Cumberland Caverns

Long before it opened to tourists, this cave had a varied past. Its story begins in 1810, when Aaron Higgenbotham first found it. Saltpeter was later mined inside, possibly during the War of 1812, the Civil War, or both. Local residents explored its passages throughout the 1800s, and the 1900s brought more thorough surveys. The narrative closes in 1956, when the cave was turned into a commercial attraction.

The book first appeared in 1989 from the National Speleological Society in a small 5 by 8 inch format. A second edition followed in 2005 from Greyhound Press, printed larger at 8.5 by 11 inches, with the 14 detailed maps enlarged and more photographs added. A third edition came out in 2010 with 30 new photographs, 14 of them in full color, and it is offered in both softbound and hardbound versions.

Copies can be purchased from the National Speleological Society's bookstore, the Cumberland Caverns Gift Shop, Amazon.com, and other retailers.