U. S. Steel Turns 125

Happy Birthday to an iconic American company.

This summer, the United States turns 250 years old. This week, one of its most storied companies turned 125.

Steel manufacturer and Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) member U. S. Steel became the world’s first company to be valued at a billion dollars when it was founded on February 25, 1901. From mills in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Alabama and elsewhere, its steel constructed the Empire State Building, Disney World and the tanks and troop carriers that put the American military on foreign shores during the Second World War. The company has founded cities and entire regions are anchored by its economic activity. The logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of pro football’s most famous franchises, is based off a onetime U. S. Steel trademark. U. S. Steel’s mid-century ubiquity even got an acknowledgement in The Godfather Part II.

U. S. Steel remains listed on Time’s most iconic American companies and the metals it makes are a foundational part of the country’s domestic manufacturing supply chains. It’s helped build everything from our city skylines to the millions of automobiles on our highways to the appliances in our homes. U. S. Steel is truly a pillar of American industry, and the company is planning billions of dollars of investments in its facilities in the next few years.

In the meantime, the company is rolling out a year-long video series that celebrates its past and looks to its future, and we’ll be sharing them as they come along. At AAM, we’ve been fortunate to speak with steelworkers in the communities with U. S. steel operations over the years, and we know firsthand how meaningful those jobs are to families and the local economy. Read more about U. S. Steel’s history on its website, and check out the teaser for its celebration series below: