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.
Source: http://www.nps.gov/maca/historyculture/black-history.htm
Grave of Stephen Bishop
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 Cactus
Another 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 Reed
The 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 Acid
How 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:
Meta Spiders
Wood rats
Cave Cricket
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 worlds
The 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 world
The 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.