Ed Hawkins

Ed Hawkins

Quick Facts

Significance:

Cave guide and explorer

Place of Birth:

Park City, Kentucky

Date of Birth:

May 10, 1863

Place of Death:

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Date of Death:

January 25, 1936

Place of Burial:

Hopkinsville, Kentucky

Cemetery Name:

Western State Hospital Cemetery

Ed Hawkins was born on May 10th, 1863 in the nearby community of Park City, Kentucky. Eventually, Hawkins began working at Mammoth Cave; not exclusively a cave guide, Hawkins was also a worked above ground for the privately owned Mammoth Cave Estate property. While Hawkins did guide tours, many of his other tasks took him away from the cave; odd jobs such as small repairs, chopping wood, and plucking chickens. African American employees during the early 20th century had certain restrictions on them. All porter and waiter positions were filled by black employees, while white staff members were clerks and managers. One account recalls that Hawkins had to cancel his plans for a cave exploration trip because one of the managers needed him to peel potatoes. No doubt, his ability and familiarity with the cave would have been better served in exploration.

In 1907 Hawkins co-discovered a breathtaking series of shafts known as Cathedral Domes with fellow guide Will Bransford and visitor, Benjamin Franklin Einbigler. The avenue leading to this impressive series of domes was named Hawkins' Pass in his honor. Visitors are still able to view these domes on the Wild Cave Tour.

A unique trait of Hawkins’ was how recognizable he is in photographs. He often secured his clothes with large blanket pins. Oral history says that his hands were so large he could clean a chicken of its feathers in just two swipes. With such large hands manipulating small buttons may have been too tedious a task. 

After more than half a decade at the Western State Hospital in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Hawkins passed away in 1936 due to myocarditis and a contributing factor of senility. He resides today in an unmarked grave at the hospital cemetery.