 100 from
Interstate 59 or Exit 1 from Interstate 459,
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is
open daily. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for
Seniors (age 62 and older) and $1 for kids
ages 6-11. Children 5 and under are
admitted free. The park address is 12632
Confederate Parkway, McCalla, Alabama.
Also see the Sadler House just outside the
park. Its original portions date from 1817.
now the centerpiece of the 1,500 acre
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park. In
addition to the ironworks, the park also
preserves a number of other historical
structures and is home to the outstanding
Alabama Iron and Steel Museum. Tannehill
also offers a variety of other attractions,
including hiking trails, picnic areas, camping,
cabins, a restaurant, miniature train and
much more. Please click here to visit their
official website for more information.
Easily accessed via either Exit 100 from
Interstate 59 or Exit 1 from Interstate 459,
Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park is
open daily. Admission is $3 for adults, $2 for
Seniors (age 62 and older) and $1 for kids
ages 6-11. Children 5 and under are
admitted free. The park address is 12632
Confederate Parkway, McCalla, Alabama.
Also see the Sadler House just outside the
park. Its original portions date from 1817.
A Civil War Landmark
Tannehill was broken up by
Union soldiers near the end
of the Civil War.
Tannehill was broken up by
Union soldiers near the end
of the Civil War.
Online Tour of Tannehill Ironworks Park
Alabama Iron and Steel Museum
Historic Sadler Plantation House
Wilson's Raid, 1865
Birmingham, Alabama
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Alabama
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Alabama Iron and Steel Museum
Historic Sadler Plantation House
Wilson's Raid, 1865
Birmingham, Alabama
Historic Sites & Points of Interest
Historic Sites in Alabama
Explore other Southern Historic Sites
Iron and Steel Museum
Tannehill is also home to the
Alabama Iron and Steel
Museum, a fascinating facility
that interprets the history of
the state's famed iron and
steel industry.
Tannehill is also home to the
Alabama Iron and Steel
Museum, a fascinating facility
that interprets the history of
the state's famed iron and
steel industry.
| Photos of Tannehill by Lauren McCormick |
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| Copyright 2011 by Dale Cox All rights reserved. |