Howe Caverns

Howe Caverns is a cave in Howes Cave, Schoharie County, New York. Howe Caverns is a popular tourist attraction, providing visitors with a sense of caving or spelunking, without needing the advanced equipment and training usually associated with such adventures.

Howe Caverns is the second most visited natural attraction in New York State, after Niagara Falls.

Geology

Geologists believe the formation of the cave, which lies below ground, began several million years ago. The cave walls are composed mainly of two types of limestone (Coeymans and Manlius) from different periods in the Earth's early history, deposited hundreds of millions of years ago when the Atlantic Ocean stretched far inland. The cave contains an underground lake, called the Lake of Venus, as well as many speleothems.

Discovery and development

Howe Caverns is named after farmer Lester Howe, who discovered the cave on May 22, 1842. Noticing that his cows frequently gathered near some bushes at the bottom of a hill on hot summer days, Howe decided to investigate. Behind the bushes, Howe found a strong, cool breeze emanating from a hole in the Earth. Howe proceeded to dig out and explore the cave with his friend and neighbor, Henry Wetsel, on whose land the cave entrance was located. The cave remains a constant temperature of , irrespective of the outside weather.

Howe opened the cave to eight-hour public tours in 1843, and, as business grew, a hotel was built over the entrance. When Howe encountered financial difficulties, he sold off parts of his property until a limestone quarry purchased the remainder. The quarry's purchase included the hillside, which encompassed the cave's natural entrance.

Eventually, the cave was closed to the public, until an organization was formed in 1927 to reopen it. The organization spent the next two years undertaking development work to create an alternative entrance into the cave. After completion of the work – including elevators, brick walkways, lighting, and handrails – the cave was reopened to visitors on Memorial Day, May 1929.

The standard tour lasts about 80 minutes and shows the majority of the cave. Visitors begin at the elevators and continue to the end of the Lake of Venus, which marks the end of the developed property. Beyond this point lie about of unconditioned and destroyed caverns, which led to the quarry and the natural entrance. After a boat ride, visitors turn around and walk back the way they came, with two additional stops.

Developments since 2000

In 2008, the cave was purchased by private owners. In 2011, an adventure park attraction was assembled, initially featuring only a ropes course and zip line. Since then, an H2OGO ball has been added, along with a rock wall, air jumper, and a gemstone mining building. On July 8, 2015, one of the H2OGO water attractions was stolen. Howe Caverns offered a reward to anyone providing information that might lead to an arrest of the thief or thieves.

In May 2015, Howe Caverns officials re-opened the natural entrance of the cave to public tours. The newly-opened section of the cavern had not been seen since 1900.Martin, Josh. "Century old cavern to open at Howe Caverns", WBNG News, Binghamton, April 21, 2015
"It was closed to begin with because the property had been previously owned by several cement companies that took over in the late 1800s", said Guy Schiavone, Howe Cavern's specialty tour director.Hunter, Matt

twcnews.com, April 21, 2015.

The two-hour "Signature Rock Discovery Tour" simulates natural cave exploration with the assistance of a guide, in a section of the cave that had not previously been open to the public. There is no artificial lighting in this part of the cavern, so visitors are supplied with their own portable lamps, as well as a suit appropriate for the muddy and cold journey. The expanded tour includes the remains of Howe's original tourist boat, signatures along the rock left by cavern adventurers more than 100 years ago, and a “Music Hall” where sound echoes exceptionally well. The tour usually ends at the "Lake of Mystery", as visitors would have to crawl through a muddy passage filled with water inches away from the ceiling, to proceed any further.

The store at Howe Caverns sells "cave aged" cheese that is stored in a locked room by the elevators.

Weddings are performed deep in the cave, on top of a calcite formation that resembles a heart shape."Weddings in the Cave!", Howe Caverns
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Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology

The Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology is located next to the caverns in a former hotel. The museum features exhibits relating to the cave's geology and formation, rock and mineral specimens, the history of the cave's discovery and tourism, wildlife found in the cave, and the area's cement industry.

References

External links

Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology

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Caves of New York (state)
Limestone caves
Show caves in the United States
Landforms of Schoharie County, New York
Tourist attractions in Schoharie County, New York
Museums in Schoharie County, New York
Natural history museums in New York (state)
Geology museums in New York (state)