Mount Riga Ironworks, in remote northwestern Salisbury, Connecticut, was one of the most successful iron-making centers of the late colonial and early United States periods. Operating from 1762, it became especially important during the American Revolution and the War of 1812, producing high-quality iron for cannons, munitions, ship anchors, and bar iron used by federal armories. At its peak, the works supported a community of about 1,200 people with houses, a school, post office, and store. The remains, including an 1810 forge believed to be Connecticut’s only surviving cold blast furnace, preserve the industrial and community history of this mountain district.