Piedmont Charcoal Kilns
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 Industrial Giants — Three massive charcoal kilns from the 1869 railroad era — 30-foot stone beehive structures that produced charcoal for the transcontinental railroad’s iron smelters
Piedmont Charcoal Kilns preserves three massive beehive-shaped stone kilns built in 1869 to produce charcoal for iron smelting during the construction of the transcontinental railroad. Each kiln stands 30 feet tall and could produce 1,800 bushels of charcoal per burn — a 10-day process that consumed 35 cords of wood! The kilns were built by Moses Byrne, who shipped charcoal to the iron furnaces in nearby Piedmont. These are among the best-preserved charcoal kilns in the American West — monuments to the industrial infrastructure that made the transcontinental railroad possible.
Visitor Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Uinta County, WY |
| Entry Fee | Free |
| Size | 30 feet tall beehive kilns! |
| Output | 1,800 bushels per 10-day burn! |
About Piedmont Kilns
Piedmont Charcoal Kilns in Uinta County preserve three massive stone beehive-shaped kilns built in 1869 to produce charcoal for the Union Pacific Railroad’s iron smelters. Each kiln is 30 feet tall and could produce 1,500 bushels of charcoal per firing. The kilns consumed entire forests of juniper and pine — a reminder of the environmental cost of industrializing the frontier. They’re among the best-preserved charcoal kilns in the West.
Things to Do
Photographing the three massive beehive kilns (30 feet tall each), exploring the industrial archaeology, hiking, and learning about the environmental impact of frontier railroad operations.
Insider Tips
Railroad industry: The Piedmont Charcoal Kilns (1869) produced charcoal for the Union Pacific Railroad’s iron smelting operations — three massive stone beehive kilns still stand. Pro tip: The kilns burned local timber to produce charcoal for iron processing at nearby furnaces. Deforestation: The railroad’s appetite for timber (ties, fuel, charcoal) stripped forests across Wyoming — visible regrowth scars remain.
Best Time to Visit
Summer: Best access — dirt road. Fall: Aspen foliage nearby. Year-round: Kilns visible. Spring: Wildflowers around ruins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do charcoal kilns work?
Beehive kilns are sealed stone chambers where wood is slowly burned with limited oxygen — producing charcoal (nearly pure carbon) instead of ash. Charcoal burns hotter than wood, making it essential for iron smelting. The Piedmont kilns are 30 feet in diameter — each could produce 1,800 bushels of charcoal per burn cycle. The process consumed vast quantities of timber, contributing to Wyoming’s deforestation.
🏭 Visit Piedmont Charcoal Kilns
30-foot beehives — charcoal for the transcontinental railroad!
