Mine Hill Preserve: A Glimpse into Connecticut's Industrial Past

Mine Hill Preserve, located in Roxbury, Connecticut, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and industrial history. This 360-acre preserve, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was once a bustling iron mining and production site in the 19th century. From 1865 to 1872, the Shepaug Spathic Iron and Steel Company extracted iron ore here, processed it in roaring furnaces, and even attempted steel production. Visitors can explore the well-preserved remains of this industrial endeavor, including a massive cold blast furnace, roasting ovens, and quarry sites. Interpretive signs are placed throughout the preserve, detailing the history of Mine Hill, the iron-making process, and its impact on the surrounding region. The signs also highlight the granite quarries that prospered here, providing stone for notable structures from New York City to New Britain. The preserve features over six miles of hillside hiking trails that wind through scenic woodlands and rocky terrain. The main loop trail, marked with blue blazes, is 3.5 miles long and passes by mine tunnels, grated air shafts (now bat habitats), and abandoned quarries. Another trail leads to a reservoir. Mine Hill Preserve provides a fascinating glimpse into Connecticut's industrial past, set amidst a landscape of natural beauty. It's a place where you can hike through history, explore remnants of a bygone era, and appreciate the natural resources that shaped the region.