Ironbridge Gorge was designated a World Heritage Site in 1986, in recognition of the area’s ‘unique and unrivalled contribution’ to the birth of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. Industrial heritage organisation the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust manages numerous sites within the area, including 10 museums, among which are Blists Hill Victorian Town, Broseley Pipeworks and Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron. The various venues host a wide range of family-friendly events and activities throughout the year.