The home works, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, this mill shut down in the early 1990s. After a few false starts and some occasional controversy, a redevelopment of the substantial property has made notable progress. The Sands Casino and a hotel are open and a number of adaptive re-use efforts are underway. Part of the plan is to create an industrial heritage museum which will include retaining the blast furnaces.

In July 2011, Ye Olde Photographer and his Faire Spouse dropped by the site with no particular plan, had lunch at the casino, then wandered in the direction of the furnaces (they are easy to spot!) With uncharacteristic luck we found parking quite close to the furnaces and some other old buildings, but also found ourselves with front row views of the setting up of a large steel sculptural piece. Two cranes were used to load the piece on a flatbed truck, after which it was moved to its final location and unloaded and positioned by the cranes - lots to see.

The sculpture is a tapered arch, supported from one end. It is made out of a steel alloy that will form a stable rust color and can be left unpainted. The cool part is there is a slot across the top of the arch that will permit a gas flame to be ignited. That should be quite spectacular. The artistic design is by Elena Columbo, who was there to see her work installed.

There are new spaces for ArtsQuest and there is an outdoor stage area, the Levitt Pavilion directly in front of the blast furnaces, prompting the name "Steel Stacks" for the plaza in front. Already there are a series of concerts happening at this venue.

In July 2012 we returned to this site after threatened and actual rain dampened our notions of hiking along the Lehigh Canal on the towpath trail. Between showers, and occasionally working under an umbrella, we added more views (the color shots) of this site. The base of the sculpture installed last year now has cast plaques listing some of the major projects and uses of steel from Bethlehem, an awesome list.

Ye Olde Photographer has a few other shots of the town of Bethlehem in another of his PBase galleries.