Wyandotte Caves

The Wyandotte Caves is a pair of limestone caves located on the Ohio River in Harrison-Crawford State Forest in Crawford County, 5 miles (8 km) north-east of Leavenworth and 12 miles (19 km) from Corydon in southern Indiana which are a popular tourist attraction. Wyandotte Caves were designated a National Natural Landmark in 1972.[1] They are now part of O'Bannon Woods State Park. The cave system is the 5th largest in the state of Indiana.[2]

Wyandotte Caves
Historic Cave and Siberts Cave
An old photo of the entrance to Wyandotte Cave
Map of Indiana
LocationWyandotte Caves 7315 S Wyandotte Cave Rd Leavenworth, IN 47137
Nearest cityLeavenworth
Coordinates38°13′41″N 86°17′46″W
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/2976.htm
Designated1972

The term "Wyandotte Caves" is used to refer to Wyandotte Cave (sometimes called the "Historic Cave") and Little Wyandotte Cave (also called Siberts Cave and sometimes called the "New Cave"), but the two caves are completely different. They are located very close to each other, and are owned and managed by the same entity. There the resemblance ends.

Geological history and formations
The Monument Mountain in Wyandotte Caves, Indiana, is a cluster of large stalagmites on a breakdown pile. The ceiling is a classic tension dome.

Wyandotte Caves began to form in the Pliocene Era, about 2 million years ago.[3] Like most of Southern Indiana's caves, the caves were formed when water dissolved limestone, causing hollow caves to form.

The limestone which forms much of Southern Indiana's bedrock, and from which Wyandotte and other local caves are formed, was first deposited in the Mississippian epoch (360 Ma to 325 Ma), when Indiana was covered by a shallow inland sea.

Although the glaciers of the Pliocene and Pleistocene periods did not quite reach as far south as the area now known as Crawford County, where Wyandotte and Marengo Caves are located, they dramatically influenced the development of those caves.

The Ohio River was formed at this time, and today flows only minutes from Wyandotte Caves. The advancing and retreating glaciers destroyed the pre-existing Teays River, and the Ohio River was formed, draining the land that the Teays once drained. As the glaciers melted, the icy cold water flowing towards the Ohio River (which was then much higher than it is now) dissolved the limestone which is the bedrock for much of Southern Indiana, hollowing out caves such as Wyandotte.

The main entrance to Wyandotte Cave is 220 feet (67 m) above the level of the Blue River. Wyandotte Cave is known for its long open passageways and large rooms. With 9.2 miles (14.806 km) of passageways on five levels it is the fifth longest cave in Indiana. Included in its formations is Monument Mountain. At 135 feet (41.148 m) tall, Monument Mountain is considered to be the world's largest underground mountain.[4] Wyandotte Cave is also home to a great many helictites, which are considered rare. The cave is also home to the tallest stalagmite in the world, known as the Pillar of the Constitution, but this is only visible on crawling tours.[5]

Long speleothems, formed by rainwater dissolving calcium carbonate, abound in Siberts Cave. The cave exhibits a wide variety of speleothems including; stalactites, stalagmites, columns, flowstone, flowstone colored with iron oxide known as cave bacon, flowstone known as cave draperies, soda straws, popcorn, and rimstone dams.

The temperature inside both caves maintains a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit (about 11 degrees Celsius).

History of human use

Wyandotte Cave was used by Native Americans for nearly 4000 years before Europeans arrived in the area; carbon dating of artifacts provided evidence of human activity potentially as far back as 8000 BC. The Native Americans used torches made of hickory bark and grape vines to light the cave where they mined for aragonite, which they used for pipes and necklaces, and chert, which they used to make stone tools.[6] The remains of their mining explorations can be seen on tours to this day.

The discovery of Wyandotte Cave by European settlers is believed to have occurred around 1798.[7] Shortly thereafter Wyandotte Cave became known as an excellent source of saltpeter, an integral component of gunpowder, and of Epsom salts, which have medical uses. Saltpeter mining in the cave reached a peak under a man by the name of Dr. Benjamin Adams during the War of 1812. Modern tours feature Dr. Adams' vats and hoppers, and point out where magnesium sulfate (the chemical name of Epsom salt) is visible as a glittery substance lining the cave walls. The cave was also used to store supplies for the army of William Henry Harrison.

Wyandotte Cave was named by Governor David Wallace after the river which was then known as the Wyandotte, but which is currently known as the Blue River. Before receiving its current name it was variously called the Mammoth Cave of Indiana, the Epsom Salts Cave, and the Indiana Saltpetre Cave.[8]

The land beneath which the caves are located was bought by Henry Peter Rothrock in 1819. The Rothrocks seemed to have had little to do with the cave until 1850, when they offered the first commercial tours of the cave after the discovery of a large new section of cavern. This date of 1850 makes Wyandotte cave the fourth oldest commercial cave in the United States. Siberts Cave was discovered in 1851 and named after the person who discovered it.

