The American Cave Museum – Connecting Ecology, Environment, and Economy

There’s no surprise that the story of Hidden River Cave is a story of water, and, much like a river – or a cave – it wends its way through time with twists and turns aplenty.

The museum dates back to 1992, but we really need to go back a few more years to 1987 to get the full picture. That’s when William T. Austin convinced the American Cave Conservation Association to move to Horse Cave. The cave was in rough shape, filled with sewage and industrial runoff. Tours had ceased long ago. No one enjoyed the cool air of the cave on hot days, as foul odors filled the air.

However, all was not lost. Efforts were made to mitigate the damage, and by 1989 a new wastewater plant was serving the region, stemming further contamination. The cave began to heal as clean water coursed through its passages. Before long, cave-dwelling animals began to appear again. The stench was gone. Eventually, tours began again.

It’s been called the greatest cave restoration success story, and for good reason. Aside from a few minor scars, the cave looks to be back to normal. More importantly, perhaps, the river itself is clean as well.

I encourage you to visit Hidden River Cave/American Cave Museum to learn more about cave ecology and its relationship to our terrestrial environment and our economy. 

About the author: Matthew Brown, a retired chef, has spent three years travelling the Bluegrass and telling the tales of his adventures via a project he calls “Wandering Kentucky.” www.wanderingkentucky.com