Hopewell Furnace names new interpretive and visitor service manager
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site Manager David Blackburn is pleased to announce an addition to its staff, Interpretive and Visitor Service Manager Neil Koch. Neil will lead the staff that provides visitor services, education, programs, and special events for our visitors and community. “Neil’s experience on the National Mall and unbridled enthusiasm for the National Park Service is a fantastic addition to the Historic Site” says Hopewell Furnace Site Manager David Blackburn. “We welcome him and look forward to his energy and leadership”
Neil joins the team at Hopewell Furnace after serving as a Park Guide, Park Ranger, and Supervisory Park Ranger at National Mall and Memorial Parks in the heart of Washington, D.C. As a supervisor on the Mall, Neil managed the staff that provided access to the monuments and memorials. Prior to working with NPS, Neil worked several positions for Appalachian Trail clubs, performed boundary maintenance for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and served as Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu. Shortly before joining the Peace Corps, Neil thru hiked the entire Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. Neil will be moving to Pennsylvania with his wife and infant son.
Neil is a Maryland native and holds a bachelor’s degree in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism from the University of Maine. He looks forward to working at Hopewell Furnace and the Northeast Region, collaborating with an incredibly
experienced team of interpreters, staff, volunteers, and partners.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site preserves and interprets an early American industrial landscape and community. Showcasing an iron making community, Hopewell Furnace was active from 1771 to 1883. The park’s facilities are currently open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. We will return to a seven day a week operation by Memorial Day. The Historic Site is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Hopewell Furnace is located five miles south of Birdsboro, PA, off of Route 345. Admission to the park is free. For more information, download our app, stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-5828773, or visit the park’s web site at www.nps.gov/hofu.