Majestic Caverns facts for kids

Majestic Caverns is a fascinating cave and popular tourist attraction located in Childersburg, Alabama. It sits in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and is often called "Alabama's Big Cave." Besides exploring the amazing cave, visitors can enjoy other fun activities. These include a large maze called the Lost Trail Maze, panning for shiny gemstones, a climbing wall, and exciting amusement park style rides. Inside the caverns, you can experience a special show with lights, sounds, and water that changes with different holidays and seasons.

Before it became a well-known tourist spot, the cave was locally known as Kymulga Cave. There is evidence that Native Americans used the cave a very long time ago. It was also important during the American Civil War for mining. In June 2022, the park officially changed its name to "Majestic Caverns."

Exploring Majestic Caverns

Inside the Big Cave

The main room of Majestic Caverns is truly huge! It is taller than a ten-story building and wider than a football field. The entrance to the cave was once a small opening, about 4 feet high and 8 feet wide. Over time, it was made much larger for visitors.

People once thought the cave system stretched for many miles, all the way from Childersburg to Talladega. However, explorers have found that the cave mostly ends after the main room. There is one path that continues for about two or three hundred yards. This path leads to a solid wall and a small pool of water. It is believed that there are no other hidden routes in the cave, except possibly an underwater exit through this pool.

Amazing Rock Formations

Majestic Caverns is famous for its incredible collection of onyx-marble stalagmites and stalactites. These are some of the largest and most continuous formations in the world. These rock formations, called speleothems, are still actively growing today. Because they are still forming, guests are asked not to touch most of them. This helps protect these natural wonders for everyone to enjoy.

A Journey Through Time: History of the Caverns

Ancient People and the Caves

Long ago, early Native Americans from the Copena culture used these caves. They believed caves were peaceful and safe places for the spirits of their loved ones. A special burial site from this culture was found in the caverns in 1963. In 1995, officials worked with a group of Native Americans to respectfully rebury these ancient remains in a private area of the cave. This showed great respect for their traditions.

European Explorers Arrive

In 1540, the Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto arrived in Alabama. This marked the beginning of European history in the area. At that time, the Muscogee people lived in Alabama. The Coosa people, a part of the Muscogee, lived near where the caverns are today. Their main village, also called Coosa, was close to Childersburg. Majestic Caverns was an important ancestral cave for them.

De Soto and his group stayed in the Coosa village for several weeks. The Coosa chief, called the Micco, welcomed de Soto kindly. However, de Soto took the chief with him and also some Coosa people. This was a difficult time for the Coosa people.

Early Records and Mining

During George Washington's time as president, Benjamin Hawkins was in charge of Native American affairs. In 1796, he visited the area and described the beauty of DeSoto Caverns. His report made DeSoto Caverns the first officially recorded cave in the United States.

Later, during the American Civil War, the Confederate Army needed saltpeter to make gunpowder. Families were encouraged to mine caves for this important material. DeSoto Caverns became a busy saltpeter-mining center. The cave had a spring-fed well, which was very useful because mining saltpeter needed a lot of water. Today, you can see the well, a leaching trough, and a reconstructed vat from those Civil War mining operations.

From Mining to Tourist Attraction

In 1912, a businesswoman named Ida Elizabeth Brandon Mathis bought the caverns with friends. They hoped to mine the cave for its beautiful onyx stone. However, onyx from Mexico became very popular and cheaper, so their mining plans did not work out. The mine was left untouched for several years.

During the 1920s, a period known as Prohibition, there were some problems at the caverns. It became known as "The Bloody Bucket" due to difficulties that occurred there. Eventually, authorities closed the establishment.

In the mid-1920s, Ida Mathis's son, Allen, took over the caverns. He started to develop the cave into a place for visitors to enjoy. Powerful electric lights were installed to show off the colorful onyx formations. Around 1960, the attraction first opened to the public as KyMulga Onyx Cave.

The Caverns' New Name

In 1975, Allen Mathis's son and grandson, Allen W. Mathis, Jr., and Allen Mathis, III, took charge. The next year, in 1976, the caverns were renamed DeSoto Caverns to honor Hernando de Soto. They made many improvements, like new lighting and wider pathways, to welcome more visitors. In the 1980s, a special light, sound, and water show was added. They also built a playground, a gift shop, and a place to eat. Camping facilities were improved too. In the 1990s, a climbing wall and gemstone panning were added for more fun.

Majestic Caverns was recognized for its importance on July 19, 1976. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage. As mentioned earlier, in June 2022, the park was officially renamed "Majestic Caverns."

See also

In Spanish: Cavernas de Soto para niños