About Our Site - Piedmont Charcoal Kilns Historic Site
 

Piedmont Charcoal Kilns State Historic Site sits on the edge of the ghost town of Piedmont, Wyoming. Fort Bridger State Historic Site oversees, maintains and interprets the Piedmont Kilns. The Union Pacific Railroad ran through Piedmont and carried most of the charcoal produced by the kilns to Utah.

The Piedmont Kilns are located in Southwest Wyoming approximately ten miles off of I-80 (exit 24, Leroy Road). The site includes three and one-half charcoal kilns, four interpretive signs and two picnic tables.

More Information

The Piedmont Charcoal Kilns were built by Moses Byrne in 1869 to supply charcoal for the iron smelting industry in Utah. These conical limestone kilns measure 30 feet across and 30 feet high. Only three and a half of the original four kilns remain.

Wood burned in the kilns came from the nearby Uinta Mountains. It was estimated that during 1873 the kilns could produce 100,000 bushels of charcoal. Most of the charcoal was sent to Utah on the UP railroad.

For more information and about the Piedmont Kilns or to see the Piedmont Kiln exhibit at the Fort Bridger Museum please visit or call Fort Bridger State Historic Site at 307-782-3842.