On my way for a weekend of camping and hiking in Great Basin National Park, I decided to visit the Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park just south of Ely, Nevada. The ovens were built in the mid 1870's and used in the processing of silver ore mined in the nearby hills. Later after mining operations ceased, the large stone structures were used as shelter by those traveling through the region. They even gained a reputation as a hideout for stagecoach bandits.
The six beehive-shaped stones structures rise 30 or so feet out of the ground and each have a diameter at the base of approximately 30 feet. Forming a perfect line, the structures seem only partially out of place. The stone from which they were constructed seems to have come from the area and so, in that sense, seems at home, but the shape of the structures themselves seems somehow odd. I walk around just a bit before heading off to my next destination. The park is an interesting diversion on a the long drive from Reno.
No comments:
Post a Comment