Lewis & Clark Caverns

 

Montana’s first state Park, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, opened in 1941, and features one of the largest known limestone caverns in the Northwest. 

Who discovered the Lewis & Clark Caverns?  Not Lewis and Clark!

The Caverns were included in Native American Indian stories; however, Charles Brooke & Mexican John from Whitehall discovered the entrance in 1882. In 1892, Tom Williams and Burt Pannell discovered steam coming out of the caves and many years later, Tom Williams developed the caverns for tours along with a local investor, Dan Morrison.  Lewis and Clark probably never saw the caverns but Montana used their names as it overlooks the explorers’ route along the adjacent Jefferson River...marketing at its finest!

Oh well, even though Lewis and Clark were never there, they would have found it interesting.  Stalactites hang down from the ceiling and stalagmites reach up from the floor and eventually they turn into columns; helictites are just confused and grow in any direction.  None the less, they are all beautiful and intriguing.

Click here to take a look inside the Lewis & Clark Caverns