Sequoyah Caverns EarthCache
This cache has been locked, but it is available for viewing.
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Difficulty:
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Earth Cache at a very well known cavern in Alabama. You have to ask
for Carrie or Rebecca and have them take you to the entrance of the
Cavern which is only about 40 feet away from posted coordinates.
Tell them you are geocaching. The rest is up to you.
The property that includes Sequoyah Caverns was obtained by Abner
Ellis through the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862. Ellis
began homesteading proceedings in the 1800's and obtained the land
patent to the cave property in 1890. In exploring and developing
the property, Ellis and his bride, Harriet Serena Hawkins,
discovered the Caverns and became interested in them. During his
exploration of the Caverns, he found salt troughs, cooking pottery
and other artifacts in the large entrance room. Because of this,
and the smoke blackened walls and ceiling, he named it the Cherokee
Cooking room.
Ellis was extremely interested in the youth of his day and on
weekends they would congregate at his home, located almost at the
mouth of the cave, and would explore the Caverns with him. During
this period and through the ensuing years, the artifacts were
carried away by these young explorers and those that followed them.
It is a known fact that both the Cherokees and Creeks lived in the
cave.
Names, initials and dates going back to 1824 have been found on the
cave walls and formations. Old timers in the area say they have
been there as long as they can remember. On one large column, now
named the Sam Houston Column, is inscribed "Sam Houston, 1830".
This is believed to be authentic, and could well be, as Sam Houston
lived with the Cherokee Indians for some years and the story has
been passed down that he married one of Sequoyah’s
daughters.
Early white settlers held square dances and old time "singings" in
the Caverns for many years and explored them by torchlight.
A cave or cavern is a natural underground void large enough for a
human to enter. Some people suggest that the term 'cave' should
only apply to cavities that have some part which does not receive
daylight; however, in popular usage, the term includes smaller
spaces like sea caves, rock shelters and grottos.
Millions of years ago the beautiful state of Alabma was covered by
a shallow sea. Deposits of tiny marine animals and plants on the
sea floor formed thick layers of limestone. When exposed to
weather, these layers of limestone became the world's best "cave
forming" rock. Rainwater, mixed with carbon dioxide in the air and
soil, formed a mild acid which slowly worked its way into cracks in
the limestone and began to dissolve passages.
Most people don't realize that caverns are important ecosystems
which harbor a variety of rare and endangered species. Cavern
systems also contain significant archeological artifacts, fragile
mineral formations, and easily contaminated water supplies. Caves
in Alabama are susceptible to vandalism, looting by artifact
hunters, and just plain carelessness when exploring. The water and
animal life in Alabama's caves can easily be impacted by sewage,
illegal dumping in sinkholes, uncontrolled soil erosion, chemical
spills, and agricultural run off.
To get credit for this Earth Cache, ask the nice ladies, either
Carrie or Rebecca to take you to the cave entrance. Tell them you
are geocaching. They will take you to the entrance of the cave but
not inside. Post a picture of yourself with GPS and the cavern
entrance in the background and answer the following
questions.
1. How wide is the entrance to the cave?
2. How many bat figures are on the gate to the cave?
This earth cache is available only during March - October &
December 21 - January 1 - Monday-Saturday 0830am-500pm (Sunday -
closed). Please respect the owners property.
Exclusive permission has been granted for placement of this Earth
Cache by the owner, Mr Jones. A special thank you to him for
allowing earth caching on his property.
Additional Hints
(No hints available.)