The story behind Leheman's Cave is, in 1863 or around there, Leheman was riding around the mountain when all of a sudden he and his horse fell into a large hole.
Sadly the fall killed the horse, but Leheman was able to get up and though it was pitch black inside find his way out.
Since it was Leheman who found the cave, it was named after him.
The cave was made into a National Park and was opened to the public.
This cabin was used as a "Motel" of sorts to those traveling to see the cave.
This cabin was also a home for the parks caretaker and his family back in the day.
Cool huh?
Ya'll ready for a science lesson?
The one's coming from the ceiling are called Stalagtites. The ones coming up from the floor are called Stalagmites.
The Stalagtites drop little drops of water and their is a substance in the water that just stays where the water is dropped and over a period of years and years the substance builds and forms a stalagmite.
Sometimes they grow so tall the two meet in the middle and grow together, like some you see here.
The cave still drops water so that's how they know the cave is still "alive".
This is what the real floor of the cave looks like.
The rest of the cave has a concrete path now, but this floor is original:)
Back when the cave was open to the public and before they knew all they know about the stalagtite and stalagmite rules, Leheman used to let people in for a whole twenty-four hours to search around the cave (it's a huge cave) and people used lanterns.
Nowadays you only get an hour tour, hour and a half at the most, but it's ok because they have installed lights throughout the whole thing.
It's awesome though! At one point pretty near the hole where Leheman fell in, they turn off all the lights and it is so dark in there you can't even see your hand in front of you!
I am pretty sure I wouldn't want to spend twenty-four hours in that kind of darkness with only a lantern!
Anyway, long story short, people signed their names in the cave.
Pretty cool!
The reason we took a picture of this name, Shallenburgher, is because dad said we have ancestors with that last name and it very well could have been our ancestor who wrote this because he was a minor that would ride back and forth through this area!
It says, M.C. Shallenburgher July 3, 1921.
Awesome!
This next one is cool because it shows that the some people used their lanterns to write their names! History is so intriguing to me!
Some of the dates in the cave were from 1872!
2 comments:
Wow! That cave looks so cool! And you guys look so cool in it!
That is awesome!!!! I really would love to do something like that! I never knew Nevada had that much to offer! Thanks for the post, I too love history so it was a very cool read. :)
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