Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

In 1875, silver was discovered in the Argus Range of the western Panamint Valley and soon two mines were opened, the Modoc and Minnietta. Smelters were built by the mines, but there was no charcoal to fuel the furnaces. To produce the required charcoal, the Modoc Consolidated Mining Company in 1877 erected ten limestone kilns in the wooded upper Wildrose Canyon 40 km. away to convert the local pinyon and juniper logs to charcoal. The kilns employed 40 workmen and the nearby town of Wildrose Camp had a population of 100. The charcoal was taken by the Cerro Gordo Freighting Company via mule train and wagon to the mines. By mid-1878, the ore quality of the Argus mines had diminished so much that the mines were closed and consequently, the kilns ceased operation.

The ten kilns were Swiss designed and constructed from local limestone outcroppings and mortared with sand, lime, and gravel. They are in excellent condition due to the quality of their construction and because they were only in operation for two years. Behind the fourth kiln is the remains of a lime kiln. Well worth a visit, the kilns can be reached via Wildrose Canyon Road, 6.5 km east of the intersection with Emigrant Canyon Road.