Squire Boone Caverns Facts for Kids

Squire Boone Caverns and Village is a cool place to explore caves in Mauckport, Indiana. It's near Corydon in Southern Indiana. This park offers a fun one-hour walking tour deep into the caverns. You can also visit a pioneer village that shows how people lived long ago, and see a working grist mill.

History of the Park
What You Can See at the Park
- The Pioneer Village
- Exploring the Cave Tour
  - Amazing Sights Inside the Cave
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History of the Park

The caves were first found by famous explorer Daniel Boone and his brother, Squire Boone. They discovered the caverns while exploring in the late 1700s. Squire Boone loved the area so much that he bought the land in 1808. He built a grist mill there, which is a mill that grinds grain into flour. This mill is very old and still works today! It's even listed on the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures.

Squire Boone passed away in 1815. He loved the caverns so much that he asked to be buried inside them. His original burial spot was near the cave's entrance. Later, in the 1900s, his remains were moved deeper into the caverns. This was done because of building work and people disturbing the site. Today, the cave tour passes by his coffin, giving visitors a quiet moment to think about the cave's history.

What You Can See at the Park

The amazing caverns are open all year round. The pioneer village and grist mill are open during the warmer summer months.

The Pioneer Village

The village is like stepping back in time! Everything is made the "old fashioned way," by hand. You can find:

An old-time candy shop with sweet treats.
A building where soap is made from animal fat.
A chandler's house where candles are made by dipping them by hand.
A country store with unique items.

Many of the handmade products from the village are sold all over the country. You can even find them at places like Disney World!

Exploring the Cave Tour

Friendly guides lead you through the cave on lighted paths. There are not many stairs, making it easy to walk. The tour begins between the General Store and a fun "Barnyard" petting zoo. Here you can see pigs, sheep, and goats.

The exit from the cave is a special shaft dug in 1970. It has a circular stairway with 73 steps that leads you back outside. Even though this exit is man-made, it has started to grow cave features, just like the rest of the cavern!

Amazing Sights Inside the Cave

During your cave tour, you'll see many incredible things:

An underground stream that flows out to power the grist mill.
Huge stalactites (hanging from the ceiling) and stalagmites (growing from the floor). Remember not to touch them!
A large open central cavern.
Narrow passages that make the adventure exciting.
A beautiful underground waterfall.
Many interesting rock formations.
Near the end, you'll see Squire Boone's coffin.

The stream inside the cave also has a giant rimstone formation. It's the largest one in North America and one of the biggest in the whole world!