Visiting the site: 

• When are you open?
  • The Museum of the Ironworker is open Wednesday-Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day) and the rest of the year our hours are Saturday-Sunday, 10 am to 2 pm. The kitchen garden and trails are open daily from dawn to dusk.

  • Important Notice: Temporary Closure for Maintenance – January 2025

    Dear Visitors,

    Our museum will be closed for painting and cleaning throughout the month of January 2025. During this time, we will be open by appointment on weekends only. If you’d like to schedule a visit, please reach out to us in advance, and we’ll be happy to arrange a time.

    We appreciate your understanding and look forward to welcoming you back in February with a refreshed space.

    Thank you for your continued support.

• Parking During Events 
  • Buses and Mini-Buses: Must be in contact with us prior to your visit to that you may receive parking directions.
    • Parking during the Maryland Iron Festival (Every third weekend in May): Vehicles are forbidden to enter the area due to the road closure (unless given written permission by the historical society in advance of the event) so that visitors can walk in the village freely. Please get in touch with us by filling out the “Contact Us” form with the subject line to receive more information on our parking instructions. 
    • Personal vehicles are forbidden to enter the festival area during the Maryland Iron Festival. Every year we arrange a bus with ADA accessibility to take visitors from the parking area (more information to come) into the festival area. 
  • Furnace Parking Lot (12698 Catoctin Furnace Road)
    • Level 2 Electric Car Charging Station First Energy and DNR worked with CFHS to install the EV station. While you step back in time at Catoctin Furnace, your electric vehicle can charge up at our brand new Level 2 charging station located in the furnace parking lot, 12698 Catoctin Furnace Road.The charging station is located in the parking lot in front of the furnace. From the parking lot you will need to proceed down the African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail and follow the signs leading to the Museum of Ironworker. 
• Accessibility
  • `The structures are close together with unpaved trails and grass surfaces surrounding the majority of the buildings. The Museum of the Ironworker is ADA accessible. A portable ramp to the Collier’s Log House is available and can be installed immediately by our staff for access. The African American Cemetery Interpretive Trail is ADA compliant; however, certain access points are not. If you have questions or concerns please call 240-288-7396 or fill out the “Contact Us” from to discuss prior to your visit. 

• May I bring my dog?
  • Yes! Dogs are more than welcome on the grounds as long as they are on a leash. However, they are not allowed to go into the museum or historic buildings. 
• I would like to arrange a group visit. How do I do that?  
  • No problem, at this time we have a group minimum of five per tour and they must be booked in advance. Click here to be redirected to our guided tour scheduling page: https://catoctinfurnace.org/guided-tour/
• Covid-19 and Masking?
  • The historic buildings and museum are small. Although do not require that you wear one, we caution that visitors will be in close quarters while indoors.