The caves were sold to the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry in 1966, along with 1,174 acres (4.75 km2) of woodland.

The caves were closed to visitation from 2009 to 2016 in order to slow the spread of White Nose Syndrome affecting the bat population.[9] After eight years, the agencies studying the bats gave the "okay" to open up the caves, as long as "decontamination stations" were walked through at the end of each tour.[10] The eight-year closure of the caves drastically affected the buildings on site, and many were taken down due to structural damage. State Representative Lloyd Arnold (R-74) and Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb showcased the $1.7 million project to replace the main building on-site and re-wire the interior of the cave.[11] As of 2018, the lights in the cave have been repaired and replaced and a temporary gatehouse has been built.

Cave Tours (2018)

Little Wyandotte Cave
Wyandotte Cave Visitor Center (Removed Pre-2016)

The Little Wyandotte Cave tour is the shortest and easiest trip available. This smaller cave, totally separated from Big Wyandotte Cave, offers a comprehensive view of many flowstone and dripstone formations. Sometimes cave dwelling species can be seen as well. The lack of any long stairways inside the cave makes this 30 – 45 minute trip ideal for visitors of all ages. (No crawling, some stairs.)[12] (No crawling, many stairs.)

Big Wyandotte Cave

The huge underground "Monument Mountain" is a highlight of this two-hour, 1.5-mile headlamp/helmet trip through the deeper sections of Big Wyandotte Cave. Rare formations called helictites, plus gypsum, epsomite and prehistoric flint quarries add variety. People who sign up for this tour must be in good physical health and must be able to navigate steep terrain and many stairs. This trip is rewarding for visitors with the time and energy to see these unique cave features.[12]

Cave life

Both Wyandotte Caves are believed to home more than 20 known animal species, including bats, cave salamanders, crayfish, and crickets. Bones of larger wildlife have also been found in both caves.[13]

Cluster of Endangered Indiana Bats.

Bats

Indiana is home to 12 native species of bats. Wyandotte Cave is occupied by members of nine of those 12 species; the total bat population is over 30,000. The most common bat in the cave is the endangered Myotis sodalis, (commonly known as the Indiana Bat), followed by the Myotis lucifugus (commonly known as the little brown bat).[14]

Little Wyandotte cave rarely gets bats, as the only entrance to that cave is less than 200 years old, and humans have been present in that cave on a regular basis since it first opened. However, the occasional adventurous bat will venture in.

The presence of hibernating bats in the winter is the main reason that the caves are closed to the public from the first of November until February 28. Bats can occasionally be seen by the lucky visitor during the rest of the year, but they are far less numerous and less likely to be disturbed in the warmer months.

Salamanders
Cave salamander commonly found around Wyandotte Caves.

Cave salamanders can often be seen in the entrance area of Wyandotte cave and inside of Little Wyandotte Cave.

Fish

Blind cavefish are rarely seen in the larger of Wyandotte Caves, as it is very dry in modern times. Little Wyandotte Cave, however, is much wetter than the historic cave, but still contains no fish. The only living aquatic life found is bacteria.

Crickets

Cave crickets abound in the smaller cave, and some occasionally enter the larger cave. They are often eaten by snakes, however.

  • Park Entrance
  • Rare helictite formations
  • Column formation
  • Narrow passageway in the cave
  • An Oddfellows meeting hall, used in the mid-1800s
  • Wyandotte Cave stalagmite

References
  1. "Wyandotte Cave". nps.gov. National Park Service.
  2. "IU Southeast : Indiana University Southeast". www.ius.edu.
  3. Wyandotte Caves U.S. National Landmark, 2005 Wyandotte Caves U.S. National Landmark Backgrounder
  4. Thomas, Phyllis (2003). Indiana Off the Beaten Path; A Guide to Unique Places. Globe Pequot. pp. 180–181. ISBN 0-7627-2456-0.
  5. Pohlen, Jerome (2002). Oddball Indiana; a Guide to Some Really Strange Places. Chicago Review Press. p. 134. ISBN 1-55652-438-2.
  6. Kenyon, April. "Wyandotte Cave, Indiana". www.interstingamerica.com. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  7. "About Questia | Questia, Your Online Research Library". www.questia.com.
  8. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Wyandotte Cave" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  9. "Wyandotte Cave on track for summer re-opening". Clairion News. 13 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  10. Collier, Rachel. "IMAGES: After 8-year closure, Wyandotte Caves reopen this weekend". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  11. McGowan, Dan. "Wyandotte Caves Reopens". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  12. "DNR: O'Bannon Woods State Park". www.in.gov. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  13. "Wyandotte Cave, Indiana". Interesting America. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  14. Whitaker, John (July 29, 2003). "Bats of Wyandotte Cave, Crawford County Indiana". Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
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