Steelworks Center of the West

The Steelworks Center of the West tells the story of the Colorado Fuel & Iron Company (CF&I) and the workers who made Pueblo the industrial heart of the American West. At its peak, CF&I employed over 10,000 workers and produced the steel rails that built railroads across the western United States.

The museum occupies the former CF&I administrative building and medical dispensary, themselves historic structures from the company's heyday. Exhibits combine artifacts, photographs, oral histories, and interactive displays to bring the steel era to life.

Main Exhibits

The Steelmaking Process: Interactive displays explain how iron ore, coal, and limestone became steel rails, wire, and other products. Scale models show the massive blast furnaces and rolling mills that once dominated Pueblo's skyline.

Worker Stories: The heart of the museum is the human story. Oral histories, photographs, and personal artifacts document the lives of steelworkers and their families. The diverse workforce - immigrants from dozens of countries - shaped Pueblo's multicultural character.

Company Town: CF&I built housing, hospitals, schools, and recreation facilities for workers. Exhibits explore this paternalistic system and its complex legacy.

Labor History: The museum doesn't shy away from the darker chapters, including the Ludlow Massacre of 1914 when striking miners and their families were killed by the Colorado National Guard. This pivotal event in American labor history has deep connections to CF&I.

Research Archives

The Steelworks maintains extensive archives including company records, photographs, and employee records. Family history researchers can access records to trace relatives who worked at the mill. The archives are available by appointment.

Historic Grounds

The museum grounds include outdoor exhibits with steel artifacts and equipment. The Bessemer neighborhood surrounding the museum retains its working-class character from the steel era - consider a walk through the area to see the modest homes where steelworkers lived.

Planning Your Visit

Allow 1-2 hours for the museum. Combine with a visit to El Pueblo History Museum for broader regional context. The Riverwalk is about a mile away.

The museum hosts periodic special events including lectures, film screenings, and heritage celebrations. Check their calendar for events during your visit.