Mary Campbell Cave facts for kids
Mary Campbell Cave, sometimes called Old Maid's Kitchen, is a cool, small rock shelter located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. It's a natural hollow space under a cliff. The top part of the cliff and the cave's roof are made of a type of rock called sandstone. The back wall of the cave is made of a softer rock called shale. This cave is special because water slowly wore away the softer shale over a very long time, creating the open space we see today.
Today, Mary Campbell Cave is part of the Gorge Park, which is managed by Summit Metro Parks. You can visit it by walking along the Gorge Trail. It's found on the north side of the gorge, looking out over the Cuyahoga River. The floor of the cave is about 960 feet (293 meters) above sea level.
Contents
The Story of Mary Campbell
This cave is famous because it was once a temporary home for a young girl named Mary Campbell. Her story is quite interesting!
Kidnapped and Taken West
In 1759, when Mary Campbell was just twelve years old, she was taken from her home in Western Pennsylvania by a group of Delaware Indians. These Native Americans were later forced to move to this area, near the big waterfalls of the Cuyahoga River. They built their village here.
Living in the Cave
Because of this move, Mary Campbell became the very first white child to live in what was known as the Western Reserve. The cave you can visit today is where she and some of the Native American women lived for a short time. It offered good shelter from rain, but they would have needed to build a wall to protect themselves from the wind.
Returning Home
Mary Campbell stayed with the Delaware Indians for several years. Eventually, in 1764, she was able to return to her original home. Her story is a reminder of the early history of this region.
Remembering Mary Campbell
Inside the cave, there's a small plaque that tells Mary's story. It was placed there in 1934 by a group called the Mary Campbell Society Children of the American Revolution of Cuyahoga Falls. It helps visitors remember this important part of local history.
About the Cave Itself
The cave opening is about 40 meters (around 130 feet) wide. It goes back into the cliff from a few meters to about fifteen meters (around 50 feet). Most of the cave is tall enough for a person to stand up comfortably. It's a great spot to imagine what life might have been like for Mary Campbell and the Native American women who stayed there long ago.
