Wabasha Street Caves facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wabasha Street Caves |
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| Location | St. Paul, Minnesota |
| Access | Commercial |
The Wabasha Street Caves are a unique event place found inside sandstone caves. They are located on the south side of the Mississippi River in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota. These caves have a long and interesting past. They were once secret clubs and are now a popular spot for "Swing Night" dances with live big-band music. You can also take fun historical tours of these special caves in Saint Paul.
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Exploring the Wabasha Street Caves
The Wabasha Street Caves are not natural caves. They are actually mines, meaning people dug them out of the soft sandstone rock. This digging started way back in the 1840s. Over many years, people used these man-made caves for all sorts of things.
Past Uses of the Caves
The caves have had many different jobs throughout history.
- They were used to grow mushrooms.
- People stored food and other belongings inside them.
- They became places for music and dancing.
The Secret Club Era
In the 1920s, the caves turned into a restaurant and nightclub. It was known as the Wabasha Street Speakeasy. During this time, some people said that famous figures like John Dillinger and Ma Barker visited the club. However, there is no real proof of these visits. So, these stories are mostly considered legends.
Castle Royal and Beyond
On October 26, 1933, a new club called the Castle Royal opened in the caves. Josie and William Lehmann were the owners. This club was very popular for a few years.
However, the Castle Royal closed in the late 1930s because World War II began. After that, the caves went back to being mainly a place for growing mushrooms.
Later, in the 1970s, another club opened called Castle Royal 2. This time, it was a popular spot for Disco music. The caves have also been used to store things that washed up from floods. You can still find some of these items in the caves today.
