Ward Charcoal Ovens

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park is located in the Egan Mountain Range approximately 18 miles south of Ely, Nevada. This beautiful park is mostly known for its six beehive-shaped historic charcoal ovens; however, the park offers an array of recreational opportunities. There are trails for hiking, mountain biking and ATV riding. There are abundant wildlife viewing and birding opportunities. Willow Creek, a small perennial stream, supports naturally reproducing Rainbow, Brown and Brook Trout for a unique fishing experience. In addition there are facilities for picnicking and camping. The park also has fantastic views of Wheeler Peak, located in the Great Basin National Park.

The Martin White Company commissioned the ovens to be built to supply high quality charcoal for the two silver smelters located at Ward. The six charcoal ovens were built in 1876 and were constructed by Swiss-Italian charcoal workers called "Carbonari". The ovens were made from quartz welded tuff that was quarried from the nearby hills.

The beehive shaped ovens were designed as a replacement for the open-pit system that originated in Italy. The ovens were a more efficient way to reduce all types of wood to charcoal. Vents on the bottom of the kiln allowed for fine adjustment of temperature, and the parabolic (beehive) shape reflected heat back into the center. Each oven could hold 35 cords of wood per firing, and would produce between 30 to 50 bushels of charcoal per cord of wood. All wood types were used in the ovens, including pinyon pine, juniper, aspen and even sagebrush. The entire process of loading, burning, and unloading took thirteen days.
Historians disagree about how long the Ward Charcoal Ovens were in use, however, it is most likely that they were used until the Martin White smelter shut down in 1879.
The Ward Charcoal Ovens have served diverse purposes since the end of their original use as charcoal ovens. These hills were the battlegrounds for the Charcoal Burner’s War of 1879, when Italian and Swiss immigrants fought wealthy mill owners over wages and work conditions. Ultimately the Nevada Militia was activated and five immigrants were killed in a skirmish with the deputies. They have sheltered stockmen and prospectors during foul weather, and had a reputation as the hideout for stagecoach bandits. Today, the ovens continue to represent a unique and fascinating chapter in Nevada mining history. The Nevada Division of State Parks takes pride in their continued interpretation and preservation for future generations to enjoy.

The park is located seven miles south of Ely via U.S. 50/6/93, then 11 miles southwest on Cave Valley Road. Cave Valley Road is a graded dirt road, accessible by passenger vehicles most of the year. Daily use fee of $4 per vehicle. Interpretive trails. Bikes okay. Clean bathrooms, picnic benches, and places for bbq-ing. No running water.