United States Wind Cave Survey

The first survey of Wind Cave was begun on April 2, 1902 by Myron Willsie, a Certified Engineer from Rapid City. Willsie surveyed less than one mile of Wind Cave. He covered the passages used on the Fairgrounds, Garden of Eden, and Pearly Gates routes.

Trying Circumstances

Mr. Willsie might have used a transit such as this C.L. Berger & Sons Universal Mining Transit in Wind Cave. It was designed “to meet the requirements of the Mining Engineer, who must have the exact location of every shaft and tunnel in a mine” and who needed to get “the closest results under the most trying circumstances.” Surveying in Wind Cave definitely fits within the realm of “trying circumstances.”

Paint in the Cave

The United States Wind Cave Survey painted survey stations in the cave to mark locations. Many of these stations can still be seen today, looking as if they were painted on the walls of the cave only recently. Today survey stations are located with removable tags.

Mining Transit

Painted Survey Marker in Wind Cave

Cave Exploration

• A Blowing Hole
• Early Exploration
• USWCS
• 1959 NSS Wind Cave Expedition
• Herb and Jan Conn and Dave Schnute
• Colorado Grotto
• Windy City Grotto
• Paha Sapa Grotto
• Caving Rangers
• Cave Management