Incredible history can be found in the most unobtrusive places. Such is the story of the Shelby Iron Works. Located near the geographic center of Alabama, in the small, quiet town of Shelby, lies the remains of Alabama’s largest charcoal blast furnace. These remains give scant evidence to the important role it played during the Civil War and Alabama’s fledgling iron industry. Despite operating for over half a century, this landmark would have faded in memory without the preservation efforts of the Historic Shelby Association.