Kentucky -Park City (Apr 10, 2021) – Mammoth Cave

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This is our second visit to Park City, KY. We were here last year in April when we got shut down due to COVID. We were supposed to be here for three weeks and ended up staying for five weeks. Everything was shut down. Last year we went outside to Mammoth Caverns -Apr 2020. During that time we were able to walk outside of the Park but not go in. Fortunately, this year we were able to do a self-tour of Mammoth Caverns.

Background about the Cave pulled from the wiki (which if you want a lot of information you might want to read): “Mammoth Cave National Park is an American national park in west-central Kentucky, encompassing portions of Mammoth Cave, the longest cave system known in the world…with more than 400 miles (640 km) of surveyed passageways, which is nearly twice as long as the second-longest cave system, Mexico’s Sac Actun underwater cave.”

Prehistory

“The story of human beings in relation to Mammoth Cave spans five thousand years. Several sets of Native American remains have been recovered from Mammoth Cave, or other nearby caves in the region, in both the 19th and 20th centuries. Most mummies found represent examples of intentional burial, with ample evidence of pre-Columbian funerary practice…Besides the remains that have been discovered in the portion of the cave accessible through the Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave, the remains of cane torches used by Native Americans, as well as other artifacts such as drawings, gourd fragments, and woven grass moccasin slippers are found in the Salts Cave section of the system in Flint Ridge.”

19th century

“In partnership with Valentine Simon, various other individuals would own the land through the War of 1812, when Mammoth Cave’s saltpeter reserves became significant due to the Jefferson Embargo Act of 1807 which prohibited all foreign trade. The blockade starved the American military of saltpeter and therefore gunpowder. As a result, the domestic price of saltpeter rose and production based on nitrates extracted from caves such as Mammoth Cave became more lucrative.”

Mammoth Cave National park was officially dedicted on July 1, 1941.

So we were able to do a self tour. The self tours were spaced 30 minutes apart. However inside, you had plenty of room and there were no large crowds. We were disappointed that we could not do any of the other tours which would take to you many great places. BE AWARE before you go: if you were glasses, make sure you spray them with anti-fog because the moisture inside will definitely fog your glasses. Also, expect your hair to get frizzy from the moisture. Temperatures were comfortable so no need to take the parka.

Overall, it was amazing that people actually lived here. In some places the cave is as high as three story building. It is huge inside.

The entrance to the cave is a waterfall.
The is the entrance to the cave. We did have to duck a little but it was not too low.
The pathway you use entering the cave.
This is the first open area. Going to the left is the longest round trip walk (1.5 miles each way) and the right said was 1/2 mile
The Veteran Memorial. Unfortunately, the picture is not clear -except it was placed there 1929.
Living area. Rooms/beds
It appears there is a small cave back there
To the left is a home that housed those with consumption. A doctor had about 15 volunteers come to the caves to see if they would be cured. They were not but many visitors brought them gifts. They reached out to the visitors and asked about the sun and outside since they hadn’t seen it for so long.
One of the consumption houses
This is the waterfall wall. Not sure if they have named it but the ranger said that it would stream with water.
At the top is called Booth’s Amphitheatre, named after actor Edwin Thomas Booth (1833-1893) who in 1876 gave a recital of Hamlet’s soliloquy from the natural stage formed by tower Rock in Gothic Avenue. Edwin was the brother of John Wilkes Booth.
The Church. “Kentucky’s first air-conditioned church. Religious service has been frequently held here since before 1845. More recently, this awe-inspiring gallery has hosted the Naturalization Ceremony for new U.S. Citizens. During the holidays, choirs come here to perform. Rangers said that the songs can be heard all over the caves.
These caves produced saltpetre from 1811 to 1814. This is a picture of the operation inside the caves.
From Dirt to Gunpowder. Saltpetre and gunpowder was made after Thomas Jefferson (1806) decided the Mammoth Cave could produce it. Unfortunately, over 708 enslaved persons hauled the soil for miles of passages where the soil was extracted, processed and packaged for shipment to the DuPont Company. 312,000 pounds of saltpetre produced enough gunpowder for 23,000,000 musket balls.
Lookout Mountain is about 30 ft high and it blocks the end of the Audubon Avenue main trunk. This picture shows what the view was back then.
Current Lookout Mountain view
You can barely see it but the long stripe on the left at the back is actually a waterfall from within the cave.

So those are some pictures that we hope can give you an idea of what you would see. Of course, the pictures don’t do justice to actually walking inside this large cave system. We hope to come back when the tours are given again.

Had to get us under the waterfall.

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