G. Krug & Son Ironworks and Museum

Established by German immigrant Augustus Schwatka in 1810, the G. Krug & Son Ironworks is the oldest, continuously operating blacksmith's shop in the country. Its work is visible throughout Baltimore on homes, businesses, and many prominent buildings such as the Johns Hopkins University Hospital, the University Club, and the Mercantile Trust Building. Its work can be seen around the region as well, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and the Marine Commandant's House in Washington D.C. The Krug family assumed ownership of the business in 1871 and continue to operate it today. The museum promotes the history of the business through exhibits, educational programs and activities, and publications. The building itself was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

When Augustus Schwatka opened the shop in 1810, there were many blacksmiths in Baltimore who manufactured a variety of domestic, industrial and commercial products. Information about Schwatka is not readily available but he was either Polish or Czech. What he made is unknown but he likely served the businesses in his neighborhood. In 1830, a local minister and metalworker named Andrew Merker bought the shop from, it appears, Schwatka's children and named it A. Merker Blacksmith. He was also from Germany and specialized in crafting small metal fixings such as door hinges, cart wheels, nails, and bell hangers.

The first Krug associated with the shop was Gustav Krug, who immigrated from a small province in Germany in 1850. Merker hired him and a year later the business was renamed to A. Merker & Krug. In 1871, Krug took control of the shop and by then other family members had joined him including his son. The business grew and eventually became the dominant blacksmith shop in the city. The Krugs made a variety products including fences, railings, locks, gates, fire escapes, and cages (for the Baltimore Zoo). They used castings to make floral patterns, rosettes, and other natural forms that were too difficult to produce by hand. The Krugs also acquired steam-powered machinery which accelerated production and reduced the costs of their products.

The demand for new, custom-made products decreased by the mid-1950s. As a result, the shop focused on making security-related products such as window and door guards. It also began to offer restoration work. The desire to open a museum to share the company's history and legacy became a dream as well. When the museum opened is unclear but it showcases the shop's collection of drawings, business records, and pieces of past projects. The museum also promotes the crucial legacy the metalworking industry played in Baltimore's emergence as an industrial center.

"History." G. Krug & Son Ironworks and Museum. Accessed February 20, 2023. https://www.gkrugandson.com/history.

Zambala, Dennis. "Krug Ironworks." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. 1986. https://mht.maryland.gov/secure/medusa/PDF/NR_PDFs/NR-677.pdf.