Minnesota cave country has been inhabited by succeeding cultures for centuries, all of which were attracted to the springs and bountiful resources of the wooded limestone terrain.

Photo (right) taken from entrance to Spring Valley Caverns.

It is known that 10-12,000 years ago Indians hunted woolly mammoth, mastodon, and giant beavers weighing 500 pounds in the immediate vicinity of Spring Valley, Minnesota.  Evidence from geological digs has shown that the Woodland Indians occupied cave entrances just south of the Cave Farm Karst Preserve during this time period.  It is especially interesting to keep in mind that humans are recent newcomers compared to the age of these 500,000 year old caverns.  The inhabitants of this area didn't even drop their spears for the bow and arrow until around 1,200 years ago!

When a caver discovers and explores a prehistoric cave passage for the first time, the feeling of awe and respect is overwhelming.

Southeastern Minnesota is a unique exception to the lake-dotted glacial terrain usually associated with this state.  Due to the gentle uplift, or anticline in the earth's crust, this region remained generally untouched by the last major glaciers.   This condition was perfect for cave development and is the reason why natural caves abound in this area.

As you travel through the caves on the Cave Farm keep in mind you are taking a walk through time.   All of the rock passages you see date back over 450 million years ago!  This bedrock was at the bottom of the sea, and if you look close you will find actual fossils in the walls.

Recent studies by the University of Minnesota have revealed that some of the formations in this cave started growing over one hundred thousand years ago.

Cave explorers seek passages that have strong breezes.  This indicates that somewhere up ahead there may be extensive undiscovered caverns.  The photo at the left shows the end of a 50 foot long passage which John blasted just wide enough to slip through, allowing Mike Reyes and himself to discover the fifth section of Spring Valley Caverns 

"First Footprints"

John Ackerman discovers Cathedral Hall in Spring Valley Caverns. 

Some of the lower stream passages are tight, with only an inch or two of air space...

But if you're persistent you may pop up into a tall spacious area with calcite covered walls like this one.  Being the first human to enter an area that was formed hundreds of thousands of years ago makes it all worth it.