Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota

Jewel Cave National Monument occupies more than a million acres of land and is currently the second longest cave in the entire world. The first largest cave is located in Kentucky and is named the Mammoth Cave. The cave consists of 141 miles of various passageways that make it one of the most interesting and largest monuments in United States. The monument was named Jewel Cave because of all the beautiful calcite crystals that sparkled throughout the cave. Jewel Cave National Monument is located in South Dakota, east of the Wyoming border and is considered on of the best caves in the world. It is a fascinating natural attraction that has drawn millions to its opening since it was first discovered over a century ago.

The cave was discovered by two brothers, Frank and Albert Michaud in 1900. The small opening of the cave was not large enough for a human to enter so the Michaud brothers used dynamite to blow open the entrance and then opened the caves as a business venture to tourists. Once news of the cave reached the president, it was proclaimed a National Monument and eventually taken over by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the National Park Service. Tourists have made their way to explore the monument since 1939. The National Park Service offers three tours of the cave, each providing a distinctive experience for participants. The historic tour is done with candlelight and takes place in the first discovered piece of the cavern, the Scenic Tour loops through a central portion of the cave and the final tour is called the Spelunking. For the Spelunking tour, explorers get the chance to journey through an undeveloped part of the cave.

Each year, over a hundred thousand people attend the monument that has become a place of interest to both explorers and researchers. The cave is large and intricate with new discoveries that are consistently being made. The area of the cave is extensive and some explorers will camp inside the cave for days at a time in an effort to discover a new passageway that hasn't been detected. One couple, Herb and Jan Conn were made famous for their discoveries in Jewel Cave National Monument. The couple was able to map more than 64 miles of additional hidden passageways and had the honor of naming the new caverns they discovered. Explorers use techniques like clinometers and compasses during the Jewel Cave expeditions.

Scientists believe that Jewel Cave National Monument was created over sixty million years ago by the dissolution of limestone and acid-rich water. The acid-water enlarged cracks under the ground that eventually formed the cave walls and rooms. The cave is composed of thousands of unique formations including needles, columns, stalactites, and flowstone. Most visitors first notice the calcite crystals that are almost everywhere through out the cave.

In the year 2000, a forest fire that ravaged 83,000 acres burned down almost all of the monument and the area surrounding it. Fortunately, the historic buildings and Visitors Center were unharmed during the destruction.