Faris Caves are a series of artificially excavated

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

s located along the

Smoky Hill River The Smoky Hill River is a river in the central Great Plains of North America, running through Colorado and Kansas.Smoky Hill River. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.br ...

in central Ellsworth County,

Kansas Kansas () is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its capital is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita. Kansas is a landlocked state bordered by Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the ...

. Each of the three caves are about 12-feet square, with 10-foot arched ceiling, dug out of the

Dakota Sandstone The Dakota is a sedimentary rock, sedimentary geologic unit name of Formation (stratigraphy), formation and Group (stratigraphy), group rank in Midwestern North America. The Dakota units are generally composed of sandstones, mudstones, clays, and ...

with a

pickaxe A pickaxe, pick-axe, or pick is a generally T-shaped hand tool used for Leverage (mechanics), prying. Its head is typically metal, attached perpendicularly to a longer handle, traditionally made of wood, occasionally metal, and increasingly ...

by Coloradan miner Charles Griffee in the 1880s. Fresh spring water flowed through one of the caves to help keep food and supplies cool in the hot months. Griffee sold his land and caves to Winfield and William Faris in 1893. A house was built nearby, with the caves continuing to be used for storage, a spring house, generator room, and for a short time, a schoolhouse.

References

Protected areas of Ellsworth County, Kansas Tourist attractions in Ellsworth County, Kansas {{Kansas-protected-area-stub