Bull Shoals Caverns facts for kids

Bull Shoals Caverns is a cool limestone cave found in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. It's a place where you can explore underground!

These amazing caverns were formed about 350 million years ago. That was during a time called the Ordovician period. Water slowly seeped into tiny cracks in the rocks. Over millions of years, this water dissolved the rock and made the cracks bigger. This is how the large caverns were created. There's even an underground river that still flows through the caverns today!

Bull Shoals Caverns first opened to visitors in 1958.

The Story of Bull Shoals Caverns

Early Uses of the Cave

People have been using Bull Shoals Caverns for a very long time. Scientists have found proof that humans lived here as far back as 300 B.C. They used a method called carbon dating to figure this out. Carbon dating helps tell the age of old things.

Some of the first people to use this cave were early Native American groups. This includes tribes like the Cliff Walkers. These groups lived in caves across Central North America for thousands of years.

Later, in the late 1800s and early 1900s, local settlers found a clever use for the caverns. They used the cool, constant temperature inside the cave like a natural refrigerator. It helped them keep their food and drinks fresh.

The Caverns During Wartime

During the American Civil War, the caverns played an important role. Confederate soldiers used the cave to collect saltpeter. This mineral was very important because it was used to make gunpowder.

In the early to mid-1900s, during a time when certain goods were not allowed to be made or sold, people used the hidden parts of the caverns. They found it was a secret place to make these items. Because the roads were not very good, it was hard for officials to find them.

During World War II, the caverns were again used for storage. Neighbors in the area used the cool cave to keep their food and certain beverages from spoiling.