Onyx Cave (Newburg, Missouri) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Onyx Cave
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 Location in Missouri
Location in the United States
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| Location | 14705 Private Drive 8541, near Newburg, Missouri |
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| Area | 43.7 acres (17.7 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| NRHP reference No. | 99000529 |
| Added to NRHP | May 21, 1999 |
Onyx Cave, also known as King Cave and Boiling Springs Cave, is a historic natural cave located near Newburg, Pulaski County, Missouri. It's a really special place because of its amazing rock formations and beautiful cave onyx. This cave is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
Exploring Onyx Cave
The main part of Onyx Cave is a huge room. It's about 85 feet wide, 250 feet long, and 33 feet high! That's like a giant underground hall. The cave also has two smaller tunnels or passageways.
What's Inside the Cave?
Onyx Cave is famous for its unique cave onyx. This onyx is a type of rock that is see-through, or translucent. It can be pure white or a creamy color. Some pieces even have cool reddish stripes!
You can also see many different kinds of cave formations here. These include common ones like stalactites, which hang down from the ceiling. There are also stalagmites, which grow up from the floor. When a stalactite and a stalagmite meet, they form a column. The cave also has beautiful draperies, which look like wavy curtains of rock.
A Bit of History
People have known about Onyx Cave for a long time. In 1892, a special shaft was dug into the cave. This shaft was about 8 feet by 13 feet wide. It was made to help mine, or dig out, the valuable onyx from the cave.
Protecting Our Natural Treasures
Onyx Cave is recognized as a very important natural site. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This listing helps protect the cave and its amazing features for everyone to appreciate.
