Archie Bray Foundation – Beehive Kiln Preservation

Beehive kilns were once state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across America for brick firing. By the 1950s, however, these structures became obsolete, and were abandoned and demolished at an alarming rate. The Archie Bray Foundation in Helena maintains several beehive kilns on its property. These beehive kilns were once used to fire the famous Kessler bricks. With the help of graduate students and trained professionals, MHF funds were used to stabilize five rare beehive kilns by replacing crumbling bricks and adding metal supports.