Mammoth Cave is a wild and interesting place with a history that is sure to surprise you. In these two essays, you will learn about the importance of Mammoth Cave and all it has to offer. You will also learn about its extensive and little known history, ghosts that supposedly haunt the cave, and also what what rocks and rock formations that make up the cave. There is much to learn and we hope you enjoy!
When people think of Kentucky, they normally think of tobacco, KFC, bourbon, and horses. While we may encompass those things, not many think to include caves! The longest cave in the world, Mammoth Cave, is located in the very modest Central Kentucky. Not only does Kentucky have Mammoth Cave, but we have many other caves as well. The list includes Crystal Onyx Cave, Diamond Caverns, Onyx Cave, Hidden River Cave, and Lost River Cave (Caves of the Central Kentucky Karstlands). These caves help define Kentucky as a state and add to our natural history, and boost our economy.
We may not know when Mammoth Cave was first found and explored, but we do know that it goes millions and millions of years. In the year 1935, two cave explorers Lyman Cutliff and Grover Campbell, found a “well-preserved body of a man who had visited the cave almost 2,000 years before” (Mammoth Cave, Reading 1). Studies show that the lost man had been standing on a ledge looking for something when a large boulder fell and trapped him (Mammoth Cave, Reading 1). The large rock preserved his body all those years and left him there for us to find and examine. He was preserved so well that he still had “hair, skin, and intestinal organs” (Oh Ranger). Scientists also tell that her was “about 45 years old and 5 feet 3 inches tall” (Oh Ranger). This is an important part to Mammoth Cave’s history because it helps establish a timeline as to when the cave was found and explored by hunters and gatherers. It also tells us how these people survived and lived. An interesting question to ask is why was that man risking his life to look around in the cave. He must have known it was dangerous and that he should not go alone.
Some archeologists believe these hunters and gatherers explored the cave to collect minerals to use for “religious ceremonies or to trade to other groups” (Mammoth Cave, Reading 1). Mammoth Cave is filled with valuable minerals and the rock itself is made of limestone. The two minerals you are likely to find in the cave are iron and gypsum. Iron is the most common of them all and it is what tints parts of the cave “brown and orange”. Gypsum, on the other hand, is created when water evaporates from the cave. When this happens, it makes “white to gold flower-like structures that seem to ooze and curl from the wall, ceiling, and floor” (Uhler). This phenomenon does minimal damage to the cave while giving us cave explorers something interesting and naturally beautiful to look at.
Who do we have to thank for exploring this cave? Besides the hunters and gatherers who just scratched the surface, black slaves contributed a lot to the deeper discoveries. They were used as tour guides for the people who wanted to walk the trails. There was an explorer named Stephen Bishop who discovered many areas of Mammoth Cave. He was one of several black slave guides back in 1838. When his white guides would show him and the other slaves the tour routes, he would bravely go beyond the beaten path and explored the cave further. This was an activity he loved and it gave him great joy to find new places in the cave. He discovered well-known paths such as “Bottomless Pit, Fat Man’s Misery, Cleaveland Avenue and Mammoth Dome” (Mammoth Cave National Park).
The cave has had many owners, but one owner definitely stands out. His name was Dr. John Croghan and he “extensively developed and explored the cave” (Oh Ranger). Not only did he contribute to the cave, promoted it relentlessly, built a hotel for guests, and paved roads. Being a doctor, Croghan was passionate about helping people and coming up with ways to cure the ill. He “had read of underground hospitals in Europe in which those suffering from tuberculosis had been cured” (Taylor). He wanted to try this on his own and help the people in his community. Later after buying the cave, the doctor built an underground tuberculosis hospital of his own. He believed that “stable temperature and humidity and apparent dryness would have a curative effect on patients” (Oh Ranger). He had the patients live in rooms made of the cave’s stone. The patients were volunteers, and within a few months of the starting point of the experiment, patients started dying and others decided to leave the cave. It was brave of the doctor to conduct this experiment because tuberculosis is very contagious. He did not escape the hospital disease free though, six years after stopping the hospital experiment, he “ironically” died of tuberculosis (Oh Ranger).
