Organ Cave
Encyclopedia
Organ Cave is a large and historic cave
in Greenbrier County
, West Virginia
, USA. The surrounding community
takes its name from the cave.
In November 1973, the Organ Cave System — also known as the Organ-Hendricks Cave System — was registered as a National Natural Landmark
for being "the largest cave system in the State, containing many caves, one of which is Organ Cave. Noted also for its saltpeter
troughs and vats." (It is now the second-longest known cave in the state, after the Friars Hole Cave System, in the same county.) Organ Cave has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
since 2005.
, grizzly bear
, nine-banded armadillo
, sabre-tooth cat, reindeer
and an Ice Age porcupine
. Organ Cave's human history is attested by flint
arrowheads used by early American Indians
. Evidence of early white settlers in the cave is suggested by the date "1704" scratched on a wall, but this may be a later addition since the first white settlers to Greenbrier County came only in the 1740s.
The cave has been used since before 1835 as a source for nitre (saltpeter) for the manufacture of gunpowder
. During the American Civil War
, Confederate
soldiers under the command of General Robert E. Lee
again mined the cave for nitre. The cave today has the nation's largest collection of Civil War-era saltpeter hoppers.
Organ Cave was first surveyed by members of the National Speleological Society
in July 1948. For many years it was considered the longest cave in the world. , the Organ Cave System had 38.452 miles (61.9 km) of surveyed cave passage making it the 35th longest cave in the world, the 8th longest in the United States, and the 2nd longest in West Virginia.
's giant ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii
) — had been assumed to have come originally from Organ Cave. Jefferson never visited the area and received the fossil from a local friend in 1796. In the early 20th century, a local man, Andrew Price of Marlinton
, decided that the fossil had come from Organ Cave and popularized the theory. In 1995, however, Smithsonian paleontologist Frederick Grady proposed that Haynes Cave
in nearby Monroe County
was the true source. (His reasons had to do with historical land-ownership records.) The proprietors of Organ Cave, however, continue to insist on their property as the origin of the fossil in their interpretative exhibits and tour guide presentations.
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 Greenbrier County
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, USA. The surrounding community
Organ Cave, West Virginia
Organ Cave is an unincorporated community in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. Organ Cave is located along U.S. Route 219 and West Virginia Route 63 at the Organ Cave, southeast of Ronceverte.-References:...
takes its name from the cave.
In November 1973, the Organ Cave System — also known as the Organ-Hendricks Cave System — was registered as a National Natural Landmark
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmark program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only natural areas program of national scope that identifies and recognizes the best examples of biological and geological features in...
for being "the largest cave system in the State, containing many caves, one of which is Organ Cave. Noted also for its saltpeter
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
troughs and vats." (It is now the second-longest known cave in the state, after the Friars Hole Cave System, in the same county.) Organ Cave has also been listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
since 2005.
History
Significant fossil discoveries bear witness to the early natural history of Organ Cave: giant ground slothMegalonyx jeffersonii
Megalonyx jeffersonii, or Jefferson's ground sloth, is an extinct species of giant ground sloth that lived from the Illinoian Stage during the Middle Pleistocene through to the Rancholabrean of the Late Pleistocene . Its closest living relatives are the two-toed tree sloths of the genus...
, grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
, nine-banded armadillo
Nine-banded Armadillo
The nine-banded armadillo , or the nine-banded, long-nosed armadillo, is a species of armadillo found in North, Central, and South America, making it the most widespread of the armadillos...
, sabre-tooth cat, reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
and an Ice Age porcupine
Porcupine
Porcupines are rodents with a coat of sharp spines, or quills, that defend or camouflage them from predators. They are indigenous to the Americas, southern Asia, and Africa. Porcupines are the third largest of the rodents, behind the capybara and the beaver. Most porcupines are about long, with...
. Organ Cave's human history is attested by flint
Flint
Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz, categorized as a variety of chert. It occurs chiefly as nodules and masses in sedimentary rocks, such as chalks and limestones. Inside the nodule, flint is usually dark grey, black, green, white, or brown in colour, and...
arrowheads used by early American Indians
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
. Evidence of early white settlers in the cave is suggested by the date "1704" scratched on a wall, but this may be a later addition since the first white settlers to Greenbrier County came only in the 1740s.
The cave has been used since before 1835 as a source for nitre (saltpeter) for the manufacture of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
soldiers under the command of General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
again mined the cave for nitre. The cave today has the nation's largest collection of Civil War-era saltpeter hoppers.
Organ Cave was first surveyed by members of the National Speleological Society
National Speleological Society
The National Speleological Society is an organization formed in 1941 to advance the exploration, conservation, study, and understanding of caves in the United States. Originally located in Washington D.C., its current offices are in Huntsville, Alabama...
in July 1948. For many years it was considered the longest cave in the world. , the Organ Cave System had 38.452 miles (61.9 km) of surveyed cave passage making it the 35th longest cave in the world, the 8th longest in the United States, and the 2nd longest in West Virginia.
Jefferson's ground sloth
Formerly, a famous fossil discovery — that of Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
's giant ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersonii
Megalonyx jeffersonii
Megalonyx jeffersonii, or Jefferson's ground sloth, is an extinct species of giant ground sloth that lived from the Illinoian Stage during the Middle Pleistocene through to the Rancholabrean of the Late Pleistocene . Its closest living relatives are the two-toed tree sloths of the genus...
) — had been assumed to have come originally from Organ Cave. Jefferson never visited the area and received the fossil from a local friend in 1796. In the early 20th century, a local man, Andrew Price of Marlinton
Marlinton, West Virginia
Marlinton is a town in Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,204 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pocahontas County.-History:...
, decided that the fossil had come from Organ Cave and popularized the theory. In 1995, however, Smithsonian paleontologist Frederick Grady proposed that Haynes Cave
Haynes Cave
Haynes Cave is a cave within the Greenbrier River watershed in West Virginia. It sits within the complex hydrology of the historic Second Creek watershed in Monroe County....
in nearby Monroe County
Monroe County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...
was the true source. (His reasons had to do with historical land-ownership records.) The proprietors of Organ Cave, however, continue to insist on their property as the origin of the fossil in their interpretative exhibits and tour guide presentations.
See also
Other sources
- Stevens, Paul J., editor (1988), Caves of the Organ Cave Plateau, Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Bulletin 9: West Virginia Speleological SurveyWest Virginia Speleological SurveyThe West Virginia Speleological Survey is a speleological organization and ongoing cave survey program that has gathered information and published about West Virginia caves and karst since 1967....
; 200 pages (Over 70 devoted to Organ Cave); 80 pages of map (100 ft:1 inch) of the system; descriptions of 50 other caves on the Plateau. - Humphreys, Blanche (1928), History of Organ Cave Community (Greenbrier County, West Virginia); Agricultural Extension Division.