Wildrose Canyon

Many have contacted me regarding these “interesting” structures. They are charcoal kilns and their charcoal production was used in two silver-lead smelters twenty five miles to the west. They were finished (very well built) in 1877 and operated until the summer of 1878 at which time they were shut down because the smelters were closed due to poor ore quality. Each kiln has a circumference of about 30 feet and stands about 25 feet tall. Capacity was 42 cords of wood and, after burning for a week, each produced 2,000 bushels of charcoal. They have lasted this long because of excellent workmanship and the fact that they were used for such a short time. Probably the best example of surviving kilns in the western states.