In Mammoth Cave, there's a story under every rock, and behind every stalagmite – ancient stories, and more modern, sometimes tragic, and other times full a kind of rustic humor. Together, they all tell a history of one of Earth's most marvelous places.
The first human to enter Mammoth Cave passed under its imposing arch about 5,000 years ago. Since then, thousands of artifacts have been found documenting their stay.
From prehistoric torches, moccasins, gourd bowls, and woven cloth, to petroglyph, mussel shells and cords.
In 1941, Mammoth became a protected National Park with more than 400 miles of surveyed passageways.