Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park in Nevada

Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park in Nevada

Under the twinkling night sky, the Ward charcoal ovens do have a somewhat mystical appearance. Even in daylight they stand out in the mountain scrublands of eastern Nevada. For a short time in the late 19th century, the ovens were used to make charcoal, which was burned in the smelting process to extract gold and silver from locally mined ore. Today, they’re well-preserved relics, a bit of the Old West intact and standing as the centerpiece of this state park.