|
Explore Cumberland Caverns
 Cumberland Caverns is Tennessee's largest cave and a U.S. National Landmark.
Cumberland Caverns displays some of the largest cave rooms and some of the most
spectacular cave formations in eastern America, including a historic 1812
saltpeter mine, pools and waterfalls.
Portions of Cumberland Caverns were
originally known as Higgenbotham Cave and Henshaw Cave. Aaron Higgenbotham, a
surveyor, discovered Higgenbotham Cave in 1810. He was trapped for three days on
a high ledge when his torch went out while exploring the cave alone. According
to local legend, when a rescue party reached him, his hair had turned
white.
Higgenbotham did not explore the cave very far underground, but
shortly after the close of the Civil War, other explorers traveled for more than
a mile in Higgenbotham Cave and discovered a huge avenue, 60 ft. wide, 10 ft.
high, and 2,000 ft. long-the "Ten Acre Room." Inscribed on the walls in candle
smoke and scratched into the rock in several remote areas is the name "Shelah
Waters" and the date "1869". This is the oldest name and date in the cave.
Higgenbotham Cave is mentioned in old histories of Warren County, Tenn., as a
local attraction, and in Resources of Tennessee, first published in
1918.
Continued exploration of these two caves considerably enlarged the cave
in recent years. More than 32 miles are now known.
Nitrates in the cave earth
were mined for gunpowder in Henshaw Cave, both during the War of 1812 and the
Civil War. Leaching vats are preserved in the cave, and a small pick and hoe
have been found in the cave floor. To make gunpowder, cave soil was leached in
wooden hoppers with wood ashes. A crude saltpeter was crystallized from the
liquor, which was boiled in huge kettles six feet in diameter.
Members of
the National Speleological Society began exploration of Higgenbotham Cave in
1945. A new entrance was discovered in 1950, only 240 yards from the historic
entrance. In 1953, it was discovered that Henshaw Cave was separated from a
chamber adjacent to the Ten Acre Room in Higgenbotham Cave by an extensive
breakdown. An artificially enlarged opening now connects the two
caves.
Shortly after the discovery of the "Henshaw Cave Entrance", a whole
new series of galleries, called the Great Extension, was discovered. Numerous
beautiful gypsum deposits were encountered in this area, which contains seven
miles of passages.
In 1955, the name was changed to Cumberland Caverns, and
thousands of visitors have viewed the remarkable features. One of the most
celebrated is the Monument Pillar, a 15-ft. pure white stalagmite with a green
pool of water at its base and diamond-like calcite crystals imbedded in its
surface.
Internationally known and celebrated as the "most beautiful
speleothem", it has been the featured winner of many photography
contests.
Cumberland Caverns is located on Highway 8, six miles southeast of
McMinnville between Nashville and Knoxville at 1437 Cumberland Caverns Road. For
information, call 931-668-4396.
Amazing geologic formations make Cumberland Caverns a great attraction. |
