Last week, my husband and I were in Missouri, taking a short vacation before a reader event I participated in over the weekend. My husband enjoys caves and caverns, so we decided to spend one afternoon taking a tour of a caven near where we were staying in Springfield. We decided to visit Fantastic Caverns. We learned some interesting history, especially about a dozen adventuresome women.
The story goes that local farmer John Knox had a dog who went missing in 1862. It turns out his dog followed a critter into a hole that ended up being a cave. A cave so dark that the dog couldn’t find his way back out. Happily, John went search for his dog and found no only his pet, but a large cave. The original opening was very small, but it opened up into a much larger space.
Since this discovery happened during the Civil War, John kept the news of the cave a secret. He didn’t want soldiers digging through his property in search of bat guano that could be made into gunpowder. After the war ended, however, he placed an add in the Springfield newspaper seeking help exploring the cave. Surprisingly, it was a group of twleve young women who answered the add.
These women were part of the Springfield Women’s Athletic Club. The youngest was believed to be only 13 years old. These intrepid explorers made their way into the cave and discovered what they called The Hall of Giants – a pair of giant stalagmites.
The women likely did their exploration in this pitch-black cave with nothing more substantial than focused lanterns made with candles and empty coffee cans.
My favorite part of the tour was when we passed the wall that showed where the twelve young women left their names on the cavern wall.
Deeper in the cave were some other impressive formations.
This cave has some other interesting history as well.
- It was used as a speakeasy during Prohibition.
- It was owned by the Klu Klux Klan from 1924-1930 and used for secret meetings.
- Mushrooms were farmed in the cave during the Great Depression.
- It hosted concerts in the 1950s and 1960s.
Now it is open to the public as a show cave, and it all started in the with a dog, a farmer, and 12 intrepid young women.
Have you ever toured a cave or cavern?
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a firm believer in the power of happy endings. . . and ice cream. She is an avid cross-stitcher, and makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
I went on a field trip with my children to a cavern once. Though I found it interesting, it isn’t something that I need to do again. I like the sunshine too much to be underground for long. I can’t imagine going into a cave/cavern that no one has been in before. I am definitely not an adventurous person if it’s dark.
I would not be volunteering to explore a dark hole in the ground, either, Danielle. I enjoy seeing the hidden loveliness that others uncover, but I wouldn’t have made a good explorer.
Karen, I was born here in Missouri and have lived here all my life. Missouri is known as the cave state. My daughter owns property in Neosho, Missouri with a large cave on it. The cave’s history is interesting as it was used in the Civil War and later the KKK., along with other local tidbits. Glad you got to visit our Missouri Ozarks!
We had a marvelous time in Missouri, Karen! The fall colors were peaking, and the weather was gorgeous. I defnitely look forward to returning. 🙂
We went to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. I was impressed by the natural wonders! Shows the imagination and power of God!
We need to get to Kentucky one of these days. Isn’t it amazing that God plants these wonders for us to discover? I think there is a metaphor there for how beauty often lies beneath the surface. 🙂
Went thru Mamoth Cave as a child and later did some splunking while in college in Indiana.
How fun, Kate! It sounds like you’ve got the adventurous spirit of those early female explorers. 🙂
Karen,
You were in my neck of the woods! Missouri is chock full of caves. Near me are three large caves. Bridal Cave is beautiful. Jacob’s Cave is really interesting. I haven’t gotten to Stark Caverns yet.
Fun! Maybe we’ll make it to some of those caves on a future visit. Just the name Bridal Cave stirs my imagination.
Yes, I’ve been in several caverns, including Linville Caverns in North Carolina and Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico.
My hubby and I went through Carlsbad Caverns as part of our honeymoon trip. Happy memories!
I toured several public and private caverns, including a few un-named ones!
Very cool! Sometimes those off-the-books finds are the most interesting.
Yes. I have been to Carlsbad Cavern a few times, and to Sonora Cavern in Texas. I have also been in a cave close to Carlsbad that is not open to the public but that we had permission to explore. That one was only with flashlights.
How cool to explore the old-fashioned way, Susan! I’m glad you got that chance!
My husband would have loved seeing these! I especially love the signatures. How wonderful they still endured, and they really brought the women to life.
Very cool, Karen!
My husband is a cave guy. I tag along. However, I get excited when they start talking about the history. Especially if there are women involved. 🙂
I’ve visited Linville Caverns in N.C. a couple of times. While it is interesting, I feel better on the outside of them.
I’m with you, Connie. It’s nice to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there. 🙂
Interesting and beautiful pictures but no, just the thought scares me. I like it when historic western books have folks taking refuge in a cave although for me, uhuh.
I like them with all the modern lighting and smooth pathways. I don’t think I’d like them in their natural state. Far too dark, and who knows what sort of creatures might be lurking. Eek!
Very fascinating but I wouldn’t be able to go in. I am very claustrophobic.
This cave was very open, so you might not have minded too much, except for when they turned the lights out.
Many, my mom was one of those ladies that would search out caves when we traveled. Dad was not happy with the “interruptions” but with mom and five kids who wanted to stop, see the cave, have lunch. He was outvoted. LOL. I have loved the similarities and the differences. When I was in high school, all seven of us rented a boat in Jamaica and we toured around the islands. My sister and I would do so much snorkeling. Once we found an underwater cave and had to explore. We were careful because we didn’t know what we were getting into. There were a lot of live critters there. But it was so gorgeous.
What an adventurous spirit you have, Lori! I admire you. I bet you had a marvelous time!
Only in tourist locations such as Manmoth Caves in Kentucky.
I’ve never been there. I’d like to go sometime. 🙂
Not a big cave like that, my family and I went to the Moqui cave, and the sand caves in Utah, fairly recently.
I bet they were interesting!
