Joliet Iron Works Historic Site Provides a Glimpse of Joliet’s (and America’s) Industrial Past 

by anders458, posted in Uncategorized, biking, cross-country skiing, Forest Preserve District of Will County, hiking, Illinois, local history, snowshoeing, U.S. history

BY ANDREW MORKES, FOUNDER AND AUTHOR OF THE NATURE IN CHICAGOLAND BLOG (FOUNDED IN 2017) AND BOOK

Joliet Iron Works Historic Site (31 Columbia Street, Joliet, IL 60432) was eerily quiet when I arrived. The quiet belied the intense industrial activity that took place at this site from the 1870s until the 1930s. During this time, the Union Coal, Iron and Transportation Company’s massive iron and steel factory—with blast furnaces towering 72 feet into the sky—operated to help fuel the nation’s rapid growth after the Civil War. Three thousand men worked at this site each day during its peak, transforming raw materials (iron ore, limestone, and precooked coal) into iron and steel. Early furnaces turned out 50 tons of iron per day, according to the Forest Preserve District of Will County (FPDWC), which manages the site. One in ten Joliet residents worked at the factory during peak production. Immigrants from western Europe comprised its early workforce. They had better English proficiency than other immigrants, were members of unions, and earned higher pay. Later workers hailed from eastern and southern Europe. They had “meager English skills and were afraid to join unions,” according to a sign at the site and, as a result “had lower-paying, unskilled jobs.” The work in many positions was dangerous, with men at risk from suffocation by toxic fumes, burns from extreme heat, and injury from falls to the ground or into the molten production mix.

The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression caused the closure of the facility. The site, stripped of its useful technology and equipment, fell into disarray. The FPDW acquired the remains of the iron works between 1991 and 1997. The site opened in 1998.

The ruins of the factory—and piles and piles of slag and other industrial debris—are all that remain of an industrial facility that once spanned blocks. The 52-acre Joliet Iron Works Historic Site is a fascinating industrial archeological site that preserves the remnants of the facility. Visitors will see the foundations of blast furnaces, 20-foot walls, and other structures from the once mighty factory.

My Visit

I arrived at the Joliet Iron Works on a mid-October morning that started out partly cloudy, but became sunny and humid. I parked and began walking on the 0.59-mile paved trail that spans the site and provides a self-guided interpretive tour. It’s a strange feeling to travel in a modern vehicle, through modern streets, past modern buildings, and then park and begin walking in an industrial wasteland from the 1930s. Piles of slag, broken bricks, and chunks of metal rested on the ground just off the trail. Every turn on the path provided views of a new set of ruins. I eventually reached the first building ruins, some of which rose to 20 feet in the air, while others opened to reveal massive holes in the earth. As I walked, Amtrak trains sped by to the east and noisy freight trains passed to the west. I heard the steady sound of crickets, and I smelled sulfur and burning oil in the breeze that blew from the direction of the nearby freight yard.

From the parking lot, you can also access the 7.57-mile I&M Canal Trail, which parallels the site and then continues on to Lockport. The trail provides opportunities for biking, running, in-line skating, hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. I saw several cyclists as I walked, and a few people were climbing the ruins (including at the top of the largest structure). Going off trail (i.e., climbing on the ruins) is forbidden due to the risk of injury from loose stonework, hidden holes, and sharp metal and stone. There’s plenty to see without venturing off trail, and interpretive signs and elevated trail spurs allow visitors to learn more about and obtain good views of the ruins.

Although this is an industrial site, flocks of migrating birds occasionally moved through the ruins as I walked. And while most of the wildflowers were spent, I did see chicory and evening primrose blooms along the trails. As you walk you will also see church steeples and the Old Joliet Prison, where the famous opening sequence of the 1980 comedy classic The Blues Brothers was filmed. The prison, which was built in the 1850s and closed in 2002, is open for tours.

Joliet Iron Works Historic Site is an amazing piece of American and local industrial history, and I’m glad that the FPDWC continues to manage this site for visitors. My only quibble is that while the signage explained a lot about the workers’ lives, the dangers of their jobs, and the beginnings of the labor safety movement, it did not identify what each area was used for. I did find the following photo that identified 10 buildings/work areas (e.g., blast furnaces, casting bed, gas engine house). I’m not sure if I missed it on site, but it will provide a useful guide during your visit.

Did You Know?

Joliet is known as the “City of Stone and Steel” because of its long history as a producer of steel and extensive quarrying of rich deposits of dolomite limestone.

Although the Joliet Iron Works is just a memory, Illinois factories still account for 5 percent of U.S. steel production, particularly in the northern part of the state and the Chicago area.

Before You Go

Open 8 a.m. to sunset daily, except Christmas.

Enjoy a picnic at the site. The Joliet Iron Works Shelter accommodates up to 100 people and is available for rental.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County occasionally offers guided walking tours of the site. Check out its Events Calendar for more information.

You can watch videos about the history of the site on the district’s website.

Here are two articles from the FPDWC that provide a deeper dive regarding the history of the site:

Joliet Iron Works Steeled in City’s Past

Joliet Iron Works Protects Cultural History

Copyright (text/photos): © Andrew Morkes; except the historic photo of the facility (Library of Congress) and the site map

Looking for some other great nature destinations in Chicagoland? If so, check out my book, Nature in Chicagoland: More Than 120 Fantastic Nature Destinations That You Must Visit. It features amazing destinations in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin. Click on the title to learn more. The book has 306 pages and 210+ photos and is only $19.99.

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ABOUT ANDREW MORKES

I’ve been a writer and editor for more than 30 years. I’m the founder of College & Career Press (2002); the author and publisher of The Morkes Report: College and Career Planning Trends blog; and the author and publisher of Hot Health Care Careers: 30 Occupations With Fast Growth and Many New Job Openings; Nontraditional Careers for Women and Men: More Than 30 Great Jobs for Women and Men With Apprenticeships Through PhDs; They Teach That in College!?: A Resource Guide to More Than 100 Interesting College Majors, which was selected as one of the best books of the year by the library journal Voice of Youth Advocates; and other titles. They Teach That in College!? provides more information on environmental- and sustainability-related majors such as Ecotourism, Range Management, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Built Environment, Sustainability Studies, and Sustainable Agriculture/Organic Farming. I also served as a member of the parent advisory board at my son’s school for five years.

In addition to these publications, I’ve written more than 80 books about careers for other publishing and media companies including Infobase (such as the venerable Encyclopedia of Careers & Vocational Guidance, College Readiness: The Vault Guide for High School Juniors and Seniors, the Vault Career Guide to Consulting, and many volumes in the Careers in Focus, Discovering Careers, What Can I Do Now?!, and Career Skills Library series), Lerner Publishing, and Mason Crest (including those in the Careers in the Building Trades, Hands-On Careers, Social Media Today, Woman in STEM Careers, Getting Started, and Cool Careers in Science series). Many titles that I have written and edited have received positive reviews in Booklist; Voice of Youth Advocates; Library Bookwatch; CHOICE, a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries (a division of the American Library Association); and other publications.

Here’s a list of the environmental- and clean energy-focused titles that I’ve written or co-written:

Articles about my work have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Practical Homeschooling, and other publications. My photographs of musicians, artists, and the natural world have been published in several books. My poetry has been published in Cadence, Wisconsin Review, Poetry Motel, Strong Coffee, and Mid-America Review. As an amateur artist, I’m pleased to say that four of my paintings were included in the 2025 Beverly Art Walk. Additionally, six of my photographs were featured in the 2026 Beverly Art Walk.

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