CUMBERLANDCAVERNS

A scientist, Thomas Bailey, visits Henshaw and Higgenbotham Caves to test the cave dirt for saltpeter. He notes that there are remnants from earlier saltpeter mining already in place in Henshaw Cave- Likely from the War of 1812 or the Civil War... The National Speleological Society is established. Higgenbotham Cave is well-known to early NSS members and a favorite to visit... Easter Weekend 1953, NSS Members Tom Barr, Tank Gorin and Dale Smith are surveying the smaller Henshaw Cave. Towards the back of the known cave they find a small, tight crawl that only the smallest of the three could enter. They find a connection to Higgenbotham Cave and Cumberland Caverns is born from the connection of these two caves. Later the passageway, nicknamed the "Meatgrinder", is cleared of large boulders to allow cavers easier access to the larger parts of what was Higgenbotham Cave.

Primary location: Mcminnville United States