Ohio River Scenic Byway - Ironton
Founded in 1849, the city of Ironton, Ohio was built in the heart of the Hanging Rock Region, once the largest center of pig iron production in the world.  As a terminal on the Iron Railroad and as a shipping port on the Ohio River, Ironton grew rapidly, becoming the county seat of Lawrence County in 1851.  

Vesuvius Iron Furnace:   Historical Iron Furnace was built in 1833 and is located within the Wayne National Forest.

John Campbell Home:   John Campbell, founder of Ironton, pioneer ironmaster and railroad developer, built this Early Victorian brick in 1850’s.  He was an active abolitionist and aided fugitive slaves by concealing them in two semi-concealed rooms under the hip roof of this home.  It has 22 rooms and houses the Community Action Organization.
This picture depicts the memorial marker to the 37 slaves freed in 1849 by James Twyman, a wealthy Virginia plantation owner.  The monument stands at the gates of the Burlington 37 Cemetery and was funded in part by individual donations and donated proceeds from a book called “The Promise Land” by Earl Pratt, an Ohio lawyer from Ironton.  This book is still available today describing James Twyman’s plantation and the 37 slaves he freed.

Lawrence County Museum:  This Victorian-Italian Villa, three and one-half story brick was built by James Furgerson, but it was most noted for having been the residence of Colonel Gray, an ironmaster, whose wife Eliza Ann Humphreys was the granddaughter of the famous abolitionist John Rankin.

  • Lawrence County Museum -This Victorian-Italian Villa, three and one-half story brick was built by James Furgerson, but it was most noted for having been the residence of Colonel Gray, an ironmaster, whose wife Eliza Ann Humphreys was the granddaughter of the famous abolitionist John Rankin.

  • John Campbell Home- John Campbell, founder of Ironton, pioneer ironmaster and railroad developer, built this Early Victorian brick in 1850’s.  He was an active abolitionist and aided fugitive slaves by concealing them in two semi-concealed rooms under the hip roof of this home.  It has 22 rooms and houses the Community Action Organization.  

  • Scottown Covered Bridge-  A drive through this restored covered bridge, connects you with our past as you explore the timber frame and imagine the many travelers it has carried down through the years. This covered bridge is one of a kind in Lawrence County, located off of Route 217.

  • Proctorville Suspension Bridge- This award winning, state of the art suspension design bridge, carries commuters as well as visitors from the eastern part of Lawrence County, Ohio to East Huntington, West Virginia. The bridge is located off of Route 7 Proctorville, Ohio.

  • Lawrence County Courthouse -  The city of Ironton was founded in 1849 and was built in the heart of Hanging Rock Region, once the largest center of pig iron in the world.  As a terminal on the Iron Railroad and as a shipping port on the Ohio River, Ironton grew rapidly, becoming the county seat of Lawrence County, Ohio in 1851.

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