Tucked away along Principio Furnace Road near Perryville is one of Cecil County’s most fascinating historic properties — and a piece of American history that many local residents may not even realize is there.
Principio Iron Works traces its history to the early 1700s and became an important part of Maryland’s growing iron industry. The operation produced iron and, later, cannon that supported the young nation and its military.
Its place in American history became particularly significant during the War of 1812. On May 3, 1813, British forces crossed the Susquehanna into Cecil County and attacked Principio Iron Works, destroying the foundry complex and a battery of cannon intended for the American war effort.
The site recovered. By the 1830s, Principio had resumed production, benefiting from its proximity to transportation routes connecting Baltimore, Wilmington, and Philadelphia. Iron manufacturing continued at the property into the early 20th century.
Today, reminders of that remarkable history remain throughout the property. Principio is associated with the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, commemorating sites connected to the Chesapeake Campaign of the War of 1812, as well as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route.
Among the property’s most recognizable landmarks is the Principio Furnace Mansion, an impressive historic home dating to the 19th century.
The Principio Furnace Foundation is now working to preserve this important piece of Cecil County history. The mansion is undergoing renovation, helping ensure that a property connected to generations of local and national history can be preserved and enjoyed well into the future.
For the Foundation, restoration is about more than maintaining an old building. It is about protecting the stories of the people, industries, conflicts, and communities that shaped the region.
Principio’s story is one of industry, war, resilience, and rebuilding — themes that have repeated throughout more than three centuries of American history. Today, another chapter is beginning as the property is restored and prepared for its future.
For Cecil County residents, it is also a reminder that sometimes extraordinary pieces of American history are hiding right in our own backyard.
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