Ward Charcoal Ovens

The Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is a 700-acre state park that protects beehive-shaped charcoal ovens constructed in the mid 1870's.  They are 27 feet in diameter and 30 feet high with a capacity of about 35 cords of wood.  The wood was burned for 12 days to produce about 50 bushels of charcoal per cord.  The charcoal was used in the smelters.  About 40 bushels were required to reduce one ton of ore.  Filling the oven required trees from 6 acres of land.  The 6 ovens required clearing 36 acres of trees every 12 days.  Needless to say, the land was stripped for miles.  Trees have not returned in many areas, but within the State Park, some second growth timber is returning.

Sunset at the campground in Ely, Nevada