Not being a native to the area, I wanted to understand the history of steel to this area of the country. I had heard about the tours offered of the Carrie Furnace (during good weather months from Spring to Fall) and discovered the Rivers of Steel National Heritage museum.
This little museum, which is just across and down the river a bit from the Carrie Furnace (which was not open for viewing or tours during the cold month of Feb when I was ther), is a good comprehensive look at the history of steel and iron in Pittsburgh.
Spanning about 125 years with the Jones and Laughlin Steel Corporation, this museum is a testament to the hardworking people of the area. The museum is not big, but tells the history of steel and shows the iconic testimonies of steel, how it's made, the people of steel and the cities along the valley. There are a few videos that you can also sit and watch that punctuates what you see on the walls
Steel is a chapter in the history of this country and it is great to see it being preserved so I bought fully by this organization.