![[alt text- One of the Michaud's rides on a horse with their 2-story log cabin in the background.]](/jeca/learn/historyculture/images/Week20-1900-s-2-Copy.jpg?maxwidth=650&autorotate=false&quality=78&format=webp "NPS Photo: One of the Michaud's rides on a horse with their 2-story log cabin in the background.")
NPS Photo 1900sFrank and Albert Michaud, drawn by a mysterious whistling sound in Hell Canyon, discovered the natural entrance to Jewel Cave in September 1900. Hoping for riches, they expanded the opening and became the first known to explore its depths. By October, they filed a mining claim with the Forest Service. The Michauds actively promoted their find, even attempting to establish a "Jewel Cave Dancing Club" to attract visitors. Their early efforts, alongside a growing push for preservation, ultimately led to a significant milestone by the decade's end: the establishment of Jewel Cave National Monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. 
NPS Photo W.C. Danielson 1910sWhile the early 1900s brought the discovery of Jewel Cave and its National Monument status, the 1910s were in a bit of a limbo for Jewel Cave. Mining claims paused development and public tours were closed, but things were happening behind the scenes. From 1911-1915, approximately 5 tons of Jewel Cave's calcite crystals were sold to Father Dobberstein for the Trinity Grotto at Iowa’s "Grotto of the Redemption", which started in 1912. While being managed by the Forest Service, surveyor W.C. Danielson was sent to Survey Jewel Cave and “make careful inspection of the effect which the removal of specimens has had upon the beauty of the galleries.” He surveyed and described two routes through the cave in 1916. His descriptions and photos are the first descriptions and photos of Jewel Cave tour routes. 
NPS Photo 1920sIn 1928, a pivotal moment arrived when local entrepreneurs established the Jewel Cave Corporation (JCC), purchasing the Michaud family's mining claim for $750. This act returned full control of the land to the U.S. Forest Service. In turn, the Forest Service then entrusted the JCC with the continued management and operation of tours. August 15, 1928, marked a new era as Jewel Cave reopened to the public as a National Monument. Word spread quickly, and between 1928 and 1929, visitor numbers soared from 834 to an impressive 2,200, with lead guide Will E. Davis noting guests from nearly every U.S. state and even Europe. 
NPS Photo 1930sA significant shift occurred in 1933 when the cave's management transferred from the Forest Service to the National Park Service, though the Jewel Cave Corporation kept the tours running. The decade saw major improvements thanks to the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) starting in 1935. They tackled essential infrastructure, building everything from water and sewage systems to ranger cabins, roads, and trails. By 1938, work began on a campground, expanding visitor access. However, the decade closed with the Jewel Cave Corporation ceasing its operations in 1939.
NPS Photo 1940sThe 1940s represented a pivotal moment for Jewel Cave, as it came under the full operation of the NPS for the first time. In 1941, Elwood K. Wolfe Jr. became the first permanent ranger. However, World War II impacted visitation, leading to the cave's closure in 1945 due to staffing gaps and decreased visitation. Following this, Ranger Lyle K. Linch and his family moved to Jewel Cave, living in the ranger cabin built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1946, Ranger Linch developed five new cave tours: Heaven, Hell, P.E.O., Milk River, and Temple Dome, expanding exploration opportunities for future visitors.
NPS Photo 1950sDespite plans for modern improvements to Jewel Cave, officials argued against them, stating that the cave's primitive nature and lantern-lit tours were part of its unique charm. Jewel Cave, being the only unlit cave in the National Park Service, offered a cave tour with a “flavor of adventure.” Despite the debates, some plans and improvements did progress. Between 1957 and 1958, crews erected 26 new signs for Jewel Cave, though some of these signs described Jewel Cave as a "small cave.” Little did anyone know that within the year, three rock climbers (Dwight Deal, Jan Conn, and Herb Conn) would begin exploring Jewel Cave, proving that description wrong and changing everything.
