Plaque Text for Nevada Landmark #184:
These ovens were constructed during the mid 1870’s and are larger and of finer construction than most other ovens found in Nevada. They are 27 feet in diameter and 30 feet high with a capacity of about 35 cords of wood which was burned for a period of 12 days to produce about 50 bushels of good solid charcoal per cord.
The charcoal was used in the smelters at nearby Ward, about 30 to 50 bushels being required to reduce one ton of ore.
Each filling of one of these ovens required the total tree crop from 5 or 6 acres of land. During the late 1870’s the hills and mountains around many mining camps were completely stripped of all timber for a radius of up to 35 miles.
As railroads penetrated the west charcoal was replaced by coke made from coal, and the charcoal industry faded.
“The real worth of the old charcoal ovens is their historical function in reminding present day Americans of a now-vanished industry, without which the great silver and lead bonanzas of the early west could not have been harvested.” Nell Murbarger.
More about the Ward Charcoal Ovens:
The name “Ward” comes from Thomas Ward, the miner who built the town in his name about two and a half miles from the ovens. Ward boomed to a population of 1,500 between 1872 and 1877, but as the silver dwindled and a fire took out most of the buildings, the town busted by 1885!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with Nevada State Parks!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
There’s no address, so here are the GPS Coordinates:
39.03713600769677, -114.84665828106841
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
More Photos
