This 20-minute talk is an introduction to Jewel Cave's natural and cultural histories.  Participants view one large room of the cave.  This easy cave visit enters and exits the cave by elevator in the Visitor Center, and involves walking up and down fifteen stair steps.  This talk is also handicapped accessible for people who have trouble negotiating stairs. 

During the introduction, you see two types of calcite crystal, which are the jewels of Jewel Cave.  You also see manganese and paleofill, which are not cave formations, but are important to the geology of Jewel Cave.  You will learn how the cave was discovered as well as the theory on how Jewel Cave formed.