Jewel Cave

https://www.nps.gov/jeca/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Cave_National_Monument Jewel Cave National Monument contains Jewel Cave, currently the third longest cave in the world, with 192.99 miles (310.59 kilometers) of mapped passageways. It is located approximately 13 miles (21 km) west of the town of Custer in Black Hills of South Dakota. Immerse yourself in one of the longest caves in the world. With over 220 miles of mapped and surveyed passages, this underground wilderness appeals to human curiosity. Its splendor is revealed through fragile formations and glimpses of brilliant color. Its maze of passages lures explorers, and its scientific wealth remains a mystery. This resource is truly a jewel in the National Park Service. By car: Jewel Cave National Monument is located 13 miles west of Custer, South Dakota and 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 16. The monument is about 54 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via U.S. Highway 16 / 385. By plane: The nearest major airport, Rapid City Regional Airport, is 63 miles away. Jewel Cave National Monument - Visitor Center The visitor center offers two rooms of interactive exhibits and engaging displays, featuring the surface and sub-surface resources. A large classroom area is also available for school field trips and special events, with large windows facing to the south toward Lithograph Canyon. A park store connects the classroom to the exhibits and is operated by the Black Hills Parks and Forests Association. Ask to view our award-winning film about the park. Restrooms are available at the visitor center. Jewel Cave National Monument is located 13 miles west of Custer, South Dakota and 24 miles east of Newcastle, Wyoming on U.S. Highway 16. The monument is about 54 miles from Rapid City, South Dakota via Highway 16 / 385. Target Room The target room inside Jewel Cave. The target room inside Jewel Cave. Hourglass Lake A cave explorer sits on some rocks and looks at a clear blue lake in Jewel Cave. Volunteer cave explorers discovered Hourglass Lake in October 2015, the first sizable body of water found within Jewel Cave. Inner Sanctum A park ranger is standing on a metal platform within a long passageway with a vaulted ceiling. The Inner Sanctum is one of the longest and largest passageways along the Scenic Tour route, located near the Torture Room. The Brain Drain A caver squeezes through a very small and tight opening, surrounded by multi-colored rocks. The Brain Drain is approximately eight inches high by 24 inches wide and is the tightest passage on the Wild Caving Tour. The Heavenly Room A park ranger stands as a silhouette in a large room in Jewel Cave. The Heavenly Room is a large room along the Historic Lantern Tour within the historic entrance of Jewel Cave. Nailhead Spar White-colored crystals with blunt tips sparkle against a black background. Calcite crystals, such as nailhead spar, cover most of the walls, ceilings, and floors within Jewel Cave. Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep A bighorn sheep ram stands in the highway, with a camper stopped in the other lane. Rocky mountain bighorn sheep are commonly seen within the monument, usually along Highway 16. Red Squirrel A small red squirrel stands on a dead pine branch. Red squirrels are commonly observed along the Roof Trail near the visitor center. Fall Season Foliage in Fog Fog filters through a stand of pine trees, with red and yellow foliage on the forest floor. Autumn is a beautiful time of year to visit the monument. The colors of fall are often the best during mid to late September. Winter in the Pines Snow covers the ground and flocks pine trees. Although a "slower" time of year, the winter season offers some of the best scenery of the ponderosa pine forest. Canyons Trail Descending toward the Historic Entrance A paved path with steps heads down a hillside, with rock overhangs and pine trees nearby. A portion of the Canyons Trail passes the historic entrance of Jewel Cave, with breathtaking views of nearby Hell Canyon. Theodore Roosevelt Addresses an Audience A look-alike Theodore Roosevelt speaks to visitors on the patio of the visitor center. The monument hosts special events each summer, such as living history presentations of President Theodore Roosevelt. The Ranger Cabin at Jewel Cave A small, dark-brown cabin sits on top of a hill with a walking path leading to its front porch. The original park ranger cabin, built during the 1930s, is available for public access during the summer and early fall seasons. Visitor Center Exhibit Area A wall mural showing red-colored rock transitions into a room with a large cave map on the wall. The visitor center provides several engaging exhibits and displays about the resources within the monument. Pasque Flowers in Bloom White to light purple flowers with yellow centers poke through pine needles. Jewel Cave is home to several species of wildflowers, such as the South Dakota State Flower - the pasque flower. Bats at Jewel Cave A small brown bat rests on a red-orange colored rock. Nine species of bats live within Jewel Cave National Monument. At times, visitors may see bats