Additional Info
Press Releases
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Marengo Cave National Landmark
Fact Sheet
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Media Contact: Carol Groves - (888) 70-CAVES
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History: According to current geologic theory, Marengo Cave began to form approximately one million years ago. There is no documented evidence that anyone ever entered Marengo Cave before its historic discovery on September 6, 1883 by Orris and Blanche Hiestand, brother and sister, who lived in Marengo. The main corridors were quickly explored by Samuel Stewart's son and his friends the following Sunday. Recognizing the value of what they had found, the Stewart's immediately opened the cave to the public. The cave remained in the Stewart family until 1955. The present owners purchased the cavern in 1973 and have greatly expanded the operations.
Size: The park above the cavern covers 122 acres of forested hills and valleys. The cave itself is approximately 4.6 miles in length. It consists of drier upper level passages and two parallel underground rivers.
Significance:
Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1984 as the most highly decorated cavern in the Interior Lowlands of the U.S.,
the Show Cave level considered a "classic" example of a mature trunk passage in the middle stage of
development.
Currently Indiana's most visited show cave.
The type locality of 6 cave animals, which were first identified here.
Lower level considered the largest volume cave passage of over 2,600 known Indiana caves.
Marengo Maze Crawl: Our cave simulator imported from Belgium allows guests to wind and twist one way through four challenging wooden boxes.
Cave Exploring Trips: Take a two-hour cave-exploring trip into the undeveloped sections of the cavern. By advance reservation only.
Blue River Canoe Trips: Sister facility Cave Country Canoes offers a variety of family canoe trips on Blue River, Indiana's first designated scenic river. Choose from two locations, our Leavenworth Base located on the lower section of the river or the Milltown Base, which is only five minutes from Marengo Cave.
Other Attractions: The park offers gemstone mining, two group shelter houses, the Clifton Group Center for groups staying overnight, four air-conditioned camping cabins, a 30 foot climbing and rappelling tower, Challenge Hill Teams Course, an indoor snack bar, a signed nature trail, and a large gift shop.
Hours: Cave is open daily all year. Memorial Day-Labor Day 9am-6pm: The rest of year 9am-5pm. Closed Thanksgiving & Christmas. Guided tours of both Dripstone and Crystal Palace sections leave every 30 minutes.
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