Meramec Caverns facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Meramec Caverns |
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|---|---|
| Location | Stanton, Missouri |
| Length | 4.6 miles (7.4 km) |
| Discovery | Pre-Columbian; extended system in 1933 |
| Geology | Limestone |
Meramec Caverns is a huge cave system in the Ozarks region of Missouri. It's located near a town called Stanton. This amazing cave system stretches for about 4.6 miles (7.4 km).
The caverns were created over millions of years. This happened as water slowly wore away large layers of rock called limestone. Long ago, before Europeans arrived, Native American people used these caves for shelter. Today, Meramec Caverns is a very popular tourist attraction. You can see over fifty billboards for it along Interstate 44. It's also famous as one of the main stops along the historic U.S. Highway 66. About 150,000 people visit Meramec Caverns every year, making it Missouri's most visited cave.
Contents
Exploring Meramec Caverns' History
The Meramec Caverns have been forming for an incredibly long time, about 400 million years! Over centuries, Native Americans found shelter and used these caves. In 1722, a French miner became one of the first Europeans to explore a cave west of the Mississippi River here.
The Caverns During the Civil War
During the 18th century, people used the cave to get saltpeter. This was a key ingredient for making gunpowder. Later, during the Civil War, the Union Army used the caves as a saltpeter factory. However, Confederate fighters, possibly including the famous outlaw Jesse James, found and destroyed the factory.
Local stories say that Jesse James and his brother Frank used the caves as a secret hideout in the 1870s. One popular legend tells of a sheriff waiting outside the cave for the James gang. But the gang supposedly found another way out! While these stories are exciting, there isn't much proof they actually happened.
Becoming a Tourist Attraction
In 1933, explorers found the much larger cave system we know today. It was opened to the public as a tourist spot in 1935 by Lester B. Dill. He even invented the bumper sticker as a way to advertise the caverns!
In 1960, Meramec Caverns did something unique: they rented out billboard space inside the caverns. They claimed it was the only underground billboard in the world! The cave also became a filming location. In 1972, parts of the musical film Tom Sawyer were filmed here.
Amazing Features Inside the Cave
The Wine Room
On the fifth level of Meramec Caverns, you'll find a special area called the "Wine Room." This room is home to a very rare cave formation known as The Wine Table. This amazing onyx table stands six feet tall and rests on three natural legs. It's an aragonite formation, which means it formed almost entirely underwater.
The Wine Room and The Wine Table are decorated with grape-like clusters called botryoids. These clusters are why it was first called the Wine Room. The cave now jokes that it's called that because visitors "whine" about climbing 58 steps to reach it!
"Greatest Show Under the Earth"
The Caverns also have a huge, curtain-like rock formation. It was created over thousands of years. The cave calls this its "stage curtain." It's used for a cool light and sound show called "Greatest Show Under the Earth."
"Hollywood" Filming Spot
One room inside the cavern was used for movies and TV shows. The most famous was the 1973 film Tom Sawyer. In the movie, this was the cave system where Tom Sawyer (Johnny Whitaker) and Becky Thatcher (Jodie Foster) got lost. It's also where Tom and Huckleberry Finn (Jeff East) found hidden gold. An episode of the classic TV show Lassie was also filmed in this part of the cave.
The Mirror Room
The Mirror Room has a stream of water that's about 1.5 feet (0.46 meters) deep. But when certain lights are turned on, the water looks much deeper, like 50 feet (15 meters)! This amazing trick happens because the smooth, still water perfectly reflects the cavern's ceiling.
The Ballroom
The Ballroom is a large room in the cave system. It was first used in 1890 for square dances and other community events. Today, it's one of the first stops on the cave tour. The Lester Family, who own the caverns, still hold a few concerts here each year.
