Exploring Cleveland Cliffs From Above: Blast Furnaces, Powerhouses, And Casters

Cleveland's steel industry thrived thanks to its prime location. Here's a glimpse into its history:
Perfect Location: Situated on Lake Erie with access to railroads, Cleveland became a natural hub for iron ore and coal to meet, key ingredients for steel production [Encyclopedia of Cleveland History]. By the mid-1800s, some argued Cleveland had an advantage over even Pittsburgh for steel manufacturing due to transportation costs [Encyclopedia of Cleveland History].
Pioneering Steelmakers: Cleveland wasn't shy about embracing new technologies. In 1868, the Cleveland Rolling Mill became the first west of the Alleghenies to successfully employ Bessemer converters, a new method for steel production [Teaching Cleveland Digital]. The Otis Iron & Steel Company, founded in 1873, built the first open-hearth furnace in the country specifically designed for steel production [Teaching Cleveland Digital].
Steel Takes Over: The 1870s and 1880s saw a shift from iron to steel as the primary metal produced in Ohio, with Cleveland playing a major role. By 1892, Ohio ranked second in steel production nationally, behind Pennsylvania [Teaching Cleveland Digital].
Consolidation & Beyond: The early 1900s saw companies like Otis Steel and Cleveland Rolling Mill become part of larger corporations like U.S. Steel [Encyclopedia of Cleveland History]. Cleveland's steel industry continued to be a major force for decades, though it faced challenges in the later 20th century.
#1SP, #2SP, C5 and C6 blast furnaces, water treatment, #1 Powerhouse, hot rolling mill, BOFs (Basic Oxygen Furnaces), 80" Continuous Caster, and more.
The Cleveland works is one of the largest ( second after Indiana harbor/east Chicago ?) mills in N America and one of the most efficient.
#steelfactory #steelmill #steelindustry #blastfurnace
Thanks for watching the video Cleveland Steel Industry - An Aerial Tour of Blast Furnaces, Powerhouses, and Casters

[@HelenFAdams-ul6ho]

❤What a fantastic tribute to an industry that fed, clothed, housed, and educated many Ohio grateful residents. I love the video.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Thank you!

[@Bang-Bang415]

Great video. I work in a US steel mill in Pittsburg Ca before in closed last year. Got hired 4 months out of high school and it was some of the best times I’ve had. Worked with lots of great and crazy old timers.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Thank you! I'll be making a few more, I think.

[@PNWBootreview]

As a contractor who had done work in all those sites, thanks. I was in #1 powerhouse for 14 months.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Sure thing! Stay tuned, I plan to go back at night and make a couple of hyperlapses! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ-tfoRoidJ4mcU

[@KevinArth]

I've always been fascinated by these structures, but have only ever seen them from a distance. This is a very cool new perspective.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Thanks!

[@thomasgevry8890]

Excellent Work. As a CLIFFS shareholder, I loved it. Good Choice in accompanying music. Now time to get CLIFFs to fix some of the roofs ...

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

lol thank you. I love that piece.

[@savagehemian1630]

Going to be building and detailng 2 HO scale Blast Furnace models this fall/winter. 🙏 Thank you for creating this video.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Thanks! I plan to go back at night to create some hyperlapse videos now that I know where I can park and launch legally and maintain line of sight. I'd love to be able to get closer to C5 and C5 blast furnaces, if you know anywhere that's public property?

[@uberlpn]

Yeah ours was prime location in Lackawanna, NY but Bethlehem never spent a penny on upgrades so it shut, leaving a disgusting shitpit for the taxpayers to deal with!!! Enjoyed the video very much, Thank You!

[@lisk3822]

Fantastic flyover. thanks for the video.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Sure thing! I love doing it!

[@timothyreed6054]

My son inlaw works there. Maintenance.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Share the video with him :) And please subscribe to my channel!

[@repaircollc]

So cool thanks for showing us! If you dont mind what drone was used for this?

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

DJI Mavic 3

[@psychiatry-is-eugenics]

3:05 bop ? How many blast furnaces are still in operation on the Great Lakes ?

[@grafzepplin5944]

Excellent. Not much activity though, was this shot on a a weekend?

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

Yes, on a Sunday.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

I want to go back at night to make some hyperlapses.

[@georgepretnick4460]

The blast furnace remains the primary method of reducing iron ore first into cast iron, then by Bessemer converter to steel. The world and the USA needs steel. It is impossible to make steel in the required quantities without releasing a lot of carbon dioxide and other pollutants. It is to the great credit of the Cleveland and American steel industry that they have 'cleaned up' the process, at no small expense. Other countries like China and India can make cheaper steel because they still pollute unrestricted.

[@LinasMuliolisC21Homestar]

And the EPA. The river caught fire many times over maybe 150 years. I'm glad it's so much cleaner now. Vote to prevent Project 2025 becoming a reality. It would gut the EPA. Our river is clean because of it. www.smithsonianmag.com/history/cuyahoga-river-caught-fire-least-dozen-times-no-one-cared-until-1969-180972444/