Gardner Cave facts for kids
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Gardner Cave is a really cool natural wonder found in the very northeast part of Washington state. It's located inside Crawford State Park. This amazing cave is the longest limestone cave in Washington, stretching out for 1,055 feet! But don't worry, only the first 494 feet are open for visitors to explore safely.
Inside the cave, you'll see incredible rock formations. These include pointy stalactites hanging from the ceiling and stalagmites growing up from the floor. You can also spot smooth flowstone formations, calm pools of water, and even a large rock column that is 2 feet wide!
A Bit of History
Gardner Cave was first discovered in 1899. A local person named Ed Gardner claimed he found it when the ground beneath him and his horse suddenly gave way.
At the time, Mr. Gardner was known for making and selling alcohol illegally, which was called "moonshine." He used the cave to store his moonshine because it stayed at a cool 39 degrees Fahrenheit all the time. This constant cool temperature was perfect for keeping things fresh.
The story goes that Mr. Gardner lost the ownership of the cave and the land around it to William Crawford during a game of poker. Then, in 1921, Mr. Crawford generously gave the 40 acres of land, including the cave, to Washington State Parks. This made it a public park for everyone to enjoy.
How the Cave Formed
Gardner Cave formed inside a type of rock called Metaline limestone. This rock formed a very, very long time ago during a period known as the Cambrian. That's about 500 million years ago!
The area around the cave has also been shaped by glaciers. These huge sheets of ice covered the land at least twice during past ice ages. Inside the cave, several underground streams flow into a section called the Mud Room. Sometimes, when there's a lot of water, a seasonal lake can even form in the cave.
