Stephen Bishop
In 1838, Franklin Gorin and AA
Harvey purchased the
Mammoth Cave. Gorin also brought his 17 year old slave,
Stephen Bishop, to be the cave’s tour guide. Mammoth cavern was soon sold the following year to Dr. John
Croghan. Stephen then became a free man the following year but decided to stay and continue his journey as
Mammoth cave’s tour guide.
Frequently, Stephen would traverse various passages of the cavern , there is no living being who knows this cave as well as he did. His curiosity and intelligence lead to numerous discoveries for years to come.
Tours throughout the years came with great ease to
Stephen. He could grasp the attention of all classes and genders with his thorough knowledge of Mammoth cave.
Unfortunately Stephen died the summer of 1857 and was buried

http://www.nps.gov/maca/index.ht m Mammoth Cave National Park
1 Mammoth Cave Parkway
Mammoth Cave, KY 42259
Lat/Long: N 37° 11' 13.115'' ¦
W 86° 06' 05.197''

A Grand, Gloomy and Peculiar Place

Life down under! Mammoth cave inhabits a variety of troglobite species. Commonly thought of as cave animals who can not live outside of the cave.
These animals include anywhere from eyeless cave fish to endangered Eastern Small-footed bats. Scientist have actually discovered over 200 species of animals in Mammoth cave.
Although, changes in caves do not happen as rapidly as they may on land they do happen in “cave time”. This cycle controls the cave life depending upon the temperature and the water temperature. Separate but equal the above and below of this cave are but they are tied as well. Plants above ground are crucial to the caves life.
Through photosynthesis and decay plants will release carbon dioxide to form weak carbon acid that forms the cave.

Join us in our activities! We offer cave tours, on-site camping, and
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