Watch our webinar on the little-known history of the metalworkers who crafted the iconic drum of the United States Capitol Dome—and the Baltimore company that played a pivotal role in shaping the early American cast iron industry. In this program, we discuss historian Steven Swett’s new book The Metalworkers: Robert Poole, His Ironworks, and Technology in 19th-Century America (Baltimore Museum of Industry), with illustrations by Stephen Marchesi, which explores the contributions of Robert Poole, an Irish immigrant who founded one of the most influential ironworks in the United States.

Steve Livengood, Chief Guide and Public Historian at the U.S. Capitol Historical Society, led the discussion, offering his expert insights into this important historical period and the legacy of Poole’s work.

Through richly detailed illustrations, Swett’s book provides an in-depth look at Poole’s sixty-year legacy. He introduces us to the skilled metalworkers—machinists, molders, boilermakers, and patternmakers—who transformed raw iron into critical parts of the burgeoning industrial infrastructure of the 19th century.

This webinar explores the lives of these craftsmen, their personal stories, and the challenging work environments they endured. We’ll dive into the intricacies of their craft, from the tools they used to the complex relationships between labor and management and the impact they had on the development of industrial America.