Many people do not know Mammoth Cave’s semi-dark past. Including the slave tour guides and failing tuberculosis hospital! The cave is advertised as a lovely place to bring the whole family on an adventure, but some people see the cave in a different light. If you were to believe in ghosts, would not the cave be an obvious place for the ghosts to dwell? According to http://www.prairieghosts.com, back in the day when the first people (similar to our preserved two thousand year old man) used the cave as a burial ground because they believed the cave lead the spirits onto the next world. The website states that there have been countless mummies found in the caves, many being very well preserved due to the minerals the cave possesses. Not all the mummies were ancient men though; some were “the bodies of early explorers who lost their lives in the cave” (Taylor). Mammoth Cave should thank its mummies though, because they are a big part of the reason why the cave became famous in the early 1800’s. Word got out that the cave was not only the longest cave in the world, but also the longest tomb! That fact attracted tourists and made the cave lively and an attraction for all. According to Taylor, even famous people such as Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Prince Alexis of Russia visited Mammoth Cave! Taylor reminds us of the condition of the cave back in those days. It was nothing like how the cave is today with all the trails, lights, and smooth walkways. Back in the 1800’s when Mammoth Cave became popular, the guests were “forced to brave slick floors, narrow passages and dangerous pathways” (Taylor). They also used oil lanterns and torches back in the day. Thomas Edison would not invent light bulbs for many years to come! All that open flame was very dangerous and hazardous to the cave. Taylor says that the visitors would use the smoke from their torches to write their names and the date on the ceilings of the cave. You can still see the signatures up there today!
Just like the tuberculosis hospital, Mammoth Cave is not known for its ghosts either! Whether you believe in the paranormal or not is up to you, but according to Taylor and his book, there have been countless “unexplained sounds, strange lights, bizarre noises, disembodied footsteps and of course, apparitions and spirits”. These experiences do not only belong to hungry ghost hunters or naive visitors. No, these experiences are shared by “park rangers, cave explorers, spelunkers and even geologists” (Taylor). Those types of people do not have a bias and have no reason to lie about seeing a strange phenomenon. It is up to you if you believe in their stories or not. They will still be a part of the reason why Mammoth Cave is so mysterious to all those who enter it.
Mammoth Cave is an important part of Kentucky not only because it makes us different from other states, but also because it helps our economy, adds to our natural history, and creates a mysterious edge to Kentucky and our small towns. It reminds people that there are incredible places everywhere you go. Not just in big cities like New York or Los Angeles. Natural beauty is found in all places, sometimes you just have to keep an eye open and look for it. Mammoth Cave also can remind people that everything in this world has a history. In my opinion, this cave’s history is as interesting as the cave itself.
What are those things that come to mind when you think of the state of Kentucky? Horses, horse racing, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and Bourbon whiskey would probably be popped up from the top of your head. But did you know Kentucky is the home of the longest cave? With over 390 miles (630 km) of passageways, Mammoth Cave, one of the most significant places in Kentucky, is the longest cave system known in the world. It is located in south central Kentucky, near Cave City. Mammoth Cave was formed in Mississippian-age limestone rock. The cave is 379 feet (118 m) deep, and contains at least 5 levels of passages. Mammoth Cave is centered on the Green River, with a tributary and the Nolin River, feeding into the Green just inside the park. (Mammoth 1) I was interested in this topic of mammoth cave. I have always asked people in Kentucky where I can find nice and interesting place to visit in Kentucky and people have always pointed out the “mammoth cave”. However, I did not have a chance to visit there. I actually did have chances to visit but it never worked out due to the reasons that the time I planned going was during the winter so that it was not safe to drive all the way to the Mammoth Cave on the street that is piled up with snow. So I was always interested in Mammoth Cave and curious how it looks like and had a desire to visit. And I thought this project would give me some information about the mammoth cave.
