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Carlsbad
Cavern's Human History
Prehistory
- The earliest explorers of the cavern were indigenous peoples, and there
are pictographs and mescal pits at the cave entrance. They didn't explore
very far, due to the huge drop-off immediately past the opening of the
cave.
1883
- The first Anglo to see Carlsbad Cavern is unknown, but in 1883 a 12
year old boy was lowered into the cave by his father.
1898
- Jim White first entered the caverns. White was a cowboy who turned cave
explorer. He spent his lifetime promoting and preserving the Carlsbad
Caverns for future generations.
1903
- A claim was filed for the cave's bat guano which made an excellent fertilizer
due to its high nitrate content. This guano was mined for 20 years and
sent to Southern California by rail car to help in the planting of giant
citrus groves. This mining ended due to the high cost of shipping and
due to the fact that the fertilizer was so nitrate rich that it was similar
to dynamite and would often spontaneously combust! Jim White worked for
this mining company allowing him to explore the cave further during his
breaks and after work.
1922
- The federal government sent a mineral examiner, Robert Holley, to investigate
White's reports which were believed to be greatly exaggerated. Holley
reported back that the cavern was magnificent beyond his ability to describe
it.
1923
to 1927 - W.F. McIlvain serves as first custodian (superintendent),
overseeing first trails, stairs, lights. He worked with Jim White and
the Chamber of Commerce, while making only $12/year!
1930
- President Herbert Hoover declared Carlsbad Caverns a National Park.
The first visitors to the caverns were lowered in a large bucket!
1995
- Carlsbad Caverns are declared a World Heritage Site.
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