Ranger conducts a tour of the Iron Works House at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

GENERAL INFORMATION

There are two Ranger-guided tours given at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site: a tour of the Iron Works House and a tour of the Iron Works Industrial Site. The only way into the house is on a tour, whereas you can see the Industrial Site on your own if need be. Tours are held from mid-May until October 31st on Wednesdays through Sundays. The Iron Works House Tour is typically at 11 AM and the Industrial Site Tour at 2 PM. There is also a Waterwheel Demonstration held on Fridays and Saturdays at 10 AM. Keep in mind that times and dates can always change, so be sure to get the current schedule on the National Park Service’s official Things to Do web page.

I suggest arriving to the park no earlier than an hour before the tour you want to take because outside of the tours, there’s not much to do. Arriving an hour early gives you time to register for the Iron Works House tour (no registration is required for the Industrial Site tour) and check out the Iron Works Museum. After the tours, you can walk the short Nature Trail, which starts at the far end of the Industrial Site.

For those who can’t catch either of the tours, there is an audio tour available that is accessible through the National Park Service App. This is available for Android and Apple phones.

IRON WORKS HOUSE TOUR

Iron Works House at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

The forty-five minute tour of the Iron Works House is limited to eight people, so you must sign up in person at the Visitor Center on the day of the tour. If you have a group of ten or more, you must make a reservation in advance by calling the park at (781) 233-0050. I visited on a Saturday and a Wednesday in mid-August and had no problem getting a spot. Needless to say, Saugus Iron Works is not one of the more popular National Park sites.

The tour only includes the lower floor of the Iron Works House. A couple rooms are furnished with antique and reproduction furniture of the time period, but no original furniture remains. Probate records still exist—records of what was in a house when the owner died—and these were referred to when determining what sort of furniture to include. Other than that, it’s just a guess as to what the rooms looked like. Most of the decorations are based on typical furnishings of other homes in the late 1600s.

Parlor of the Iron Works House at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Lower floor fireplace in the Iron Works House at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

Other rooms are used for exhibits. I am not a fan of exhibits that are only accessible on a tour because there is no time to read the information. However, in this case the Ranger does summarize most of what is on display.

Exhibits inside the Iron Works House at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

IRON WORKS INDUSTRIAL SITE TOUR

Saugus Iron Works Industrial Site

There is no limit on the number of participants for the Iron Works Industrial Site Tour, so there is no need to register in advance. Just meet at the outdoor model located on the pathway to the blast furnace a few minutes before the tour begins. The tour stops at the blast furnace, finery forge, and the rolling and slitting mill, the three main buildings at the industrial site.

Model of Saugus Iron Works on the grounds of Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

When you arrive at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site, you will find yourself on a hill above the industrial complex. The tour begins at the charging hole of the blast furnace, which is also at the top of the hill. To reach the rest of the site you must walk down into the valley (and of course walk back up when done). There is a ramp for those who can’t climb stairs, but if you are in a wheelchair, you will most likely still need assistance unless you are a Paralympic champion. Wheelchairs can access all of the main buildings.

Hilly terrain at Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site

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