outside the historic entrance. First All Female Ascent of Devils Tower In 1952, Jan Conn and Jane Showacre became the first all female team to complete a technical rock climb of Devils Tower. Read about the account as written by Jan Conn and published in Applachia Magazine later that same year. Two women standing with rock climbing equipment. NPS Geodiversity Atlas—Jewel Cave National Monument, South Dakota Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. Links to products from Baseline Geologic and Soil Resources Inventories provide access to maps and reports. frostwork in jewel cave Plant Community Monitoring at Jewel Cave National Monument Jewel Cave National Monument might be best known for its outstanding subterranean system, but above the ground the park is just as special, encompassing 1,274 acres of ponderosa pine forest and open meadows. The park hosts a rich diversity of native plants. Plant community monitoring is critical for understanding the current health of habitats, and can alert park managers to degradation of an ecosystem. A cluster of delicate blossom flowers and new leaves on a twig PARKS...IN...SPAAAACE!!! NASA astronauts have quite literally an out-of-this-world view of national parks and take some pretty stellar pictures to share. Travel along with the space station on its journey west to east getting the extreme bird’s eye view of national parks across the country. And one more down-to-earth. View of Denali National Park & Preserve from space Bat Acoustic Monitoring at Jewel Cave National Monument Bats use one of the smaller cave entrances at Jewel Cave National Monument as a winter roost, and the Northern Great Plains Inventory & Monitoring Network is helping the park understand more about bat populations and activity patterns in the park using acoustic recorders. Monitoring helps protect the bat communities that live and forage in the park. a microphone on a tall tripod stands in a pine woodland clearing near some cliffs Bat Projects in Parks: Jewel Cave National Monument There's more to bat habitat than caves. Find out where the bats of Jewel Cave National Monument hang out! A view of the forest above ground Jewel Cave National Monument Cave Exploration in the National Parks Most Americans may not realize that their National Park caves lie at the forefront of on-going cave exploration. Some of the longest caves on Earth are managed and protected by the NPS. And all of these caves contain unexplored passages and rooms that cavers seek to find and document. These giant cave systems are the site of on-going work by cavers to explore, map, photograph and inventory the extent of National Park caves. delicate thin mineral formations in a cave Wildland Fire in Ponderosa Pine: Western United States This forest community generally exists in areas with annual rainfall of 25 inches or less. Extensive pure stands of this forest type are found in the southwestern U.S., central Washington and Oregon, southern Idaho and the Black Hills of South Dakota. Recently burned ponderosa pine forest. Series: Geologic Time Periods in the Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Series: Plant Community Monitoring in Northern Great Plains Network Parks Plant communities are essential components of all major ecosystems. Plants are the ultimate source of food for other organisms and the main source of organic material in soil and water. They also influence climate and provide the scenery that park visitors enjoy. The NPS Northern Great Plains Network monitors the number, identity, and relative abundance of plant species, as well as their horizontal cover and vertical structure, to determine the health of park ecosystems. Two people sitting on the ground looking at plants Series: Cave Week—Featured Articles More than 20 parks across the US are participating in Cave Week via social media posts, cave tours, exhibits, school events, web pages and much more. The theme for Cave Week 2020 is, “Why do we go into caves?” This articles shares a few stories about why people (and bats) enter caves. person standing by underground lake in a cave Mississippian Period—358.9 to 323.2 MYA The extensive caves of Mammoth Cave and Wind Cave national parks developed in limestone deposited during the Mississippian. Warm, shallow seas covered much of North America, which was close to the equator. fossil crinoid Paleozoic Era During the Paleozoic Era (541 to 252 million years ago), fish diversified and marine organisms were very abundant. In North America, the Paleozoic is characterized by multiple advances and retreats of shallow seas and repeated continental collisions that formed the Appalachian Mountains. Common Paleozoic fossils include trilobites and cephalopods such as squid, as well as insects and ferns. The greatest mass extinction in Earth's history ended this era. fossil corals in a rock matrix Visitor Safety Project at Jewel Cave Recognized by South Dakota Engineering Society The Black Hills Chapter of the South Dakota Engineering Society awarded the Jewel Cave National Monument reconstruction project the Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award in February 2021. Jewel Cave deck Blanket Cave National