Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ward Charcoal OvensState Historic Park |
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| Location | White Pine County, Nevada, United States |
| Nearest city | Ely, Nevada |
| Area | 861.15 acres (348.50 ha) |
| Elevation | 7,054 ft (2,150 m) |
| Established | 1969 |
| Administered by | Nevada Division of State Parks |
| Visitors | 2,532 vehicles (in 2017) |
| Designation | Nevada state historic park |
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Ward Charcoal Ovens
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| Location | White Pine County, Nevada |
| Nearest city | Ely, Nevada |
| Area | 1 acre |
| Built | 1876 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000491 |
| Added to NRHP | September 28, 1971 |
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is a special place in White Pine County, Nevada. It's about 20 miles (32 km) south of Ely. This park protects six amazing beehive-shaped ovens built a long time ago. These ovens were used to make charcoal for silver mining in the late 1800s. The park covers about 700-acre (280 ha) and is a great spot for both history and outdoor fun!
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History of the Ovens and Park
The Charcoal Ovens
The large, beehive-shaped ovens you see at the park are connected to the old silver mining town of Ward, Nevada. Ward was a busy place, started in 1876. At its busiest, about 1,500 people lived there. The town had newspapers, a school, a fire department, and even two smelters.
After 1880, the town started to shrink. A big fire in 1883 destroyed a third of Ward. The post office closed in 1888. Mining picked up a little in the 1930s and 1960s, but the town was mostly washed away by floods. Today, only parts of the smelter, mill foundations, and the cemetery are left.
The charcoal ovens are about two miles south of where the town used to be. Six of these huge ovens are still standing and look great. Each oven is about 30 feet (9.1 m) high and 27 feet (8.2 m) wide. Their walls are 2 feet (0.61 m) thick at the bottom.
These ovens worked from 1876 to 1879. They were built by skilled masons from Swiss Italy. These builders were known as carbonari, which means charcoal makers. The beehive shape was a new and better way to make charcoal compared to older methods.
The ovens made charcoal from trees cut down nearby. This charcoal was then used in the smelters at Ward to process silver ore. They needed a lot of charcoal, about 16,000 bushels every day! The Ward ovens are the best-preserved charcoal ovens of their kind in all of Nevada. Because they are so important, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.
How the Park Was Created
For a long time, the area around the ovens was owned by private people. In 1956, the Nevada State Park Commission was given permission to help protect the ovens. Later, in 1968, two pieces of land were given to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.
Then, in 1969, 160 acres of land were given to the state park system. This is when the area officially became a state monument. In 1994, it was made into a full state park. That's when new facilities for visitors, like camping spots, were added.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is a great place to visit! You can:
- Go camping and spend the night under the stars.
- Have a picnic with your family and friends.
- Explore the trails by hiking.
- Ride your mountain bike on the park's paths.
