Beehive Kilns

The beehive kilns of the Western Clay Manufacturing Company are windows to a bygone era. When the kilns were functioning, they were used to fire industrial and decorative bricks, sewer pipe and tiles. Examples of these products can be found scattered on the Foundation grounds. Only a handful of brick factories containing kilns such as these remain in North America. Originally fired with coal, they were converted to natural gas in 1931. You may enter the first beehive kiln through the crooked stacks of brick but please stay on the designated paths.