Howe Caverns
Encyclopedia
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, New York
Schoharie County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,582 people, 11,991 households and 8,177 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 15,915 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...
.
Geology
Geologists believe that the formation of the cave, which lies 156 feet (47.5 m) below ground, began several million years ago. Composed mainly of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
deposited hundreds of millions of years ago when the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
stretched far inland, the cave contains a lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
called the Lake of Venus, as well as many speleothems.
Discovery and development
Howe opened the cave to eight-hour public tours in 1843, and, as business grew, a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
was built over the entrance.
When Howe encountered financial difficulties, he sold off parts of his property until a limestone quarry bought the remainder. The quarry's purchase included the hillside which opened to the cave's natural entrance. The cave was then closed to the public until an organization was formed in 1927 to reopen it. The organization spent the next two years undertaking development work to create another route into the cave. After completion of the work – including elevator
Elevator
An elevator is a type of vertical transport equipment that efficiently moves people or goods between floors of a building, vessel or other structures...
s, brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
walkways, lighting and handrails – the cave was reopened to visitors on Memorial Day 1929. The site includes a hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
and a restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
.
The tour now lasts about 80 minutes and shows the majority of the cave. Visitors begin at the elevators and continue to the end of the Lake of Venus, which marks the end of Howe Caverns' property. Beyond this point lie about 2100 feet (640.1 m) of unconditioned and destroyed caverns which lead to the quarry and the natural entrance. After a boat ride, visitors turn around and walk back the way they came, with two additional stops.
Cavern officials have detailed plans to open up the natural entrance of the cave to public tours in the future. Until recently, the natural entrance was not owned by Howe caverns but now it owns the entire cave. Plans are being put in place to continue the boat ride and have the tour exit out of the natural cave entrance.
In addition, there is also a two hour "Adventure" tour that simulates natural cave exploration with the assistance of a guide in a section of the cave that had not previously been open to the public. There is no artificial lighting on this part of the cavern. Visitors are equipped with a suit appropriate for the muddy and cold journey. This tour usually ends at the "lake of mystery" as visitors would have to crawl through a passage filled with water inches away from the ceiling.
Weddings are also performed deep in the cave.