Heritage Trail

This trail guide was created by Cheryl Messenger, Environmental Education Specialist – MCNP

Lisa Pack and Debbie Sherfey – Geo-Science Teacher-in-the-Park Interns Summer 2008

Pictures taken by Lisa Pack

July 2008

This trail begins behind the hotel and continues around the cemetery. This trail is also handicap accessible.

In the middle of the trail loop you will find the cemetery which is the burial site for two of the past tour guides for the cave system. Stephen Bishop and Mat Bransford were two of the original cave guides who were brought here as slaves. The cave area was also home to Native Americans as well. This trail is dedicated to the many different heritages that once dwelled in the cave area.

Early Guides of Mammoth Cave

In 1838, a Kentucky attorney, Franklin Gorin, who lived in Glasgow, along with A. A. Harvey purchased the unexplored Mammoth Cave. Gorin then brought his slaves to explore the unknown cave passageways and later to guide cave tours. When people would stop by and ask about the cave system, Gorin would then turn to young Stephen Bishop to conduct their cave tours. Gorin eventually began to charge admission for the tours and Bishop became the first “official” tour guide. This type of work was unusual for the slaves. The slaves usually did not receive any type of education nor did they get paid for their work. Guiding the cave tours allowed the men to learn science, history and writing skills from the tourists. Slaves were also allowed to keep money that was offered as tips by the visitors they had entertained. Exploring the cave allowed the slaves to have the freedom to go where they wanted.

Source: http://www.uhaul.com

Stephen Bishop

Stephen Bishop was one of the first tour guides to Mammoth Cave. He was brought here by his owner to explore the unknown passages of the cave system. Bishop was born around 1820. He became one of the first “official” cave guides at the age of seventeen. He learned the toured routes from the white guides and discovered many more routes on his own. Bishop was known as very adventurous. Some of the routes that Bishop discovered such as Bottomless Pit, Fat Man’s Misery, Cleveland Avenue, and Mammoth Dome are still seen by visitors today. Bishop gained his freedom is 1856 and died in 1857. He is buried in the Old Guide’s Cemetery. He left behind a wife, Charlotte, and son, Thomas. Grave of Stephen Bishop

Source: http://www.nps.gov/maca/historyculture/black-history.htm

Mat Bransford

Mat Bransford was another famous cave guide to Mammoth Cave. He was brought to the area after he was bought by Franklin Gorin who had purchased the area in 1838. Two white tour guides taught Mat the routes that had previously been discovered. Mat was one of the members of the exploring team that first entered into Mammoth Dome. He also discovered the end of Franklin Avenue which was later named Serena’s Arbor. Mat was known for his exploring efforts and led tours in the cave for many years after Stephen Bishop had died. He later married a slave girl and had four children. Dr. Charles Wright wrote in his guidebook in 1858 about Bransford. He stated that Mat, along with his brother Nick, saved a party from drowning on the Echo River, by his courage and self-possession.

Source: http://www.nps.gov/maca/historyculture/black-history.htm

Test Your Knowledge

Early Guides of Mammoth Cave

Now that you have visited the Old Guide’s Cemetery along the Heritage Trail and read the exhibit signs, answer the questions below about some famous cave guides who were slaves.

1) Which family can trace their heritage through 101 years of guiding at Mammoth Cave?

2) A Mammoth Cave guide was buried in this cemetery. How old was he when he died?

3) Stephen Bishop’s tombstone has a symbol on it meant for a soldier. Draw a symbol you think would be better for a cave guide’s tombstone.

These questions came from the Junior Ranger Adventure Book. By completing these questions, children can earn two bat points towards the Junior Ranger Badge.

Mammoth Dome Sink Trail

From the Heritage Trail, take the trail to the left.

What is Karst?

Karst is best described as a limestone region that is characterized by sinkholes, disappearing streams, and caverns or caves. These underground caverns (caves) were formed by acidic rain water that dissolves the limestone over thousands of years. A karst area is typically lacking surface water due to all of the water on the surface seeping through underground channels. Three main features of a karst area are: disappearing streams or springs, sinkholes, and caves.

As you walk down the trail on the left you will see this rock. The green like substance that is growing on the rock is called lichen. There is also some moss that is growing on top as well.

As you walk the trail, you will come to an intersection. Take the trail to the left. This will be a sharp turn. While walking along the trail look at the vegetation and rock that lies in the valley to the right.

The rock that you see is called sandstone. Sandstone is also known as cap rock. Cap rock acts like an umbrella. The other layers of the earth are protected by the cap rock. When the cap rock layer becomes thin, it allows for water to flow at a greater rate over the limestone layer below. Eventually the limestone layer will be dissolved and can no longer support the cap rock above. This will cause a collapse in earth. The area to the right is a result of a collapse.

As you continue up the trail, to your left in the bend you will notice a layer of exposed rock. This is sandstone rock. This rock is exposed due to a collapse. This is the back of the Historic entrance in the cave system.

What is a sinkhole?

A sinkhole is the erosion of land. It forms when the underground water dissolves the minerals in the ground below. This will then create a hole that is buried. As the ground below (hole) becomes bigger, the land on top will cave in. Sinkholes are common in land that contains limestone. Limestone is soft and contains a lot of holes, therefore it acts like a sponge.

