Zane Shawnee Caverns facts for kids
The Zane Shawnee Caverns are cool underground caves in Logan County, Ohio, United States. They are "show caves," which means people can visit them. Since 1995, a group called the United Remnant Band of the Shawnee Nation has owned and taken care of them.
These caves are found between the towns of Zanesfield and Bellefontaine, Ohio. They are also close to the Ohio Caverns. Both cave systems were made a long, long time ago by huge sheets of ice called glaciers. These glaciers left behind piles of rock and dirt, which helped form the caves.
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History of the Caverns
The land around Zane Shawnee Caverns was once an important path for the Shawnee people. It was a place where they could carry their canoes between the Great Miami River and rivers that flow into Lake Erie. This made travel much easier for them.
How the Caves Were Found
The caves were not widely known until 1892. That year, a man named John Dunlap rescued a boy and his dog from a sinkhole. This is how the amazing underground world was discovered! The caves were first called the Zane Caverns. They were named after the nearby village of Zanesfield. For most of the 1900s, the caves were run as a private business.
The Shawnee Nation and the Caverns
In 1996, the Shawnee Nation, URB bought the caverns and the land around them. This group claims descent from the historic Shawnee people. They renamed the site the Zane Shawnee Caverns.
The URB still operates the caverns as a show cave for visitors. They also created the Shawnee Woodland Native American Museum on the site. This Native American museum is near Bellefontaine. It has exhibits about different parts of Native American history and culture.
About the Museum
One special display in the museum is about George Drouillard. He was a guide for the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806. George Drouillard was part Shawnee. He was the main hunter and interpreter for the expedition. This journey explored the land bought in the Louisiana Purchase. It even reached the Pacific Ocean!
Southwind Park
Also on the cavern's property is "Southwind Park." This area is used for camping and as a place for groups to gather. The URB also holds its own events there. A small, permanent settlement has been built at this site.
Inside the Caverns
When you go inside the Zane Shawnee Caverns, you will see many cool and rare rock formations. These include "cave pearls," which are small, round stones formed by water. You might also see "claws" and "cave pearl nests" on ledges. The temperature inside the cave is usually cooler than outside. The formations inside the cave have also grown in unusual ways over time.
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