What is a Lime Kiln?
During the nineteenth century, the most important use of lime (calcium oxide) was in making mortar and plaster for building construction. In Robe Canyon, it was used in the construction of parts of the Everett & Monte Cristo Railway. To produce lime, limestone was burned in kilns that produced sufficient heat to drive off the carbon dioxide, which turned the rock to lumps of lime and powdered lime. For ease in loading the unburned limestone, kilns were often dug into the side of a hill.
