Wednesday, July 8, 2009

The Wabasha Street Caves Ghosts

The Wabasha Street Caves Ghosts
By: Cave Spelunking

The Wabasha Street Caves in St. Paul, Minnesota, appears to be simply a building like many others in the area. It's not. The original building was built in the 1800s. It's original purpose was used for mining silica. The Wabasha Street Caves is actually built into the sandstone caves, and today it is an event hall.

The caves that house the Wabasha Street Caves have a long and storied history. The caves have provided a hideout for gangsters, a place for mushroom farmers to grow their plants, a site for a nightclub, and more.

There are a great many ghostly hauntings of caves reported all over the World. Most of the time the ghosts that are said to haunt caves are described as unhappy spirits of Indians or miners. Usually, they are supposed to be the spirits of someone who was killed in the cave. The ghosts that haunt the Wabasha Street Caves, though, aren't just the usual unhappy and disturbed spirits or Indians, miners, or victims of tragic cave accidents...

The ghosts that haunt the Wabasha Street mines have class! The ghost that is most often reported is an apparition of a man wearing a Panama hat. He's been seen in several different areas of the caves. There's another man who appears, but he's always with a female companion at the bar, usually around 3 AM...

Another female ghost has also been seen roaming through cave passageways at various times of the day and night.

During the 1930s, legend has it that three local gangsters were gunned down in the Wabasha Street Caves. All three of the gangster's ghosts have been seen by children, and one of the gangsters has been seen in full-bodied and solid form by several guests. He suddenly appears right in front of guests and then quickly disappears....spooky!

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.

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Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave
By: Cave Spelunking

Mammoth Cave is included in the Mammoth Cave National Park in central Kentucky. Mammoth Cave is the longest known cave system in the world. Mammoth Cave tours have been conducted for the public since 1816, but Mammoth Cave is a treasure trove of information about prehistoric life on our planet.

Prehistoric people left evidence of their existence in Mammoth Cave over many, many centuries. And scientists are still probing for more answers to their questions about prehistoric life.

According to a somewhat disputed legend, the first European to discover Mammoth Cave was John Houchin, in 1797. It's said that while he was hunting, Houchin chased a wounded bear to the cave's large entrance opening near the Green River.

Evidence of humans having been in Mammoth Cave spans at least 6,000 years, and could be much longer. There have been human early American Indian remains found in the cave. There's also evidence of intentional burial of human remains that date back well before Columbus discovered America.

Interestingly, in 1935 the remains of an American Indian adult male were discovered under a boulder. He was apparently the victim of a mining accident. The boulder had shifted and settled onto his skeleton. The remains of the ancient accident victim were named "Lost John" and exhibited to the public until the 1970s.

The remains of "Lost John" were buried in a secret location in Mammoth Cave for the purpose of preservation. Political sensitivities to the public display of Native American remains probably had more to do with the burial of the remains, however, than did preservation concerns.

Today there are several federal and state laws that protect the ancient artifacts and human remains that are still in Mammoth Cave. Even slightly moving an artifact from the position in which it is found destroys all of its research value, so explorers are training to document, not touch.

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.

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Friday, July 3, 2009

The National Speleological Society

The National Speleological Society
By: Cave Spelunking

The following statement is on the National Speleological Society ( NSS ) website:

"The National Speleological Society believes: that caves have unique scientific, recreational, and scenic values; that these values are endangered by both carelessness and intentional vandalism; that these values, once gone, cannot be recovered; and that the responsibility for protecting caves must be assumed by those who study and enjoy them."

Those of us who are seriously interested in caves and their fragile ecosystems couldn't agree more. Caves are fascinating. Going caving is one of the fastest-growing pastimes in America today. As more and more people go into caves, more and more items are removed from them and left in them. The National Speleological Society motto and the motto of all responsible cavers is:

  • Take nothing but pictures.
  • Leave nothing but footprints.
  • Kill nothing but time.

The ecosystems of caves have formed over millions and millions of years. The rock formations are breathtaking. The life in the depths of caves is like nothing that's ever been seen on the surface. Protecting this environment is of the utmost importance.

The National Speleological Society is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1941. It was originally located in Washington, D.C., but the headquarters are now in Huntsville, Alabama.

The National Speleological Society is divided into regions. Within the regional divisions, there are "grottos." Grottos are local-level divisions of the National Speleological Society that are responsible for local-level caving issues and conservation-related business.

The National Speleological Society maintains an excellent website where caving information is available free. Brochures can be ordered, and there is contact information as well.

The National Speleological Society is involved in all levels of caving and membership is open to weekend spelunkers, advanced and professional cavers and speleogists.


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Cave Spelunking.

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Thursday, July 2, 2009

Modern Caving

Modern Caving
By: Cave Spelunking

People have apparently been fascinated by caves since prehistoric times. In earlier times, caves served as "home sweet home." Sometimes caves provided protection as well as shelter. At any rate, mankind seems to have always been fascinated by caves. Nothing has changed. We're still fascinated, but modern caving is a great deal safer than caving in earlier times.

People cave for many reasons. Some go caving to learn about the caves. We call them "speleologists." They are geologists who specialize in cave geology. Then there are those who explore caves because of their interest in conservation. Most, however, explore caves for the pure pleasure of seeing the wonders of life below the earth's surface.

We no longer have to use torches or candlelight to venture into these underground wonderlands like our ancestors did. Oh, no; we are blessed with modern technology that makes exploring caves so much easier than it's ever been before.

Getting involved in caving today couldn't be easier. The best and easiest way to get involved in caving is through the National Speleological Society ( NSS ). You can find a local chapter and find experienced cavers who will help train you. They'll even help you find the right type of gear that you need to buy and probably keep you from spending more than you really need to spend.

Modern cavers need to abide by the rules:

  • Wear protective headgear and footwear and clothing.
  • Check to be sure there is no danger of flooding while you plan to be in the cave.
  • Never go alone.
  • Make sure someone on the surface knows where you are caving and when to expect you back.
  • Each person should carry a minimum of three light sources.
  • The cave environment is fragile. Water that flows through a cave comes out in streams and rivers, so any pollution will end up in our drinking water.
  • Abide by the cavers motto: Take nothing but pictures! Leave nothing but footprints! Kill nothing but time!

Rock On & Keep Spelunking...
Cave Spelunking.

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