Join Friends of Taconic State Park for tours of the historic Copake Iron Works. Established in 1845 along Bash Bish Brook at the base of the Taconic Ridge, the Copake Iron Works and 18 acres surrounding the area were listed on the State and National Register of Historic Sites in 2007.

The Copake Iron Works Historic District comprises all of the buildings in the Iron Works area, the historic blast furnace, three workers’ houses, and the now-flooded ore pit, as well as the previously National Register-listed Church of St. John in the Wilderness. Included in the tours will be a museum, newly opened to the public, where on display are a series of iron artifacts, ranging from plow parts to chisels and unknown objects. Each item has been catalogued by members of the Historic Preservation Committee of Friends of Taconic State Park.

In its heyday, a total of 5,000 tons of iron ore were wheeled into Copake Falls each year from surrounding towns such as Pawling and Amenia. The walking tours include stops at up to 25 points of interest in the Copake Iron Works precinct, where new, informative signs interpret the legacy of this historic and culturally significant site. Free tours are given rain or shine, beginning at 2:00 PM and concluding at 4:00 PM.

For information, email Brian Boom at president@friendsoftsp.org or call 917-885-0691.