Southern California Grotto
Encyclopedia
The Southern California Grotto (usually shortened to SoCal Grotto) is a chapter
of the National Speleological Society
based in the Greater Los Angeles area
.
Founded in 1948, the Southern California Grotto, is one of the oldest chapters of the NSS and it continues to thrive as one of the largest grottos in the western United States. The Southern California Grotto has a long history of active caving and cave related projects throughout California and other states, and extending to other areas of the world. Members of the Grotto endorse the goals of the National Speleological Society - the study, exploration, and conservation of caves. The motto: "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time." summarizes the ideals practiced by Southern California Grotto cavers while exploring the underground world.
at Huntington Memorial Hospital
, where he was working as an intern. Twenty prospective members attended the first meeting and of these, five were members of the National Speleological Society: Denny Constantine worked at the Los Angeles County Museum
and is now known for his expertise in bat species. Karl Heinize was an astronaut
who died on a climbing expedition to Mount Everest
. Richard Logan was a professor of geography
at the University of California
. George Neuerburg was an expert in hard rock mining
.
On December 10, 1948, the Southern California Grotto was chartered as the sixteenth grotto of the NSS and the first grotto in California. However, the official charter was not issued unit July 1, 1958 and it listed the Southern California Grotto as being active since January 31, 1949. Bill Halliday was the first Grotto chair and meetings at the Pasadena
Public Library Auditorium started on November 2, 1948. During the first year, membership increased from eight members to thirty four. Also in that first year, the grotto had thirteen official trips made to caves in California
, Arizona
, Nevada
, and New Mexico
. The first Grotto trip was to Lilburn Cave on October 2 – 3, 1948. Kokoweef Cave was the second grotto trip on November 13, 1948.
In 1998, to celebrate the 50th anniversary, the four surviving original members were granted honorary life memberships in the grotto.
Grotto meetings continued to be held at the Pasadena Public Library Auditorium until July 2004 when meetings were changed to the Beckman Institute Auditorium at Caltech.
, Sequoia
, Kings Canyon
, & Death Valley
National Parks, and the Mojave National Preserve
.
, several projects at Cathedral and other caves in Arizona
, and the XMET project in Belize
.
, TV shows, and news programs.
Grotto (National Speleological Society)
A Grotto is an internal organization of the National Speleological Society . They generally function as the local NSS chapter/club. Many Grottos however, operate in areas outside of their local area, with many operating in several states. Most Grottos also participate in Regions which are loose...
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...
based in the Greater Los Angeles area
Greater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
.
Founded in 1948, the Southern California Grotto, is one of the oldest chapters of the NSS and it continues to thrive as one of the largest grottos in the western United States. The Southern California Grotto has a long history of active caving and cave related projects throughout California and other states, and extending to other areas of the world. Members of the Grotto endorse the goals of the National Speleological Society - the study, exploration, and conservation of caves. The motto: "Take nothing but pictures. Leave nothing but footprints. Kill nothing but time." summarizes the ideals practiced by Southern California Grotto cavers while exploring the underground world.
History
William Halliday organized the first meeting of the Southern California Grotto on September 29, 1948,at Huntington Memorial Hospital
Huntington Memorial Hospital
Huntington Hospital is a 635-bed not-for-profit hospital in Pasadena, California. It is named for Southern California businessman and booster Henry E...
, where he was working as an intern. Twenty prospective members attended the first meeting and of these, five were members of the National Speleological Society: Denny Constantine worked at the Los Angeles County Museum
Los Angeles County Museum
The Los Angeles County Museum may refer to:* Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County* Los Angeles County Museum of Art...
and is now known for his expertise in bat species. Karl Heinize was an astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
who died on a climbing expedition to Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
. Richard Logan was a professor of geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
. George Neuerburg was an expert in hard rock mining
Hard rock mining
Underground hard rock mining refers to various underground mining techniques used to excavate hard minerals, mainly those containing metals such as ore containing gold, silver, iron, copper, zinc, nickel and lead, but also involves using the same techniques for excavating ores of gems such as...
.
On December 10, 1948, the Southern California Grotto was chartered as the sixteenth grotto of the NSS and the first grotto in California. However, the official charter was not issued unit July 1, 1958 and it listed the Southern California Grotto as being active since January 31, 1949. Bill Halliday was the first Grotto chair and meetings at the Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
Public Library Auditorium started on November 2, 1948. During the first year, membership increased from eight members to thirty four. Also in that first year, the grotto had thirteen official trips made to caves in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The first Grotto trip was to Lilburn Cave on October 2 – 3, 1948. Kokoweef Cave was the second grotto trip on November 13, 1948.
In 1998, to celebrate the 50th anniversary, the four surviving original members were granted honorary life memberships in the grotto.
Grotto meetings continued to be held at the Pasadena Public Library Auditorium until July 2004 when meetings were changed to the Beckman Institute Auditorium at Caltech.
Cave Conservation
Members of the SoCal Grotto volunteer many hours on conservation projects every year. Work is done both in the local area, the western united states, as well as international projects in countries around the world. In California, the grotto assists state and federal agencies such as Providence Mountains State Recreation AreaProvidence Mountains State Recreation Area
The Providence Mountains State Recreation Area is located in the Providence Mountains, within the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California...
, Sequoia
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
, Kings Canyon
Kings Canyon National Park
Kings Canyon National Park is a National Park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Fresno, California. The park was established in 1940 and covers...
, & Death Valley
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a national park in the U.S. states of California and Nevada located east of the Sierra Nevada in the arid Great Basin of the United States. The park protects the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and contains a diverse desert environment of salt-flats, sand dunes,...
National Parks, and the Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve
Mojave National Preserve is located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, USA, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The preserve was established October 31, 1994 with the passage of the California Desert Protection Act by the US Congress...
.
Cave Research
Members of the Southern California Grotto participate in a number of research projects as both principal investigators, and as field assistants. Current projects include the Earth-Mars Cave Detection Expedition, in the Mojave DesertMojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
, several projects at Cathedral and other caves in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, and the XMET project in Belize
Belize
Belize is a constitutional monarchy and the northernmost country in Central America. Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. Even though Kriol and Spanish are spoken among the population, Belize is the only country in Central America where English is the official...
.
Media
The SoCal Grotto is often contacted by the media companies in Hollywood, as they are the closest caving organization. SoCal Grotto members have consulted on a number of feature films, documentaries, TV shows, and news programs.