happyly approved

Furnace Town Historic Site

3816 Old Furnace Rd, Snow Hill, MD 21863

April 1 - October 31 Daily 10:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Last admission sold @ 4:00 p.m. (Paul Leifer Nature Trail is open all year)

$$

hikes, museums, fun-paid-activities, outdoor-adventures

Furnace Town in Snow Hill, Maryland

Furnace Town Historic VIllage is one of the more unique attractions that you can find on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Their stated mission is to “share the lore of those who worked in service of the Nassawango Iron Furnace, and lived in the Pocomoke Forest.  We steward and interpret the village of historic buildings, and their collections, to provide connections to and understanding of the past and the natural world.” 

I have to say, after an afternoon at Furnace Town, they are hitting their mission out of the park. I’ll admit that I’m kind of a history nerd but even my children (who don’t tend to follow in my footsteps on this particular interest) enjoyed our visit to the site. Visitors can step inside an old print shop, broom house, woodworking shop, and more. The kids personal favorite was the one room schoolhouse. 

If history isn’t your thing, Furnace Town also offers The Paul Leifer Nature Trail. The trail will lead you through the Pocomoke Forest on a moderately-paced walk (1 hour) along a figure-eight trail with boardwalks over the Nassawango Cypress Swamp. A route around the bottom of the "8" (1/2 hour) will give a taste of the swamp with no boardwalks. The forest trees and undergrowth, nature's cleaning system, abound with plant and animal life. (If you’re planning on walking the trail, we recommend a thorough coating of bug spray!)

The pathway through the village is easily traversed by little legs or a stroller and there is a bathroom available at the visitor center. There is no food available on site but you can enjoy snacks or a picnic lunch outside. (If you’re looking for a bite to eat, The Daily Brew Coffee House is a great little spot on the main street in Snow Hill.)

If you’re planning a vacation to the eastern shore of Maryland and you’re looking for something a little different, Furnace Town is a great way to soak in some nature and some kid-friendly history, all in the same spot!

Features

Restrooms Good for All Ages Hiking Nature
Thoughtfully captured by:
Katie Raspa
Our work in Baltimore is truly a family affair. Husband and wife, Matt and Katie, work together to head up our ambassador team in Charm City. Katie is a Maryland native and has lived in the state her whole life. She moved to Baltimore in 2007 after graduating from the University of Maryland, College Park with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education. She has been working in the field of early childhood education as a teacher and family coach for the past 12 years. Katie also holds a Masters of Education in Literacy from Loyola University. She is passionate about giving kids and families the knowledge and tools that they need to thrive. Matt grew up in the Highlandtown neighborhood of Baltimore. As a city native, Matt is a great resource on all that the city has to offer. After months of helping Katie explore the city for her role at a Happy Active Family, he decided to put his love of writing to use and officially come on board as an ambassador. Matt and Katie have two girls, ages 5 and 7. They spend their weekends camping, hiking, or exploring other hidden gems in their area. Tap into their insider knowledge by downloading the app today!
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