The Cave was discovered in 1798 and Mammoth Cave National Park was established to protect underground labyrinth of caves and the Green River Valley in 1941. The cave is formed by geologic and chemical process. Mammoth Cave National Park is a report of enormous amount of animals and plants. Several species that are found in the mammoth cave are pushed to the brink of extinctions. These species include amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish, insects, spiders, centipedes, millipedes, mammals, mollusks, other invertebrates, and reptiles. The interesting fact about the mammoth cave is that the name, “Mammoth” was originated from the overwhelming size of the cave. However, the size is not enough to flash on the elephant that used to be wandering North America during the glacial age. The Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 recognizes that many species across the United States have been lost and are close to extinction. This act aids those species in retaining their existence. (Mammoth 3)
First of all, I would like to compare the mammoth cave in Kentucky, United States with the caves in Korea since I have only been to the caves in Korea in my life. The caves in Korea are mostly spread in Kang-won, Choong-book, Kyeong-book, and Jeju and are protected and designated as a natural monument. There are a lot of beautiful cave products including stalactite, stalagmite, stone pillar, cave coral and pearl in caves that are formed in limestone by dissolution. Solution caves may form anywhere with rock that is soluble, and are most prevalent in limestone, but can also form in other material. It is usually moist in the cave but it is not in the caves in Korea. Moreover, there are some differences about the relationship between cave and people. For here in the United States, the purpose of going into the cave was to dig up the salt. On the other hand, the purpose of cave was to reside in Korea. There is the myth of Korea related to the cave that Korean people know and talk about. The myth is basically about a bear becoming human. There was a bear that desired to be human and she asked God so that she can be human. And God told the bear she will become human when she eats only garlic and mugwort for 100 days in the cave without stepping outside or seeing the light. So after 100 days with all the patience, she could become human. People in Korea usually think the cave as a residence.
Since I have never been to the Mammoth Cave, I interviewed a few people who have been to the Mammoth Cave. I interviewed one of my best friends here at University of Kentucky named Bella Hwang. She has been to the Mammoth Cave during the summer break two years ago. Firstly, I asked her how it feels like and how she felt. “Oh, it was amazing and I loved it. I hope I can visit there once again. I toured with a group of people with a tour guide. He was explaining whole entire time. But when he turned the light off, I could not see anything literally and it was scary! And I could see all the marks that water flew around and I loved the sound of water dropping because it sounded so clear and pretty.” I also interviewed a graduate school student named Melissa Kim who goes school in Korea but has been to the Mammoth Cave. “The mammoth cave was the longest and furthest cave I have ever been to. I just seem like endless. It was really quiet and desolate. Honestly, I got scared while I was going down. Because I could not find the end of the cave and just keep going down and down. So I was afraid what if it doesn’t end and just keep going down. When I finally came out of the cave and saw the light, I felt profound relief. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because of the light.” While I was interviewing, I really wished that I could visit there and even experience the fear.
The first African American guides for the cave were slaves. They are the ones who opened up the golden age of cave exploration for the Mammoth Cave through their efforts. They put efforts on developing the cave tour routes throughout the 19th and early 20th Century. Their existence probably has never been recognized during their lifetime. However, today, they are not just considered a slaves or lower class citizens. Instead, they are remembered as legends.
