Fantastic Caverns
Encyclopedia
Show cave
Show caves — also called tourist caves, public caves, and in the United States, commercial caves — are caves that are managed by a government or commercial organization and made accessible to the general public, usually for an entrance fee...
located in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
. Fantastic Caverns is the only cave in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
to offer a completely ride-through tour, which lasts 55 minutes and is held in a Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
-drawn tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
. The trams drive along the path left behind by an ancient underground river. Tram occupants are encouraged to touch a particular section of low ceiling dead stalactites.
The cavern was discovered by John Knox and his hunting dog in 1862. Knox did not want the cave to be exploited by the Union or Confederate governments as a possible source of saltpeter
Saltpeter
Saltpeter or saltpetre often refers to:*Potassium nitrate, or the mineral niter, the critical oxidizing component of gunpowder, and a food preservative.It may also refer to:...
, so he kept the cave's existence quiet until 1867. Knox put an advertisement in the Springfield paper for someone to explore the cave, and it was first explored on February 14, 1867. On February 27, almost two weeks later, the Springfield Women's Athletic Club explored the cave. These twelve ladies are considered the first explorers of the cave, since they carved their names into the rock as grafitti and are mentioned in an article published in the Springfield Tri-Weekly Patriot newspaper. The cave was renamed "Fantastic Caverns" in the 1950s.
The caverns were used as a speakeasy
Speakeasy
A speakeasy, also called a blind pig or blind tiger, is an establishment that illegally sells alcoholic beverages. Such establishments came into prominence in the United States during the period known as Prohibition...
during the Prohibition
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
years and hosted music concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s during the 1950s and 1960s The shows were broadcast on KGBX
KGBX
KGBX-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Nixa, Missouri, USA, the station serves the Springfield, Missouri market. The station is owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting Licenses, Inc..-History:...
radio in the 1970s.
The temperature
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
inside Fantastic Caverns is about 60°F (15°C) year-round. In the winter and fall, billboards advertise that the cave is a "warm 60 degrees," while in the summer and spring, billboards advertise the caverns to be a "cool 60 degrees." The cave hosts over 100,000 visitors a year.
Fantastic Caverns is 6 miles from Jefferson Avenue 562-foot Footbridge
Jefferson Avenue Footbridge
The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge in Springfield, Missouri, built in 1902 it allows pedestrians to cross 13 sets of railroad tracks.As the footbridge approached its 100-year anniversary, it became apparent that a major rehabilitation was required to preserve the aging structure...
and near Ritter Springs Park.