Mammoth Dome Sink

Mammoth Dome Sink is one feature of karst. As you look at the sink you will see the disappearing stream. At this point on the trail, you are standing over Mammoth Dome which lies in the cave system below. As the water gathers in the stream, the water is constantly moving. The water will flow into an opening in the bottom of the sink. The floor that lies beneath is unstable and constantly moves. Because of this, the limestone that lies below continues to dissolve in several locations underneath.

Vegetation around sink area

Christmas Fern

These plants prefer limy soil. The plant is green at Christmas. Lustrous rich-green tapering leaves grown in bouquet-like clusters cascading from a central rootstalk. Hardy, evergreen, and abundant in most areas. This plant will grow in colonies but often singly or in twos or threes. This plant is also common on rocks, shaded slopes, along wooded stream banks, in ravines, beside stone walls, in shaded or some open spaces, and sometimes found in swamps.

As you follow the trail out of the sink, take the trail on the furthest left.

Paw Paw plant

As you walk along the trail look for the Pawpaw plants. This plant is a small tree that bares a large fruit. The fruit has a flavor that is similar to that of a banana and mango. The Pawpaw plant prefers a shady area with rich soil. It can often be found as an undergrowth in the forest. The fruit is food for deer as well as humans.

Columbo plant

As you come to the top of the hill, stop and take a look for this plant. The Colombo plant is a tall plant that can reach a height of up to 10 feet. The plant takes three years to reach maturity. The flowers are light green with purple dots. The flowers bloom in late spring and continue through summer. Once the plant flowers, it will end the cycle and the plant will die. The Colombo plant prefers rich open woods and dry open areas with limestone soil.

Prickly Pear CactusAnother plant to look for at this point on the trail is a Prickly Pear Cactus. This cactus is a native species to Kentucky. This is a low growing plant that will sometimes be seen lying close to the ground. It has enlarged fleshy, spiny green pads with lemon yellow flowers. The Pear Cactus can be found growing in colonies on glades of limestone, sandstone, or igneous rock.

Cane ReedThe Cane Reed plant is a prehistoric plant used to carry torches. It was used by the slaves and other explorers to help light their way while exploring cave passages. Evidence of burnt cane reed has been found along many of the passages throughout the cave system.

Carbonic AcidHow are caves formed?

Caves are formed in several ways. The most common type of cave that is found is called a solution cave. These caves are found in sedimentary rock. This rock was made long ago under the sea. Most of the solution caves are in limestone, which is a sedimentary rock that is full of cracks and holes. When the rain falls it seeps into the ground. When it makes contact with the ground, it picks up a gas called carbon dioxide. This gas is found in the dead plants the lie in the earth. When the rain water picks up the gas from the ground, together they become an acid. This acid is know as carbonic acid. This acid is not as strong as the soda pop that you drink. This acid will dissolve or weaken the limestone, making the cracks or holes larger. The limestone will act like a sponge. Passageways will form while the cave is still filled with water.

Source: Let’s Explore, Caves and Caverns.

Continue down the trail until you come to White’s Cave. At this point stop and take a look at the layer of rock above the cave. This layer of rock is limestone. There is no sandstone rock above the cave. To tell the difference between the two rocks, look for sparkles. If the rock sparkles or feels like sand when touched, then it is sandstone. If the layer of rock does not have any of these features then it is limestone.

White’s Cave

This cave is a Biological Monitoring Cave. The cave is gated to protect the animals that dwell inside. Such animals that you might see if you were to go inside would be:

Cave Cricket

Meta Spiders

Wood rats

Continue down the hill from White’s Cave and follow the trail until you come to a bench. Follow the trail to the right. Along the way continue to look for more of the plants that you have just learned about.

Resurrection Moss

On the rocks you may see a plant growth that looks something like the picture. This is a type of moss. It may look dead to your eye with one or two fern like sprouts. If water is poured on this plant it will suddenly come back to life. Hence the name Resurrection Moss.

Echo River Spring Trail

When you come to the “T” in the trail, make a left onto the dirt road.

Echo River Spring

This spring is one of the five natural entrances into the cave system. The water that is collected in the spring will enter into the cave system. The water inside the cave them becomes a natural habitat for several animals. The water will enter the cave system through a crack in the earth.

Two different worldsThe water that flows into the cave system is a habitat for various animals. These animals dwell only inside the cave system and have made adaptations to live inside this environment. These animals will not be able to survive in the outside world.

Such animals that dwell inside the cave are pictured below.

Eyeless fish. Notice the lack of color. Blind Cave Crayfish Amphipods

The Outside worldThe water that is in the Green River is home to several animals. When the water overflows, it will run into the cave system. The animals that

dwell inside the cave with then become food for these animals. These animals will not be able to live inside the cave because it does not provide the correct environment for them to live in.

Some animals that are found in Green River are:

Fish – Large mouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish.

Amphibians – salamanders

Mussels

When it rains, the water will fill up inside the spring and will eventually overflow inside the cave. From this, the water will regurgitate or flow back out of the cave. When this happens, the water runs into the Green River below. Along with the water that is flowing from the cave to the river, it is carrying some of the animal life that dwell inside the cave with it. Once the rainfall subsides, and the spring begins to flow back inside the cave, it will carry with it various animals from the river.

Green River

Green River is the deepest river known by width. It is home to about 50 different species of mussels. The river is historically listed as #1 for the varieties that are found in the park area. The river is named Green River due to the layers of limestone that it flows over. The limestone will give off a green color to the water.