Firstly, Stephen Bishop was one of the greatest explorers of the Mammoth Cave that has ever been known. He was born as an African American Slave and first brought to the mammoth cave when he was a teenager in 1838. People back then would travel to see Mammoth Cave and wait their turn to get Stephen’s tour guide. While he learned the toured routes, he was first able to cross the Bottomless Pit and see the Echo River and its eyeless cavefish. Stephen finally gained his freedom in 1856, but unfortunately, died at the age of 37 the next year in 1857. Even though we will never experience a firsthand tour from Stephen, he can still be visited at the Old Guide’s Cemetery at Mammoth Cave National Park. (Find)
Secondly, Materson Bransford was another one legend who explored and guided the mammoth cave. He began guiding the mammoth cave in the yr 1838. And he married a slave girl named Parthena and by then, he was able to own a small home for themselves and his four children that were born in slavery. After a while, three of his four children had to be sold into the very institution of slavery to which they were forced to do and it was impossible for him to stop his wife’s owner. After emancipation, Materson remained at the cave for the rest of his life and hoping his children to return. However, sadly, there is no evidence that they ever met again. (Mammoth)
Instead of the greatest explorers like Stephen Bishop or Materson Bransford, I would like to inform the sights to see and the things to do at the mammoth cave based on the research and interview from others. You definitely should not limit yourself to a cave tour. You have to make sure to see the entire park including its massive old-growth trees, diverse bird populations, teeming rivers, striking karst terrain and wild caves. There is also 300-acre old-growth forest named “Big Woods”. Frozen Niagara is an important sight to see. It is located in one of the few areas in Mammoth Cave. It creates the illusion of a stone waterfall and striking wonder which is an incredible formation cascades downward for 75 feet. Mammoth Cave has more than 200 species of birds. There are 37 species of warbler, barred owl, horned owl, pileated woodpecker, scarlet tanager, sparrow and wild turkey. Besides more common park inhabitants such as the great blue heron, the red-tailed hawk, the spotted sandpiper and the belted kingfisher, a number of rare visitors also visit Mammoth Cave seasonally including the snow goose, the double-crested cormorant, the bald eagle, the osprey and the snowy owl. Fishing in the mammoth cave is productive. In Green and Nolin Rivers, there are black bass, crappie, bluegill, muskellunge and catfish. Important thing that you need to notice before you come to the mammoth cave is that you should be prepared with the following equipments such as flashlights, hard hat, headlamp, boots and knee pads. The reason why you need them is because you might get dirty while you are walking through muddy tunnels of the mammoth cave. 25 miles of the Green River and six miles of the Nolin River carry boaters past dramatic bluffs, scenic woodlands and wildlife within the boundaries of Mammoth Cave National Park. The Green and Nolin Rivers possess one of the most diverse fish (82 species) and invertebrate populations in North America. (Sights)
Furthermore, there are lots of things to do at Mammoth Cave National Park such as participating in walking, hiking, and programs. The mammoth cave has three sections that are divided up which are the north side, the south side, and the visitor center area. The north side has the park’s backcounty trails. The south side and the visitor center area have shorter trails that people can hike and show the beauty of the park’s nature. The south Side trail is a short walk to the Sand Cave entrance. From the visitor center picnic area, the Green River Bluffs Trail is an easy walk to some great views of the Green River and its environment. You can ride bicycles in the park on the park roads but not on the trails in the park except for the designated bicycle trail. The bike trail is a mile-long gravel trail that connects Loop B of Headquarters Campground with the Carmichael and Violet City Entrance Road. There is an activity called Birdwatching that visitors get to see more than 200 species of birds such as the snow goose, the double-crested cormorant, the bald eagle, the osprey and the snowy owl. Other activities include boating, canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking usually on the north side, and horseback riding. You can experience horseback riding for sixty miles on the trails north of the Green River. Ranger-led walks and auditorium programs, and scenic driving are available as well. Accordingly, there are so many things to do at the Mammoth Cave National Park not just exploring the cave. (Things)
