Tybo Charcoal Kilns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Tybo Charcoal Kilns
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 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Tybo, Nevada |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001149 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1974 |
The Tybo Charcoal Kilns are two very old, tall structures near Tybo, Nevada. They are about 4 miles (6.4 km) north of the town. These kilns were built a long time ago to make charcoal. This charcoal was super important for a nearby silver mine. Think of them as giant ovens that helped power the mining industry back in the 1800s!
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What Are the Tybo Charcoal Kilns?
The Tybo Charcoal Kilns are special buildings called kilns. A kiln is like a big oven. These particular kilns were used to make charcoal. Charcoal is a type of fuel made by burning wood in a way that removes water and other things, leaving behind almost pure carbon. It burns very hot and was perfect for melting metals.
How Were They Built?
Both kilns are quite large. They stand about 30 feet (9.1 m) tall. They are also about 25 feet (7.6 m) wide. The kilns were built using rocks and mud. This made them very strong and able to hold a lot of heat.
Each kiln has three openings. There is a hole at the very top. There is also a door at ground level. This door was used to load and unload materials. Finally, there is a window at the back. This window had a ramp. The ramp helped wagons bring wood right up to the kiln.
Why Were They Important?
The Tybo Charcoal Kilns were built in 1874. There were originally 15 of these kilns. They were built for a company called the Tybo Consolidated Company. This company mined silver in the area.
To get the silver out of the rock, they needed a lot of heat. They used a large furnace for this. The charcoal made in these kilns was the fuel for that furnace. Workers brought wood from nearby hills. Then, they turned the wood into charcoal right there in the kilns. This charcoal helped the company melt the silver ore.
Tybo: A Boomtown
The kilns were built during a time when mining was very popular in the Tybo area. This period is often called a "mining boom." The town of Tybo itself was only started in 1870. But it grew very quickly because of the silver mines.
By the end of the 1870s, Tybo was a busy place. It had its own post office. There was also a school for children. The town even had its own newspaper! Almost 1,000 people lived there. The charcoal kilns were a key part of this growing and busy mining town.
A Historic Landmark
The Tybo Charcoal Kilns are important historical structures. Because of their history, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on November 19, 1974. Being on this list means they are recognized as special places that should be protected.
- Photos from the NRHP nomination
