Mammoth Cave National Park
No entry fee but reservations for tours required and prices vary.
May 25, 2023, Leave Baltimore
Arrive at the Holiday Inn Express Charleston
May 26, 2023, Leave Charleston @ 8 AM and head to Mammoth Cave National Park
Mammoth Cave is recognized as the world's longest-known cave system, with more than 400 miles (643 kilometers) of explored underground passages. In 1981, Mammoth Cave was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing its outstanding universal value as a natural and cultural site. The park is home to a diverse ecosystem, with over 130 species of animals, including several endangered species such as the Kentucky cave shrimp and the Indiana bat.
The cave has a rich history of human habitation, with evidence of Native American presence dating back over 6,000 years. The cave was also used as a burial site by Native American tribes. During the War of 1812, Mammoth Cave was a source of saltpeter for gunpowder production. It was also used as a tuberculosis hospital during the mid-1800s. Mammoth Cave boasts unique geological formations, including massive chambers, intricate limestone formations like stalactites and stalagmites, and an underground river system.
The Green River flows through parts of the cave system, forming the Echo River, which is navigable by boat. Visitors can take boat tours to explore this underground river. Apart from cave tours, the park offers various recreational activities like hiking, camping, horseback riding, and wildlife viewing, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The endangered Kentucky cavefish, a small, eyeless fish adapted to life in complete darkness, is found in the underground streams of the cave system.
Get passport stamped
Dinner @ Momma's Mustard Pickles and BBQ
Huge helpings of tasty BBQ homemaid pickles and sauces!
Ranger Emily Wheet took our group on a fascinating 2-hour tour of the Mammoth Cave system. Ranger Wheet’s storytelling was enhanced by the fact that she centered her narrative around African American cave explorers. The cave system served as a shelter for enslaved African Americans seeking refuge and freedom during the 19th century, and Mr Stephen Bishop an enslaved guide, played a pivotal role in exploring and mapping the cave's intricate passages. Bishop's extensive knowledge of Mammoth Cave earned him recognition as one of the first great cave explorers in America. The "Mammoth Cave Rescue" of 1925 involved African American guides, who played crucial roles in the successful rescue operation. The park's history includes the development of a segregated tour route, with separate entrances and accommodations for African American visitors during the era of racial segregation. Efforts have been made to preserve and promote the African American history associated with Mammoth Cave National Park, including the establishment of the African American Heritage Trail.
Drive to Lexington, KY
May 27, 2023
Visit Muhammad Ali Center
Muhammad Ali is my dad’s hero and all-time favorite athlete, so we couldn’t leave Kentucky without heading an hour north to Louisville and stopping by the world’s most famous boxer’s hometown, museum, and gravesite. And we’re so glad we did!