Youth Park—Activity Enjoy a fun activity and learn about caves even when you can't get out to a park. In this activity you will build your own cave and learn how to make it like a "real" natural cave. Find out about cave formations and wildlife, and how to be safe and care for caves. New "Blanket Cave National Youth Parks" are springing up all across America! Join the fun! cartoon drawing of a childs and a park ranger exploring a cave Top 10 Tips to Visit Jewel Cave Plan Like a Park Ranger with these Top 10 Tips for visiting Jewel Cave National Monument. Park Ranger lights up crystals for a group of people Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Things to Do in South Dakota Find things to do and trip ideas in South Dakota. The setting sun illuminates several sharp ridge lines under a moon. Series: Things to Do in the Midwest There is something for everyone in the Midwest. See what makes the Great Plains great. Dip your toes in the continent's inland seas. Learn about Native American heritage and history. Paddle miles of scenic rivers and waterways. Explore the homes of former presidents. From the Civil War to Civil Rights, discover the stories that shape our journey as a nation. Steep bluff with pink sky above and yellow leaves below. Studying the Past and Predicting the Future Using Rat Nests In the western United States, packrat middens are one of the best tools for reconstructing recent environments and climates. These accumulations of plant fragments, small vertebrate remains, rodent droppings, and other fossils can be preserved for more than 50,000 years. Packrat middens have been found in at least 41 National Park Service units. Photo of a wood rat. Series: Park Paleontology News - Vol. 14, No. 2, Fall 2022 All across the park system, scientists, rangers, and interpreters are engaged in the important work of studying, protecting, and sharing our rich fossil heritage. <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/newsletters.htm">Park Paleontology news</a> provides a close up look at the important work of caring for these irreplaceable resources. <ul><li>Contribute to Park Paleontology News by contacting the <a href="https://www.nps.gov/common/utilities/sendmail/sendemail.cfm?o=5D8CD5B898DDBB8387BA1DBBFD02A8AE4FBD489F4FF88B9049&r=/subjects/geoscientistsinparks/photo-galleries.htm">newsletter editor</a></li><li>Learn more about <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossils/">Fossils & Paleontology</a> </li><li>Celebrate <a href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/">National Fossil Day</a> with events across the nation</li></ul> Photo of a person sitting while using a laboratory microscope. Series: Geologic Time—Major Divisions and NPS Fossils The National Park System contains a magnificent record of geologic time because rocks from each period of the geologic time scale are preserved in park landscapes. The geologic time scale is divided into four large periods of time—the Cenozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, Paleozoic Era, and The Precambrian. photo of desert landscape with a petrified wood log on the surface Bats Are in Danger. Here’s How and Why We’re Helping Them. Bats are amazing animals and a formidable force against insect pests, but a nasty fungal disease is killing them. A coordinated national response brings hope. GIF of a bat with big ears in a gloved hand, rotating its head and opening and closing its mouth. My Park Story: Amy McKinney Amy McKinney, museum curator, shares her personal story of why she chose museum work and how she started her NPS career. A woman wearing a gray shirt and white gloves holds up an old, framed advertisement. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. How Pollinator Inventories Can Inform Park Management Decisions Pollinators play a crucial role in national park ecosystems and beyond. In the national parks, species inventories help managers know which pollinators are present, and in what abundance, to better understand the state of park ecosystems and make decisions about how to manage them. From 2024 to 2026, 17 parks across the country will be surveyed for bees and butterflies. Bee laden with pollen sits atop a purple flower. Project Profile: Restore Mixed Grass Prairie Ecosystems Through Leveraged Conservation Actions in Central United States The National Park Service will restore mixed grass prairie in parks in South Dakota, North Dakota, and Nebraska through planting native species on lands once used for agriculture. Restoration will include the control of invasive plants, prescribed fire, and the development of new seed sources for plants that are currently scarce in the region. Brown, rocky mountain formation against a blue sky Project Profile: Produce Seed for Central Grassland Ecosystems The National Park Service will increase native seed availability for plants in the mixed grass and tallgrass prairie of the Central U.S., advancing the National Seed Strategy priorities. The project will support established relationships with academic, interagency, and Tribal partners, as well as other stakeholders for seed production. Close up view of a rye plant in a green grassland field.

