Birth of a National Park - Visiting the Cave

Wind Cave Poster

NPS Photo Archive

The Stablers built a hotel near the entrance to Wind Cave to accommodate visitors. An excursion to the cave included a stagecoach ride to and from the cave and a meal at the hotel. After arriving, visitors were given a candle. They entered the cave through a trap door, descending a series of ladders to begin their adventure.

 

Wind Cave Hotel and stagecoach (left).  Wind Cave hotel and cave entrance (right).

NPS Photo Archive

 

Collecting Formations from the Cave in the Pre-Park Days

NPS Photo

Collecting and Selling Formations

The cave was being advertised as having more miles of passageways than any other cave, being 97 miles long. McDonalds and Stablers were also selling cave formations and minerals. Katie Stabler opened a store in town to advertise the cave and sell formations.

 

NPS Photo

Katie Stabler's Specimen Price List

 

NPS Photo

John Stabler's Business Card

 

Click on the links below to learn more about the park's history. Early Explorations McDonalds Arrive Exploring with Alvin Wonderful Wind Cave Improvement Company Visiting the Cave Publicizing the Cave Who Owns the Cave? The Feud More Court Battles and More Decisions A Decision is Made A National Park is Created

For more information about the history of the park, visit these pages. A Brief History Wind Cave's Early Days Defining Moments Alvin McDonald's Diary Mazes and Marvels Cave Regions of the Ozarks and Black Hills Black Hills History National Park Service History Cave Exploration 1902 Survey of Wind Cave Passages through many worlds Winds of Wind Cave