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Organ Cave
Organ Cave lies alongside the old Midland Trail, which began as an ancient buffalo trail. The settlers took advantage of the hardwood forest and fertile grasslands for their livelihood. By canoe, flatboat and wagon, these slowly made inroads into what was considered the western wilderness. Much of their success is due to the Old Saltpetre Route, a highway of nitre depots that supplied the government with much needed ingredients for making gunpowder for its artillery. In his Notes of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson recorded that at least fifty nitre caves rested along the Greenbrier River, and these were all used as a source of income for the private citizen.
"The Megalonyx Jeffersonii"
First Sloth Found In America Found In Organ Cave
The birth of American Paleontology began when men working in the nitre works of the cave discovered the remains of a giant 3-toed sloth. When Jefferson presented the bones of the prehistoric 3-toed sloth to the Philosophical Society in Philadelphia; it was the very first of its species to be found in America. The Megalonyx Jeffersonii has become an emblem of cavern scientific discovery. This was the beginning of a new attitude among settlers, who saw caves as useful resources. They were used as refrigerators, large storage units, and even meeting places. Early records of land transactions carefully note the presence of caves, particularly saltpetre caves, and cavern-fed springs for good water.
European pioneers have known of Organ Cave since 1704, but archeological evidence demonstrates that Neolithic Native Americans had been visiting Organ Cave since at least 8000 BC. The ceilings and walls of Organ Cave are lined with fossilized coral (nodule chert), which is better known as flint. An important resource for Native Americans, Organ Cave provided an ample source of flint that could be crafted into arrowheads, knives and fire making tools. The numerous arrowheads and cutting tools found in and on the grounds surrounding Organ Cave are an indication of the Native American activity that has taken place at and inside Organ Cave.
Organ Cave derives its name from a massive calcite formation resembling an auditorium size pipe organ. Located approximately a half mile from the cave entrance, the Rock Organ is one of the highlights of our walking tours. Early descriptions of the Rock Organ indicate that that the Rock Organ produced remarkable notes by striking on various curtains or draperies in the 40 foot column that gave Phone: 304) 645-7600 Address: Route 2,Box 417 Masters Rd. City: NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ State: WV Zip: 24970 Region: New River/Oreenbrier Valley Url: http://www.organcave.com Canaan Valley - Albright - Davis - - Mathias - Keyser - Thomas - Berkeley Springs - Potomac Highlands~ - Fayetteville - Harpers Ferry - West Virginia Regions - Roanoke - Moorefield - Beckley - Eastern Panhandle~ - Hico - Cass - Petersburg - Snowshoe - Elkins - Hatfield-McCoyMountains~ - Ansted - Franklin - Philippi - Fairmont - Buckhannon - NewRiverGreenbriarValley~ |
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