Grand Caverns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grand Caverns |
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| Weyer's Cave | |
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 Grand Caverns
Location in Shenandoah Valley
Grand Caverns
Location in Virginia
Grand Caverns
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grottoes, Virginia |
| Designated: | 1973 |
Grand Caverns, once called Weyer's Cave, is an amazing underground cave system. You can find it in the central Shenandoah Valley in the town of Grottoes, Virginia, USA. This limestone cave is special because it claims to be America's oldest show cave. It has been open for visitors since 1806!
In 1973, the National Park Service gave the cave a special title: National Natural Landmark. This was because of its unique "shield" rock formations. You can also see other cool features like flowstone, pointy stalactites hanging from the ceiling, and stalagmites growing up from the floor.
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Exploring the History of Grand Caverns
How Grand Caverns Was Discovered
A local story says that a 17-year-old boy named Bernard Weyer found the cave in 1804. He was looking for a lost trap near a distillery. The land owner, Matthias Amend, soon opened the cave to the public. This made it one of the very first show caves in the United States. But people in the area preferred to name it after Bernard Weyer, the boy who found it.
Civil War Visits to the Cave
During the American Civil War, soldiers from both the Confederate and Union sides visited the cave. They left their mark by signing their names on the cave walls. Over 230 soldiers' signatures can still be seen today. One famous signature is from W.W. Miles, dated September 26, 1864. It's even said that Confederate General Stonewall Jackson let his soldiers visit the caverns when they were camped nearby.
Who Owns Grand Caverns Now?
From 1974 until 2009, the Upper Valley Regional Park Authority owned Grand Caverns. They also owned another cool place called Natural Chimneys. In October 2009, Grand Caverns and its surrounding parks were given to the Town of Grottoes. The park authority then closed down.
Discovering New Passages in the Cave
In 2004, the people managing Grand Caverns asked the National Speleological Society to map the cave again. The last time this was done was in the 1930s! As they mapped the known parts, cavers found a small opening, only about 8 inches (20 cm) high. This tiny passage led them to a huge new section of the cave that no one had explored before.
This new part of the cave is full of amazing rock formations called speleothems. It even has more of the special shield formations. The northern parts of the new cave are dry and have bright white formations, so they were named "New Mexico." The southern part has large rooms with huge rocks, including one called "Kentucky" that is over 328 feet (100 m) long and 131 feet (40 m) wide! The highest and lowest points of the entire cave are found in these newly discovered areas.
Visiting Grand Caverns Today
Grand Caverns is open seven days a week for visitors. From Monday to Friday, tours usually run every hour from 10 AM to 5 PM. On Saturdays and Sundays, tours start at 9:30 AM and run every 45 minutes until 5 PM.
Understanding the Geology of Grand Caverns
How the Cave Formed
The cave formed in very old rock called Cambrian limestone and dolomite. It's especially famous for its many shield formations. But you'll also see lots of other cool formations. These include stalactites (hanging from the ceiling), stalagmites (growing from the floor), and columns (where stalactites and stalagmites meet). You can also spot draperies and other flowstone formations that look like frozen waterfalls.
Amazing Rooms and Formations
The most impressive room in the cave is "Cathedral Hall." It's about 280 feet (85 m) long and over 70 feet (21 m) high. This makes it one of the largest cave rooms in the eastern United States! Other cool sights inside the cave include "Bridal Veil," "Stonewall Jackson's Horse," the "Tapestry Room," and "Dante's Inferno."
Fun Activities at Grand Caverns Park
The caverns are surrounded by a park with lots of things to do. You can go hiking or biking on the trails. There are also five picnic shelters where you can have a meal. If you visit in the summer, you can cool off in the swimming pool. There's even a mini-golf course for some friendly competition! The park also hosts an annual bluegrass festival, which is a fun event with live music.
