These now unassuming ruins grace the banks of the Mississippi more as a natural feature of the landscape and less as man-made creations. These furnaces, which total about 8, spat in the face of the Mississippi as its waters swelled well out of their banks (the surrounding plant life didn't fare as well) 2 springs ago. The high waters merely polished the furnaces' facades and brightened their spaces up a bit. But what is the history of the structures? Well, back during the mid 19th century Grand Tower was a boom town with a population in the 1000s. Its central location along the Mississippi, plus its proximity to the confluences of 3 major rivers with the Mississippi made it an ideal location for industry. Namely the iron industry. Iron ore could be shipped from virtually anywhere in the country and could then be refined in one of these furnaces -- which were fueled by southern Illinois coal. I think there may have been a key ingredient found just across the river in Mo as well. The iron could then be used for the expanding rail system, or for whatever other developmental needs of the time. Melted iron still coats the exterior of several of the furnaces. The large one in the photo look like a contorted face. 

These things are spooky even on a clear spring day!