Birth of a National Park

First Discovery [Fairgrounds] March 20, 1892, J.D. McDonald, E.L.McDonald, A.F. McDonald, John Stabler

NPS Photo

 

Wind Cave National Park was established in 1903. It is the first national park created to protect a cave. It is one of the oldest national parks in the United States.

Click on the links below to learn more about the birth of this national park. 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