The Catoctin Furnace Friends Group shares the stories of those who passed through Catoctin Furnace—enslaved individuals, immigrants, and free workers alike. We honor their resilience and contributions, whether they were forced into unpaid labor under unimaginable oppression or chose to work and make the Catoctin Mountains their home.
These often-overlooked patriots played a vital role in shaping the industrial and military foundations that helped forge a great nation.
The Friends Group was formed to engage the descendant communities and families of Catoctin ironworkers in an exciting and groundbreaking effort to reclaim, rescue, and share the overlooked story of Catoctin’s ironworkers and their families, especially the heretofore unknown African American workers. Our intent is to create a place to empower and equip a new descendant-led and family-led organization to preserve and manage the cemetery and create a new community of descendants.
Honoring the 271 known individuals buried at Catoctin Furnace. The cemetery was acquired in 2025 and will be protected forever under Maryland State Parks.
Connecting descendants of Catoctin Furnace ironworkers through genealogy research, reunions, and shared heritage. Our inaugural reunion was held in September 2024.
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12610 Catoctin Furnace Road Thurmont, MD 21788
info@catoctinfurnacefriends.org
Join as a member or make a donation to help preserve Catoctin Furnace history.
