Howe Caverns

With a tour length of {{convert|7920|ft|m}}, Howes Cavern is the largest show cave in the Northeastern United States. Visitors take elevators down to the main passage, a large phreatic tube up to {{convert|10|m|ft}} tall and {{convert|6|m|ft}} wide. Guides lead visitors on a {{convert|500|m|ft}} walk parallel to the River Styx, a subterranean river, passing by speleothems assigned names such as "The Sentinels", the "Bridal Altar" and the "Titan's Fireplace". After walking through Titan's Temple, the largest chamber in the cave, visitors embark on a short {{convert|402|m|ft}} boat ride, after which they retrace their steps to a snaking and narrow down-dip tributary canyon, the Winding Way.{{r|NYSGA2003|p=158}} The tour concludes with an artificial tunnel to the elevator.

Image:Howe Caverns 2.JPG

Howe Caverns is a solutional cave formed by the dissolution of limestone rock. The cave, like many on the Helderberg Plateau, such as Secret Caverns, which is also operated as a show cave, and Tory Cave, is composed of thickly bedded Lower Devonian aged Coeymans Limestone and thinly bedded Upper Silurian aged Manlius Limestone, both part of the Helderberg Group. Both formations were formed by sediment buildup under an ancient inland sea, which was eroded in the Cenozoic to become the Helderberg Plateau.{{cite journal |last1=Arthur |first1=Palmer |last2=Paul |first2=Rubin |last3=Margaret |first3=Palmer |last4=Thomas |first4=Engel |last5=Brian |first5=Morgan |title=Karst of the Schoharie Valley, New York |journal=New York State Geological Association Field Trip Guidebook |date=12 September 2003 |issue=75 |pages=141–176 |url=https://www.nysga-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2003_bookmarked.pdf |access-date=14 June 2024}}

The cave which lies {{convert|156|ft|m}} deep, began forming several million years ago as water incised deeply into the Heidelberg Plateau's limestone, joining the Cobleskill Creek and forming caves and karst features.{{cite journal |last1=Gregg |first1=William |title=Structural Control Of Cavern Development In Howe Caverns, Schoharie County, New York |journal=The NSS Bulletin |date=October 1974 |volume=36 |issue=4 |url=https://caves.org/wp-content/uploads/Publications/Bulletin/Vol%2036%20num%204.pdf |access-date=18 June 2024}} The cave is thought to have formed at a similar time and be physically connected to nearby McFail's Cave, although the connection is impassible due to sediment buildup.{{cite journal |last1=Jeremy |first1=M. Weremeichik |title=An Obstructed Cave Passage in the Cobleskill Plateau: A Gravimetric Study |journal=AIMS Geosciences |date=December 2015 |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=80–98 |doi=10.3934/geosci.2015.1.80 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289250428_An_Obstructed_Cave_Passage_in_the_Cobleskill_Plateau_A_Gravimetric_Study |access-date=11 July 2024|doi-access=free }} Both caves, as well as Secret Caverns, were also found to be hydrologically connected by dye tracing the nearby caves to Howe Cavern's River Styx. Ancient faults are present within the cave, although the cave itself does not seem to be fault-controlled.

The cave, although formed prior to the Last Glacial Period, was profoundly altered by the glaciations. The connection between McFail's Cave and Howe Caverns was severed by glacial sediment, and glaciokarst features such as glacial till, rhythmites and ponded water deposits. Additionally, approximately 14,000 years ago after the retreat of the glaciers, the cave was inundated by Glacial Lake Schoharie, causing substantial buildup of more glacial deposits and clays.{{cite journal |last1=Weremeichik |first1=Jeremy |last2=Mylroie |first2=John |title=Glacial Lake Schoharie: An Investigative Study of Glaciolacustrine Lithofacies in Caves, Helderberg Plateau, Central New York |date=1 August 2018|journal=Journal of Cave and Karst Studies |volume=76 |issue=2 |pages=127–138 |doi=10.4311/2013ES0117 |url=https://legacy.caves.org/pub/journal/PDF/v76/cave-76-02-127.pdf |access-date=15 June 2024}}

{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage= 210px | audio1 = [https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/podcast/underground-worlds “Episode 171: Underground Worlds”], Science History Institute}}

Howe Caverns is named after farmer Lester Howe, who discovered the cave on May 22, 1842, after noticing that his cows frequently gathered near bushes at the bottom of a hill on hot summer days. Behind the bushes, Howe found a strong, cool breeze emanating from a hole in the Earth. Howe proceeded to dig out and explore the cave with his friend and neighbor, Henry Wetsel, on whose land the cave entrance was located. The cave is a constant temperature of {{convert|52|F}}, irrespective of the outside weather.{{Cite web |url=http://www.howecaverns.com/faq.php |title="FAQ's", Howe Caverns |access-date=2017-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324084726/http://www.howecaverns.com/faq.php |archive-date=2017-03-24 |url-status=dead }}

Howe opened the cave to eight-hour public tours in 1843, and, as business grew, a hotel was built over the entrance. When Howe encountered financial difficulties, he sold off parts of his property until a limestone quarry purchased the remainder. The quarry's purchase included the hillside, which encompassed the cave's natural entrance.

