• Wind Cave National Park - Two Worlds

    Wind Cave

    National Park South Dakota

Wind Cave Room - Boxwork Chimney

Boxwork Chimney
Brenda Messling climbing down the Boxwork Chimney
NPS Photo by Bill Holmes
 
Herb and Jan Conn and Dave Schnute first looked down this drop on August 23, 1964, but did not survey it until August 30, 1966. The name is derived from the first 40-foot drop in this route to the lower level of Wind Cave which is very tight and boxwork-lined. Two more drops following this go down an additional 40-60 feet. Although the last two drops are not boxwork-lined, the three drops are known collectively as Boxwork Chimney.

Did You Know?

fire on the prairie

Fire is an important factor in protecting the prairie.  Historically, fires burned across the prairie every 4 to 7 years.  Fires burn the small trees that would otherwise march across the prairie and turn the grasslands to forest.