The Caverns of Missouri
Missouri is sometimes called the "Cave State" because of the large number of caves around the state -- more than 6,300 have been counted at time of publication. In fact, only one other state, Tennessee, has more identified caves. The state offers guided tours of a large number of show caves, allowing access to this underground world.
Mark Twain Cave Complex
At the Mark Twain Cave Complex (marktwaincave.com), south of Hannibal, Missouri, visitors can go to two show caves. Mark Twain Cave, Missouri's first show cave, is a Registered National Natural Landmark. The cave, which was written about in five of Mark Twain's books, including "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," was discovered in the early 1800s. Visitors can take a 55-minute guided walking tour along level walkways, with no steps to climb. While at the cave complex, visitors also have the opportunity to visit Cameron Cave, which was discovered on the property in 1925. This cave has twice the number of passageways of the Mark Twain Cave; the tour takes a little more than an hour. The cave is much as it was when it was first discovered. Guides carry lanterns to help light the way through the network of passages, and at time of publication is only shown in the summer.
Missouri State Parks (mostateparks.com) offer access to four of Missouri's major show caves. The caves present displays of pencil-thin soda straws, drapery and giant column formations, as well as impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Onondaga Cave, in Onondaga State Park, is one of America's most spectacular caves, with 1.5 miles of passages. It is also one of the most accessible caves with paved walkways, steel railings and electric lighting. The other caves, Cathedral Cave, also in Onondaga State Park, Fisher Cave in Meramec State Park and Ozark Caverns in Lake of the Ozarks State Park, give visitors electric lanterns to light their way without disturbing the cave-dwelling creatures. The caves offer views of animal claw marks left on the walls thousands of years ago. These Missouri state park caves are open to visitors from April through October; they are closed during the winter months to allow bats to hibernate.
Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks (funlake.com) has three show caves in addition to Ozark Caverns in Lake of the Ozarks State Park. Bridal Cave (bridalcave.com), the oldest cave in the region, displays massive columns and formations; weddings are hosted in the cave in its Bridal Chapel room. Jacob's Cave (jacobscave.com) is the only cave in Missouri that is totally accessible to physically challenged visitors, and strollers and wheelchairs are available for use. The cave is known for its reflective pools, prehistoric bones and the world's largest geode. A mile-long tour of the cave shows evidence of six ice ages and three earthquakes in the area. Fantasy World Caverns (no website; Hwy. 54, Osage Beach), first inhabited by Native Americans, was later used by local residents as a dance hall and skating rink. This cave has three levels, a large lake in the entrance, domed ceilings and natural waterfalls.
Fantastic Caverns (fantasticcaverns.com), north of Springfield, is Missouri's only ride-through cave. To preserve the natural features of the cave, tours take place only on trams that shuttle visitors on an hour-long trip to view the cave formations of stalactites, stalagmites and massive columns formed thousands of years ago. The tram tours provide easy access to the caves for young children, senior citizens and physically challenged visitors. This cavern was first explored in 1867 by a group of 12 women who found no evidence of human habitation. A few aquatic animals live in the cave, including grotto salamanders, cave crayfish and blind Ozarks cavefish.
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