NPS Photo Dave Schnute 1960sHerb and Jan Conn continued their exploration, expanding Jewel Cave's mapped passageways to 10 miles by 1962. By 1964 they had mapped and named the sections of Jewel Cave that would become the Scenic Tour! As the decade marched on, surveyors began drilling for the "Target Room," and construction began on the Scenic Tour. Herb Conn also published a scientific report on the cave's unique barometric winds, which had fascinated Herb and Jan and drawn them further into Jewel Cave. The buzz of exploration and development brought increased visitation, curiosity, and publicity to the park! Staff grew, lights were installed on the Scenic Tour, and by 1968, a woman joined the seasonal team for the first time. The decade wrapped up in 1969 with the completion of the elevator shaft and over 30 miles of mapped passages, making Jewel Cave the third longest cave in the country.
NPS Photo 1970sThe 1970s at Jewel Cave National Monument were a decade of incredible progress. In 1972, a brand-new visitor center opened its doors, making the cave more accessible than ever with elevator-led tours, and pushing the known cave mileage to 42 miles. By 1975, the Handspan Squeeze was installed for the Spelunking Tour (now known as the Wild Caving Tour), adding an extra dash of adventure. The decade wrapped up with Herb and Jan Conn having extended their mapped distance of Jewel Cave to a total of 64 miles.
NPS Photo 1980sThe fourth year of this decade saw the monument celebrate its 75th anniversary, and Mike Wiles, now Chief of Resource Management, began an apprenticeship of sorts with the Conns, preparing to lead future cave explorations as it came time for the Conns to retire. The following year, Jewel Cave began hosting a Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program. Dedicated crews of young people assisted staff with vital projects, including trail maintenance on the Roof Trail. By 1985, 13 years with 600,000 people taking tours had caused significant wear and tear on the asphalt pathways on the Scenic Tour. Significant upgrades were underway as asphalt paths were replaced with concrete, a project that involved 14 local laborers working for 5 weeks, hauling out 12,000 pounds of asphalt, and carrying in 56,000 pounds of concrete. As the decade drew to a close, Jewel Cave's total known mileage reached 81 miles, marking yet another period of continued growth and discovery.
NPS Photo 1990sIn 1990, Kate Cannon made history as the first superintendent at Jewel Cave National Monument without any oversight from Wind Cave National Park. The following year, Mike Wiles, trained by Herb and Jan Conn, joined as the park's first full-time cave resource management ranger. By 1994, visitor access was greatly improved with the addition of a second elevator, and the same year cavers celebrated reaching the 100th mile of the cave. The spirit of exploration continued in 1997 when Mike Wiles led the inaugural overnight exploration trip, establishing Southeast Camp for deeper access into the cave's mysteries.
NPS Photo 2000sThe 2000s began with the devastating Jasper Fire. This fire scorched 83,508 acres, yet remarkably spared Jewel Cave's main structures. This event, causing $42 million in damage, spurred a critical update to our Wildland Fire Management Plan. Our commitment to fire management deepened in 2008 with a Memorandum of Understanding alongside six other NPS units in the northern Great Plains, establishing dedicated fire staff at both Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument. Beyond fire, 2007 marked the completion of the Cave and Karst Management plan, launching a robust trip leader training program, establishing cave rescue procedures, and giving us guidance on how best to take care of the resource and the people that protect and explore it. By the end of this decade, we had explored more than 135 miles and were geared up and ready to find more.
NPS Photo 2010sThe 2010s saw significant enhancements to the visitor experience, including the expansion of the visitor center with enclosed patio and deck areas, a new bookstore, a new theater, and the Scenic Tour Enhancement Project [STEP]. Beneath the surface, exploration pushed the known boundaries of the cave to 200 miles, with the discovery of Hourglass Lake and the establishment of West Camp and Deep Camp. The scenic tour infrastructure also received a vital refurbishment to stair treads, guardrails, and lighting systems. However, 2018 also marked a challenging moment with the detection of White-nose syndrome (WNS) in Jewel Cave bats, a critical issue for bat populations.
NPS Photo 2020sAs we reach the halfway point of the decade, Jewel Cave National Monument has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors and hosted thousands of cave tours, all made possible by the dedicated efforts of our seasonal and permanent employees, volunteers, and you! Our journey of discovery is far from over; our story is still being written, and the cave itself holds many secrets. We invite you to continue joining us for another decade of inspiring discovery. We look forward to you being a part of our ongoing adventure. |
Last updated: December 2, 2025