Carlson’s Limestone Kiln EarthCache
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The posted coordinates will bring you a bronze plaque detailing the history of the G.A. Carlson Limestone Kiln located just down the marked road/trail. The kiln itself is a short walk down the road to the north, and it is built into the base of the bluff. Coords are listed at waypoint 1.
From the mid 1800’s to 1908, stone from Barn Bluff was used as a building material, rip rap for the railroad, and for the production of lime. Although the stone industry was important to the local economy, residents ultimately protested the resultant defacing of the bluff and eventually saved Barn Bluff. Several abandoned quarries and the G.A. Carlson Lime Kiln remain as reminders of Red Wing’s limestone industry.
The Carlson Lime Kiln was typical of the thirty kilns in operation in the Red Wing area from 1870-1908. Products produced from the limestone quarries and kilns were distributed locally and as far as the Twin Cities.
The kilns were used for the transformation of raw limestone obtained from the bluff and the surrounding quarries into commercial lime, quick lime or unslaked lime for use in mortar and plaster. Wood was used to fire the kiln.
The lime burning process started with the raw material, a calcite limestone (calcium carbonate) which was placed in the kiln to be “burnt” or roasted at a temperature of 2000 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of time. The carbon dioxide was driven off during the burning process, leaving lime (calcium oxide). 2000 pounds of limestone made 1000 pounds of quick lime.
Kilns would be built using fieldstone into a bank of a hill with a wagon path to the top. The kiln would then be filled from above with alternating layers of scrap wood (old fences, etc.) and pea coal, layered with limestone chucks and then set a fire. Temperatures frequently reached two thousand degrees Fahrenheit and would break up the stone into hot lime often with an explosive bang. The temperature of the fire would be controlled by adjusting the air flow in the draft hole. Large scale kilns could burn a load in several hours. Smaller scale kilns would burn typically 1 – 4 weeks. The brilliantly lighted kilns led to new words such as “limelight”. The lime would filter onto the grate to the hearth below. The lime was set in mounds and wet down with water. The bushels of cooled, slaked lime were loaded onto barrels for transport.
Kilns were very dangerous and individuals had to be careful not to fall into the kiln or become asphyxiated by the deadly fumes. Kilns were used up until the early twentieth century (around WW I) when commercial kilns began to mass-produce lime.
This kiln has some additional features which are interesting to observe. Up on the north bluff trail is one of the kiln tunnel openings used to dump limestone into the kiln. This tunnel entrance is listed as Waypoint 2. Please take the time to hike up to this artifact. Trailhead waypoints will be listed. There are several other tunnels entrances on the trails here, as well. The trails will take you up to the scarred face of the bluff to the scenic overlook. This area is frequented by rock climbers.
To log this EarthCache, please forward in an e-mail:
1. What is the date engraved over the top of the kiln opening?
2. What is the elevation of the kiln?
3. What is the elevation of the kiln tunnel opening listed on the waypoint?
4. Please post an interesting photo or two detailing your time spent here to share with other visitors of the EarthCache.
** Please enjoy your tour through Red Wing’s rich and diversified history. **
********IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS******** READ THIS********
These caches are not accessible from Hwy 61. There is one side road which crosses under Hwy 61, and that is 5th Street. Look at the maps.
If you do the 3 EC's in Red Wing, do them in this order, otherwise you will be confused.... (per the MEN trying to find these and cant' multi-task!)
1. Limestone Kiln. proceed to the kiln, sing, dance, etc., next you will heading to the stairways to climb the trails to find the tunnel in the side of the cliff.
2. You are at the stairs - 1st flight up - you are at the BARN BLUFF EC destination. Sing, dance, take a pic.... then continue up the stairs....
3. You are at the shelter and at the SLIP/DIP EC. Take a pic of the LaGrange sign, sing, dance, etc......then
4. Proceed up the NORTH TRAIL along the side of the bluff. You are over the Lime Kiln. Walk to the TN waypoint for the Kiln Tunnel in the side of the bluff and you will arrive at the heavily painted tunnel entrance. Take a pic, sing, dance...... (You have completed the Lime Kiln EC)
5. If you want to explore further, go up the trail a little further toward the observation areas. Take a pic and an elevation reading, and note what direction you are looking, anywhere along the trail.....sing, dance..... You have completed the Barn Bluff EC.
6. Go back to your car, and lock in either waypoint 1 or 2 of the DIP/SLIP EC to find the fault (both spots are side streets accessible from where you are and not immediately accessible from Highway 61.
7. Find the Fault, take a pic. Check out the uplift angle of the greenstone layer near the fault (estimate that) Sing, dance, etc....You have now completed the tasks for the DIP/SLIP EC and are free to leave the area.
8. Thank you for visiting! :-)
9. There.....Even a MAN should be able to figure it out now!
This should eliminate the confusion!
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)