Finding what lies beneath at Mammoth Cave National Park

had booked a historic tour online. We wanted a tour less than two hours in length and we didn’t want to be crawling through teeny-tiny tight spaces.

On a previous trip with our two combined families, we experienced a nervous child for the duration of a cave tour. We wanted to be sensitive to any insecurities while still experiencing the caves. A fully lit walking tour about the history of the caves checked off all the criteria. The first enormous chamber was our first indication that we would not be disappointed.

After following our guide past a waterfall and down a long passageway, we could see the remnants of a saltpeter mine. He informed us that without the saltpeter mined from Mammoth Cave, the United States wouldn’t have had the gunpowder during the War of 1812. He stressed that thanks to Mammoth Cave, we drive on the right side of the road.

While the cave helped freedom ring loudly for our nation, ironically many people working in the mines were enslaved. One particular African American slave, Stephen Bishop, was one of the first to make maps of the cave. He was also the first person to cross the Bottomless Pit, a 105foot deep pit within the cave system. When he crossed the pit by crawling across a wooden ladder with a lantern hanging in his mouth, he enabled the exploration of many more miles of cave passageways beyond the pit.

Challenges. Three significant areas proved challenging for our family. The girls felt a little claustrophobic descending into the area known as Fat Man’s Misery. The passageway narrowed down to a crevice only pass- able by turning sideways. The next section, Tall Man’s Misery, required stooping and walking like a duck.

My most challenging section was climbing the 65-foot tower located in Mammoth Dome. The tower is like a fire tower with open grates and risers. I am not a fan of heights. The tower was so eerie with the dim lighting in the cave, I declared loudly that the experience was going to be repeated in my nightmares. So much for bravery in front of the children on the tour. Our tour went to a depth of 300 feet below ground. It was a journey that informed us and amazed us. It made us realize that there is so much more to our surroundings than what meets the eye on the surface.

(Julie Geiss lives with her husband and four children in Unity Township, Ohio. Faith and family are first in her life, but she also loves hiking, biking and camping. You can contact Julie at juliegeiss1414@gmail.com.)