Manitou Cave facts for kids

Manitou Cave is a cool cave in Alabama, near the town of Fort Payne. It is located on the side of Lookout Mountain. The Cherokee people, who lived there long ago, are said to have named it "Manitou." This name means "the great spirit" and was given in the 1700s.

History of Manitou Cave

A Wartime Resource

During the American Civil War, Manitou Cave was very important. It provided a mineral called saltpeter. This mineral was dug out by workers. Saltpeter was a key ingredient for making black powder. Black powder was used by soldiers for their weapons.

From Mines to Tourists

In 1888, the Fort Payne Coal and Iron company opened the cave. It became a popular tourist spot. The cave stayed open as a public park for many years. This was during the early 1900s. After some time, it was not maintained well.

Reopening and Today

In 1963, the Walter B. Raymond, Sr. family reopened Manitou Cave. They ran it as a tourist attraction. This continued until the mid-1970s. Today, the cave is not open to everyone. However, you can still explore it! Private tour companies offer special adventure trips inside.