I’ve been to several in Virginia, Tennessee, and one in Spain.
Very cool!
The closest I got to touring a cave was when my dad talked me into going just inside the entrance of the Devil’s Icebox cave in Devil’s Den State Park in Washington County, Arkansas. He wanted me to feel how much colder it was than the outside air, but I’m claustrophobic and don’t like dark spaces, so I wouldn’t go in where I couldn’t see the entrance. It’s now closed to the public to protect the bats that live there.
It’s so interesting to me that the caves are immune to surface temperatures. Many are the same temperature year round. I’m glad you braved the entrance to get a taste, Kim.
I have toured several caves and as long as I can stand and spread my arms out, I am fine. I am claustrophobic if it gets too tight.
That seems perfectly reasonable to me, Rhonda. 🙂
Yes – we have been in several and I enjoyed them all, as long as I can find my way out. Back then the cold did not bother me, but today it would not be for me as I am always freezing. Some beautiful sights to be seen. One cave was very narrow in one part, which disallowed heavy set people to enter. I would hate to get stuck down there!!
Yes, I would never want to get stuck in one of these caves. I’m happy to obey the rules and stay on the official path. 🙂
Yes, I have visited a few caves, one in Puerto Rico, but I live in upstate New York and near us we have Howe Caverns. It is an extensive series of caves and our youth group visited many years ago. It is truly impressive. They even have a “chapel” where people have actually been married.
That sounds amazing, Elaine!
I’ve been in a very, very small one. I’d like to go to some others sometime. I think they’re fascinating.
It really is like an entirely different world.
WOW! How fascinating!
I did tour a cave one some thirty years ago. I don’t remember much other than it was very dark. haha
I can see how that would make an impression. 🙂
Hello Karen, yes, I have toured a cavern in NM, 1 in Austin , Texas and another one here in TX which was much smaller. We actually had to crawl in a cave in NM, to get in it. I just love to see the inside of caverns they are really something to see and explore, they sure can be beautiful! Have a great day and a great rest of the week. I enjoyed reading your post.
Crawling into caves just like those intrepid explorers. I’m impressed, Alicia! 🙂
I love this, Karen. Is this the cave they have tram cars you can ride through? I saw signs for that when I was in Springfield, MO but never went in.
I was in Carlsbad Cavern years ago. It inspired a book series, The Kincaid Brides, ranchers in Colorado with this beautiful (fictional) cave on their land.
I remember in Carlsbad thinking of the LIGHT back then. Now, sure it’s all lit up to the farthest back corners. But back then? A LANTERN, you couldn’t begin to see to the ends of it. Wow. the lure of going on. The fear driving you to go back. Loved that conflict.
Brave young women.
Brave, indeed, Mary. They showed us a homemade coffee can candle lantern with the lights off. No much light to see by.
Yes, this was cavern you can ride the tram through. It was fun.
I toured a Longhorn Cavern in Texas several years ago during a research trip. it didn’t make it into the book I was researching, but fast forward about three books, and a fictional version of that cave showed up in a different book. We authors are always collecting tidbits, aren’t we?
Are those your pictures?
Yes, these are all photos I took. Except for the lantern drawing. I borrowed that one.
I have been in several caves. One of them is near where my mother grew up and it was used to make gunpowder during the war. The name has changed several times and the cave itself. I had been in it when I was in school then when my daughter had a 3rd grade field trip there I went as a chaperone. They owners had added a waterfall and several other things. Totally ruined it in my opinion. I told them I didn’t remember there being a waterfall before. They eventually admitted they ran pipes in to make it. Totally fake. Before that all the emphasis was on bones of early Indians and the stalagmites and stalagtites, and the history of the cave. They did it for totally mercenary reasons.
That’s a shame. I visited a different cave that also had water piped in, but our guide told us that when there is rainfall, that is where the water runs. So it is a natural waterfall that doesn’t run dry thanks to the pipeline. I guess that’s a little better.
Those pictures are great. I’ve only been in 2. The first, Skyline Caverns, (VA), as a child, and Natural Bridge Cavern, (VA), as an adult. It amazes me at the constant temperature year round. I wouldn’t have been daring enough to go down there without electric lights and a well-traveled path!
Me, either, Lynne. 🙂 We have a Natural Bridge Caverns in Texas too. My husband and I visited it years ago.
Yes, I have. It is so beautiful. It was Seneca Rocks in West Virginia. God bless you.
Sounds lovely! I need to explore farther east one of these days. 🙂
Never toured a cave or cavern nor have I been in one
It’s a unique experience, for sure. But it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. 🙂
In Jr High we had a field trip to Howe Caverns in New York State. It is really big and has extensive pathways. Beautiful stalagmites and stalagtites and what seemed like an underground river to me. I remember our science teacher explaining the stalagtites hang tight to the ceiling. Never forgot that. I also remember being a bit scared at how close the path was to the edge of the water.
That sounds like an amazing cave to visit, Alice. I’d love to see it sometime.
I have toured many caves and caverns. I enjoy it so much. I visited some in Virginia, Texas, Kentucky and in Spain,
Wow – You are a world cave traveler, Debra. 🙂
I have been to several caves. Among them are Wind Cave National Park in SD, Carlsbad Caverns NP in NM, Howe Caverns in NY, and Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park in Montana to name some of them. My husband liked caving in his youth, but crawling through them is not high on my list. Mammoth Cave National Park is not far from us and I hope we make it there in the near future.
The total darkness when they turn all lighting off is an experience. You are almost totally helpless to find your way around or out. It isn’t totally silent, but is muffling to the ears.
I defintiely prefer the walking exploration to anything that requires crawling. 🙂 And you are right about the absolute darkness and the muffled feeling. I’m always thankful when they turn the lights back on.