Thumping Dick Hollow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thumping Dick Hollow
Columned Entrance Cave
Thumping Dick Hollow, Sewanee, TN Location in Tennessee
Length	2 miles (3.2 km) East-West
Width	0.1 to 1 mile (0.16 to 1.61 km)
Geography
Location	Franklin County, Tennessee, United States
Traversed by	Sewanee Perimeter Trail

Thumping Dick Hollow, also known as Thumping Dick Cove, is a special natural area in Franklin County, in the southern part of Tennessee. It's part of the land belonging to the University of the South and the town of Sewanee. This place is famous for its interesting name, very old trees, and cool caves. A "cove" here means a small, sheltered valley or hollow, often found in the Appalachian Mountains.

Discovering Thumping Dick Hollow

Thumping Dick Hollow is a small valley that has many natural holes in the ground called sinkholes. It also has several caves, including one known as Solomon's Temple. The area is also known for its ancient forest, which means it has very old trees that have been growing there for a long time. This hollow is a part of the Sewanee Perimeter Trail, a popular path for hiking. In 1973, the National Park Service officially recognized Thumping Dick Hollow as a National Natural Landmark because of its unique natural features.

Why the Unusual Name?

The name "Thumping Dick Hollow" is quite unusual, and there are a few stories about how it got its name. People were calling it this even before the University of the South was built in 1858.

One popular story says that a local person named "Dick" built a grain mill in the 1800s. This mill used water power to grind grain. When the mill was working, it made a loud "thumping" sound that could be heard all over the forest. Another story suggests that the thumping sound came from a water-powered pump or a sawmill in the area.

Finding Your Way to Thumping Dick Hollow

Thumping Dick Hollow is located near an old Stagecoach route called Breakfield Road in Sewanee, Tennessee. It's also part of the Sewanee Perimeter Trail. The hollow is about 700 feet (213 meters) lower than Breakfield Road.

To get there, you can start from gate #7 on Breakfield Road. Follow the path past the gate for about 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers). You will reach a stream where a bridge has fallen down. Cross the stream and look for a faint path on your left. Follow this path, and you will soon see the entrance to the Columned Entrance Cave. If you keep going around the cliff to your right, you will find the second cave, Solomon's Temple.

Thumping Dick Hollow in Books

A well-known writer from the early 1900s, Walter Prichard Eaton, wrote about Thumping Dick Hollow. He was a drama critic and a professor at Yale University. In his book of essays from 1922, Penguin, Persons, and Peppermints, Eaton describes visiting the hollow in the spring. He wrote about how much he liked the colorful and interesting place names found in the Southern United States.

Images for kids

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  Columned Entrance Cave

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  Columned Entrance Cave Interior

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  Columned Entranced Cave Interior Dome

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  Cliff Towards Solomon's Temple Cliff

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  Waterfall below Solomon's Temple Cave

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  Solomon's Temple Cave Entrance Interior

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  A sinkhole looking up

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  Collapsed Sinkhole below Solomon's Temple Cave