Eventually, the cave was closed to the public, until an organization was formed in 1927 to reopen it.{{cite web |last1=Simonson |first1=Mark |title=Backtracking: The Early Years: Re-boot of Howe Caverns was a success in 1929 |url=https://www.thedailystar.com/opinion/columns/backtracking-the-early-years-re-boot-of-howe-caverns-was-a-success-in-1929/article_5bbd69fd-0ddc-550a-88f2-8a734abb8853.html |website=thedailystar.com |date=31 May 2019 |publisher=The Daily Star |access-date=17 March 2024}} The organization spent the next two years undertaking development work to create an alternative entrance into the cave. After completion of the work – including elevators, brick walkways, lighting, and handrails – the cave was reopened to visitors on Memorial Day, May 1929.[http://www.howecaverns.com/about-howe-caverns.php "All About Howe Caverns", Howe Caverns]

A few months later in August 1929, another show cave, Secret Caverns, was opened just {{convert|1.4|mi|km}} away. The two caves became engaged in a decades-long bitter rivalry for tourists,{{cite news |last1=Purdy |first1=Matthew |title=Our Towns; Our Cave's Better Than Their Cave: Our Cows Actually Fell In |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/15/nyregion/our-towns-our-cave-s-better-than-their-cave-our-cows-actually-fell-in.html |access-date=14 June 2024 |work=The New York Times |date=15 July 2001}} although in recent years relations between the two caves have been friendlier.{{cite web |title=Howe Caverns vs. Secret Caverns - Feud Over? - Roadside America |url=https://www.roadsideamerica.com/news/15506 |website=www.roadsideamerica.com |access-date=11 July 2024 |language=en}}

In 2008, the cave was purchased by a new private concern. In 2011, an adventure park attraction was assembled at the site, and it has been expanded since then.[http://news10.com/2015/07/09/howe-caverns-offers-reward-for-stolen-h20go-ball "Howe Caverns offers reward for stolen H20Go ball"], news10.com, July 9, 2015.Adams, Kyle.[http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2015/jul/10/h2ogo-ball-stolen-howe-caverns "Howe Caverns wants its ball back"], The Daily Gazette, July 10, 2015. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817085533/http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2015/jul/10/h2ogo-ball-stolen-howe-caverns/ |date=August 17, 2015 }}

In May 2015, Howe Caverns officials re-opened the natural entrance of the cave to public tours. The newly-opened section of the cavern had not been seen since 1900, as the property had been owned by a succession of cement companies since the late 1800s.[http://www.wbng.com/news/local/100-year-old-cavern-to-open-at-Howe-Caverns--300846971.html Martin, Josh. "Century old cavern to open at Howe Caverns", WBNG News, Binghamton, April 21, 2015] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711172601/http://www.wbng.com/news/local/100-year-old-cavern-to-open-at-Howe-Caverns--300846971.html |date=July 11, 2015 }}Hunter, Matt. [http://www.twcnews.com/nys/watertown/news/2015/04/21/new-tour-re-opens-section-of-howe-caverns-closed-for-100-years.html "New Tour Re-Opens Section of Howe Caverns Closed for 100 Years"], twcnews.com, April 21, 2015.

Howe Caverns has several tours, including a 90 minute walking tour with a boat ride and a two-and-a-half hour spelunking tour.{{Cite web |last=admin5 |title=Cave Tours 2021 |url=https://howecaverns.com/cave-tours/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=Howe Caverns Inc. |language=en-US}} The expanded tour features the remains of Howe's original tourist boat and signatures in the rock left by 19th-century cavern visitors.Nearing, Brian. [http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Howe-Caverns-boots-up-fun-6215360.php "Howe Caverns boots up fun"], TimesUnion.com, April 21, 2015.

Howe Caverns is also a wedding venue. Weddings are performed atop a heart-shaped calcite formation in the cave.[http://www.howecaverns.com/weddings-caves.php "Weddings in the Cave!", Howe Caverns]

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090105213502/http://www.howecaverns.com/cavehousemuseum Cave House Museum of Mining & Geology]
• [http://www.scoutcamphenderson.org/yearroundcamping/boy-scout-scavenger-hunt.html BSA Scavenger Hunt Info]

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Category:Caves of New York (state)

Category:Limestone caves

Category:Show caves in the United States

Category:Landforms of Schoharie County, New York

Category:Tourist attractions in Schoharie County, New York

Category:Museums in Schoharie County, New York

Category:Natural history museums in New York (state)

Category:Geology museums in New York (state)