- During the Revolutionary War, caverns were mined for saltpeter, an ingredient in gun powder
- Mushrooms, which require darkness and humidity have been grown commercially in caverns
COVERT USES
- Caverns have made great hiding places for fugitives from the law, notorious among them, Black Bart who hid out at California Cavern, and Jesse James who made Meramec Caverns in Missouri his hiding place.
- With often concealed entrances and dark, enclosed interiors, caverns have made excellent venues for secret meetings. At California Cavern, the "Know Nothing" political party held its clandestine meetings there in 1855.
CEREMONIAL USES
- Primitive people used caverns as places for sacrificial ceremonies, and to record their histories with colorful pictographs (see supplemental handout for more information and activities concerning cave drawings)
- Young people from ancient times to the present day have used the mystery of caverns to create tests of bravery and coming-of-age tests
- Caverns have been used as beautiful and unusual venues for acoustically rich church services, marriage ceremonies and community dances
PROTECTIVE USES
- During the Civil War, slaves escaping the southern states utilized what was called the "Underground Railroad" - the excellent protection afforded by hidden caverns
- During the two World Wars, emergency plans for the protection of the population included using caverns as bomb shelters
ENTERTAINMENT/ADVENTURE USES
- Spelunking trips are physically and emotionally demanding, making caverns a great destination for adventurous people
Families enjoy taking walking tours along trails in caverns, viewing the beautiful crystalline formations and learning about their geological formation
- People who have a passion for caverns have purchased karst land and developed trails in caverns to make it possible for the general public to visit and enjoy them.
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