Jewel Cave National Monument South Dakota National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Worlds of Discovery Above and Below From the time it first came to the attention of the outside world, Jewel Cave has lured adventurers, scientists, and curious travelers passing through the Black Hills. Its name alone makes you want to know more about these “jewels”—calcite crystals that take surprising forms and sparkle like gems when illuminated. When Jewel Cave National Monument was established in 1908, less than a mile of it was documented. We now know that it’s over 180 miles long—the third longest cave system in the world. Exploration continues to push the frontier, revealing rare formations and more contributions to science. Because the cave is a scientific gem, much of it has been set aside for research and is not open to the public. There is still much for you to discover, both above and below ground. Choose your nature trail or cave tour, tune your senses, and prepare to be dazzled. Above: The Civilian Conservation Corps built the original ranger station in 1935. Left: Kerosene lanterns were once used for cave exploration and are still used today for some tours. Far left: A pathway leads into Hell Canyon and toward the historic entrance. STATION—NPS; LANTERN—© MIKE CARROLL; TRAIL—© JANELL BROWN; BACKGROUND LANDSCAPE—NPS / PARK VOLUNTEER GIZELLA BETAK The Lure of the Unknown Early in 1900, South Dakota prospectors Frank and Albert Michaud heard wind rushing through a hole in rocks in Hell Canyon. Enlarging the hole, they entered an underground world of sparkling crystals. The brothers and their friend Charles Bush tried to turn a profit, first by filing a mining claim on the “Jewel Tunnel Lode,” then by attracting tourists. Although their businesses never thrived, they brought national attention to these subterranean treasures and the need to protect them. In 1908 Jewel Cave became a national monument. Nearly 60 years later, rock climbers Herb and Jan Conn joined an expedition into the cave. Captivated, they devoted much of the next 21 years to leading caving trips—708 in all. A typical Conn expedition spent about 12 to 14 hours underground. With hard hats, carbide lamps, gloves, loose fatigues, elbow and knee pads, and boots, they squeezed, crawled, and climbed through Jewel Cave’s complex maze. They found the highly decorated Formation Room (featured in today’s Scenic Tour), rooms as big as 150 by 200 feet, passageways 3,200 feet long, and a small crawl way where cave wind blows up to 35 miles per hour. Having charted over 65 miles of cave, the Conns retired in 1981, and a new generation took up the challenge. Today’s cave explorers are mostly volunteers. Exploration trips are typically 16 to 18 hours underground. On multi-day trips, groups make a sevenhour trek to an underground base camp, then depart from there to various research sites. To discover more cave, explorers follow the breeze. Natural airflow often occurs within Jewel Cave and usually indicates the existence of new cave passages. Strong airflow tends to indicate larger rooms or more passageways. Once new areas are found, they are surveyed and mapped. In all aspects of their work, cave explorers take precautions to keep this fragile underground environment pristine. From 1959 to 1981, the Conns explored the cave. Jan Conn (above) said, “The thrill of discovery made everything else worthwhile.” Remarkable and Rare Jewel Cave Formed completely underwater, DOGTOOTH SPAR has six-sided calcite crystals with a sharp point like a dog’s tooth. DRAPERIES form as water trickles down an overhanging surface, depositing tiny calcite crystals in a fabric-like shape. When water containing calcium carbonate evaporates, the process may form FROSTWORK, very fragile aragonite crystals. GYPSUM FLOWERS contain long, parallel gypsum crystals. They form as water containing calcium sulfate evaporates. While the cave was still forming, it was completely submerged in groundwater. The water was rich in dissolved calcium carbonate. A change in conditions caused the calcium carbonate to “precipitate,” forming a thick layer of calcite crystals. These crystals formed on many of the exposed cave surfaces. Known as calcite spar, this layer can be several inches thick. Some individual crystals are as large as goose eggs. the walls. Large sections of the cave’s crystal lining thus appear gray and do not sparkle. Seeping water cleanses some crystals of their gray coating. known for dogtooth and nailhead spar. Helictites are only inches long and twist and turn in all directions as if to defy gravity. Like most cave formations, helictites are made up of calcite, as are small knobby clusters called popcorn. Pure calcite crystals are colorless or translucent, but can be colored white, red, or yellow by various impurities. Where water filled the chambers and has since receded, silt covers As water drained from the cave it left air-filled passages. When groundwa