There are a lot of different kinds of animals and plants that are living in the mammoth cave. The mammoth cave used to have a number of sizeable mammals, including bear and bison, however, those large animals have become extinct. So now there exist small animals including squirrel and raccoon. (Mammoth 2) Mammoth Cave National Park has over 70 threatened, endangered or state listed species. These species include birds, crustaceans, fish, gastropods, insects, mammals, mussels, plants and reptiles. The Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 recognizes that many of species across the United States have been lost and others are close to extinction. Because of the region’s biographic history, the tremendous variety of abiotic conditions, and the presence of key trogloxene species, the south-central Kentucky Karst has cave species and biotic cave communities among the most diverse in the world. (Mammoth 1)
Another interesting fact about the mammoth cave is that a dead body of an American Indian was found with pinning beneath a limestone slab about two miles from the entrance of the mammoth cave in 1935. The scientists could assume easily because the body was so well preserved including hair, skin, and intestinal organs. He was about 45 years old and 5 feet 3 inches tall. He was wearing a kind of wraparound skirt or woven fabric. (Mummy)
I assume if you have been living in Kentucky, most of you have heard of the mammoth cave or even been there at least once in your young age. As you learn more about the mammoth cave, you get more desire to visit there once again or at least for me, I wish I can visit there sometime soon. Even though the people I interviewed told me that it was scary and they got afraid in the cave, it made me more exited. I also want to see those animals and plants that are still living in the cave and the park. There are not only available for touring inside the cave but also available to walk, hike, participate in programs and activities such as biking, birdwatching, boating canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking and horseback riding. Moreover, I am sure that most of you did not know that the ones who opened up the golden age of cave exploration for mammoth cave were the African Americans who used to be considered slaves or lower class citizens. I also learned that the first explorers such as Stephen Bishop, Materson Bransford, and even more people took the important rule to let the people in the future like us visit and tour the mammoth cave so easily and have to be thankful.
Works Cited
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“Mammoth Cave National Park – Black History at Mammoth Cave (U.S. National Park Service).” U.S. National Park Service – Experience Your America. National Park Service, 3 Feb. 2011. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.nps.gov/maca/historyculture/black-history.htm>.
“Mammoth Cave National Park.” Park Vision. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.shannontech.com/ParkVision/MammothCave/MammothCave6.html>.
Taylor, Troy. “MAMMOTH CAVE: WORLD’S LARGEST HAUNTED PLACE.” AMERICAN HAUNTINGS: WHERE DEAD MEN STILL TELL TALES. Web. 15 Nov. 2011. <http://www.prairieghosts.com/mammoth.html>.
Uhler, John W. “Mammoth Cave National Park Information Page.” Mammoth Cave National Park. Hillclimb Media. Web. 10 Nov. 2011. <http://www.mammoth.cave.national-park.com/info.htm>.
“Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records and Online Memorials.” Find A Grave – Millions of Cemetery Records. Web. 13 Dec. 2011. <http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr>.
Hwang, Bella. Phone Interview. 12 November 2011.
Kim, Melissa. Skype Interview. 13 November 2011.
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“Mammoth Cave National Park – Black History at Mammoth Cave (U.S. National Park Service).” U.S. National Park Service – Experience Your America. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.nps.gov/maca/historyculture/black-history.htm>.
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“Mammoth Cave near Cave City, Kentucky, Is the World’s Longest Cave, Educational Resources for K-16.” University of Kentucky. Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.uky.edu/KGS/education/mammothcave.htm>.
“Mummy in the Cave | Mammoth Cave | Oh, Ranger!” Your Complete Guide to the Parks | Oh, Ranger! Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ohranger.com/mammoth-cave/mummy-cave>.
“Sights To See | Mammoth Cave | Oh, Ranger!” Your Complete Guide to the Parks | Oh, Ranger! Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ohranger.com/mammoth-cave/sights-see>.
“Stephen Bishop, USA 1821- 1857 | COTA CERO.” COTA CERO | Periódico Digital Del Mundo Subterráneo. Web. 05 Dec. 2011. <http://www.cota0.com/?p=1082>.
“Things To Do in Mammoth Cave | Mammoth Cave | Oh, Ranger!” Your Complete Guide to the Parks | Oh, Ranger! Web. 14 Dec. 2011. <http://www.ohranger.com/mammoth-cave/toc/things-do>.
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Mammoth Cave 