Marengo Cave
Marengo, IN · Indiana Cave Country$$
Two schoolchildren stumbled into Marengo Cave on a September afternoon in 1883, and tours have run almost without pause ever since, which makes this one of the oldest show caves…
Photo: Yinan Chen / Public Domain (CC0)
Caves
Cave of the Mounds
About
A quarry blast at Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, 20 minutes west of Madison, tore open about 40 feet of the ceiling of Cave of the Mounds on August 4, 1939. Four men went in about three hours later. Guided tours now take 45 minutes to an hour on 0.6 mile of lit, paved path at a constant 50 degrees. The route has seven staircases, and wheelchairs, walkers, strollers and rigid child carriers aren't allowed. The oldest formations dated here are 257,560 years old, give or take 2,200.
Highlights
National Natural LandmarkNearly every known formation type0.6-mile lit, paved routeConstant 50 degreesLantern and blacklight specialty tours20 minutes west of Madison
