Musselman-Vesta Iron Furnace Center has a mission of promoting local history. Thanks to its efforts, the organization won the 2020 Outstanding Social Studies Program award from the Pennsylvania Council of Social Studies. The center, located at 26 Furnace Road, Marietta, received the award in October at a virtual ceremony for its program "Iron Around the Bend."

The program tells the story of the iron industry and its importance to Lancaster County, said David Haneman, Rivertownes PA USA president.

"The county has a rich history, especially when it comes to iron furnaces," he noted. At one time, eight iron furnaces operated along a 2.5-mile stretch between Columbia and Marietta. The anthracite coal that was plentiful in eastern Pennsylvania made the county a perfect spot for these furnaces, he said, adding that iron furnaces replaced the charcoal furnaces used before the mid-1800s.

Musselman-Vesta Iron Furnace Center's building is located on the site of the original office building from the last of the local furnaces, Haneman stated, noting that it took about 10 years to restore the building.

"We have a number of displays and exhibits there," he said. "We have an HO-scale model of what the furnace complex would have looked like. It's interesting for both students and adults to visit."

Although programs are offered on a limited basis now due to COVID-19, the center regularly holds activities for school groups and the public and provides educational materials.

"We have an iron furnace walking guide for people who are walking along the Northwest River Trail," Haneman said. "It's a pocket guide, and it talks about the iron industry. That has been very popular, and we're currently looking into getting it reprinted because we've given out close to 8,000 copies over the past two and a half years."

Haneman said the organization learned about the social studies award last year from a board member, who suggested applying.

"We sent them everything we had, because we didn't really know what they wanted," he recalled. "In September, we got the notification that we had won."

Criteria for the award included an exemplary social studies curricular program, as well as a program that encouraged creative ideas, innovative teaching and involvement of students, the community and teachers.

"For a little nonprofit like ours that's all run by volunteers, it was an honor to even be considered for this award," Haneman noted. "It was incredible to learn that we were considered the best in the state."

He said everything the center does is meant to highlight the history of the region and to keep that history alive.

"This is history that has not been written down, and it's not being taught in schools," he remarked. "It's important for people to know the history of our area."