Cumberland Caverns

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Cumberland Caverns
Cumberland Caverns - Three Chessmen
Location McMinnville, Tennessee
Coordinates 35°39′58″N 85°40′59″W / 35.666°N 85.683°W / 35.666; -85.683Coordinates: 35°39′58″N 85°40′59″W / 35.666°N 85.683°W / 35.666; -85.683
Designated 1973
Official website

Cumberland Caverns, located in McMinnville, is the second longest cave in Tennessee and a national natural landmark.[1] It has a surveyed length of 27.6 miles (44.4 kilometers), which makes it the 19th longest cave in the United States and the 72nd longest cave in the world.[2]

History

The main entrance was discovered by Aaron Higgenbotham in 1810 while he was surveying the nearby Chickamauga Trail on Cardwell Mountain in what is now Warren County. According to legend, Higgenbotham was the first man to enter the cave and it was named Higgenbotham Cave in his honor. Another smaller cave, also located on Cardwell Mountain, was also discovered about this time and was named Henshaw Cave. Although not nearly as big as Higgenbotham Cave, Henshaw Cave proved to be a source of saltpeter (the main ingredient of gunpowder) and was operated as a saltpeter mine during perhaps both the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Higgenbotham Cave became a favorite spot for local adventurers during the 19th century and groups would ride out to the entrance in hay wagons and make the strenuous trip to a point in the cave now known as the Ten Acre Room. In the days of the hay wagon parties, it was called the Big Room. Here, many visitors left their names and the date candled on the ceiling.

In the early 1940s, members of the National Speleological Society (NSS) began to explore Higgenbotham Cave began. Within a decade, they had greatly increased the known extent of the cave. In 1953 a connection was discovered between Henshaw Cave and Higgenbotham Cave. This connection was named the Meatgrinder because of its small size and shape. Soon afterwards, some of these explorers leased the cave from its owner, Mr. Andy Powell, and developed it into a commercial cave. The cave opened under the name Cumberland Caverns on July 4, 1956 and has been open to the public since that time.[3]

Commerce

The Cumberland Caverns company offers year-round commercial tours of the cave, claiming it is the largest show cave in Tennessee. Tours include a daytime walking tour, spelunking tours, overnight tours, and educational field trips. Weddings, banquets, and birthday parties are also hosted. Before reaching the cave, tourists pass through a gift shop that sells tour tickets, souvenirs, and novelty items.[1]

Cumberland Caverns is home to Bluegrass Underground, a monthly music event that takes place in the cave's Volcano Room. The event has become a nationally syndicated program airing on PBS.[4]

Geology

Formations of interest within the cavern include:

  • the "Volcano Room," where many of the cave's commercial events are hosted.
  • "Monument Pillar," a large flowstone formation.
  • "Crystal Palace," which contains crystals and gypsum flowers.
  • three spelunking tunnels known as "the Devil's Backbone" due to their winding spine-like walkways.
  • the "Lemon Squeezer," so named because its widest point is only 11 inches (280 mm).
  • "Bubblegum Alley," a passageway similar in size to the Lemon Squeezer but with damper ground that makes it sticky.
  • "the Hall of the Mountain King," whose dimensions of 600 ft (180 m) long by 150 ft (46 m) wide by 140 ft (43 m) tall make it one of the largest cave rooms in eastern North America.

Trivia

The 1985 movie What Waits Below was filmed in Cumberland Caverns.[5]

A portion of the Trail of Tears passes through Cumberland Caverns property. A free walking trail is open to the public.[1]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Cumberland Caverns . Accessed 12/28/12.
  2. ↑ Bob Gulden (December 6, 2012). "Worlds longest caves". Geo2 Committee on Long and Deep Caves. National Speleological Society (NSS). Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ Matthews, Larry E. [1989] 2005 Cumberland Caverns ISBN 0-9615093-4-1
  4. ↑ "PBS Arts Gallery." PBS. Accessed 28/12/2012.
  5. ↑ "What Waits Below." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Accessed 29/12/12.

External links

Cumberland Caverns Official Site

Bluegrass Underground Official Site

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