• The Historic Entrance of Mammoth Cave

    Mammoth Cave

    National Park Kentucky

Nature & Science

Nature and Science

The "Natural Entrance" of Mammoth Cave

Mammoth Cave National Park was established in 1941 to protect the unparalleled underground labyrinth of caves, the rolling hilly country above, and the Green River valley. Since then, ongoing study and exploration have shown the park to be far more complex than ever imagined, hosting a broad diversity of species living in specialized and interconnected ecosystems. The park's challenge is to balance these remarkable and sometimes fragile living networks with the public's enjoyment of them. The key to that balance is knowledge, and the park's new environmental monitoring programs will provide that understanding.
  • Environmental Factors Environmental Factors

    Learn how the park manages environmental challenges. Read More

  • Natural Features & Ecosystems Natural Features & Ecosystems

    Nature's remarkable inner workings. Read More

  • Animals Animals

    Discover the diversity of living creatures that make Mammoth Cave National Park their home. Read More

  • Plants Plants

    More kinds of plants than you can shake a stick at. Read More

Did You Know?

Musicians often played in Mammoth Cave.

For many years, the chambers of Mammoth Cave rang with the sound of music. Visiting bands such as Landram's Sax-Horn Band and Luther Ewing's String Band, along with the Mammoth Cave Hotel's own local musicians, entertained visitors underground into the early 20th century.