Howe Caverns facts for kids
Howe Caverns is an amazing cave located in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, New York. It's a super popular place to visit, giving people a taste of caving (also called spelunking) without needing special gear or training. It's a fun and easy way to explore an underground world!
How Howe Caverns Formed
Scientists who study rocks, called geologists, think this cave started forming millions of years ago. It's about 156 feet (47 meters) deep underground! The cave walls are mostly made of two kinds of limestone. This rock formed hundreds of millions of years ago when a huge ocean covered this area. Inside the cave, you'll find an underground lake called the Lake of Venus. There are also many cool rock formations, known as speleothems, which grow slowly over time.
Discovering and Opening the Cave
Howe Caverns is named after Lester Howe, a farmer who found the cave on May 22, 1842. He noticed his cows often gathered near some bushes on hot days. When he checked, he felt a cool breeze coming from a hole in the ground!
Lester Howe and his friend, Henry Wetsel, dug out the entrance and explored the cave. The cave stays a cool 52 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius) all year, no matter how hot or cold it is outside.
In 1843, Howe started offering tours of the cave. As more people visited, a hotel was even built above the entrance. Later, the cave was closed to visitors for a while. But in 1927, a group decided to reopen it. They spent two years building a new entrance with elevators, walkways, lights, and handrails. The cave officially reopened to the public on Memorial Day in May 1929.
New Adventures at Howe Caverns
In 2008, new owners took over Howe Caverns. They added an exciting adventure park in 2011, which has grown even bigger since then.
In May 2015, a special part of the cave was reopened to tours: the original natural entrance! This section hadn't been seen by the public since 1900. On these tours, you can see parts of Howe's first tourist boat and even old signatures left by visitors from the 1800s.
Howe Caverns offers different tours. There's a 90-minute walking tour that includes a boat ride. For those who want more adventure, there's a two-and-a-half-hour spelunking tour. You can even get married inside the cave on a heart-shaped rock formation!
