42-WindCaveNationalMonumentJuly2022
Wind Cave National Park:
We headed out from the rigs at 7am for our full day of adventures. Our first stop of the day was Wind Cave National Park. We stopped at the monument sign for pictures before making our way into the park. We found a line buffalo bull on the first curve going into the park. Stopped and got some photos, then back on our way into the park. The first pullout had another bull running on the signage, so we were able to get some photos of him. On the flat just before turning into the visitor center entrance road, we had a small herd of elk cross the road in front of us, so we got some more photos and videos. At the visitors center, the girls went in and got their stamps in their books, and Cindy got us stickers for the slide on the trailer. We did not go down into the cave as we were on our way to Devils Tower, so next time we are in the area we will make a point of going down.
Wind Cave National Park has been home to many different groups of people over the years. From the native people who have called the Black Hills home since time immemorial to the cavers who survey and study the cave today, every stone, tree, and building has a story.
First Encounters
Indigenous tribes have lived in the Black Hills since time immemorial. These early inhabitants were the first to find what is known today as Wind Cave.
Talking History
Lakota oral tradition refers to a “hole that breathes cool air” near Pte Tatiopa, the “Doorway of the Buffaloes” or Buffalo Gap. It is believed that the natural entrance to Wind Cave is that breathing hole. The natural entrance is said to be an entrance to the spirit world. It's also said that the first people and bison emerged from the spirit world deep within the cave through the natural entrance.
It’ll Blow The Hat Right Off Your Head
In 1881, while riding their horses up a draw, Tom and Jesse Bingham heard the sound of blowing wind on a calm day. Following the sound, they came upon a hole in the ground. When Jesse looked into the hole, the wind blew his hat right off. The story of a hole that will blow the hat off quickly spread, and other people ventured out to the area to see this blowing hole.
Candles and String
The first written record of a trip into Wind Cave was by Frank Herbert, a Black Hills pioneer who visited the cave in 1881. He was given the cave’s location by Charlie Crary, believed to be the first person to actually descend into the cave. In this early party were Hebert, Jesse Girelle, his wife, the two Cole girls, and Mayme Sprague.
“I started down…”
I was supposed to lead, Herbert said. We had to jump down a hole that I could just about squeeze through, six or seven feet. I started down with my lantern. Had to crawl on hands and knees facing a terrible wind for about fifty feet, and then the main hole seemed to be going down at right angles and very steep, but it gave a good foothold.
“…got scared and went back.”
After exploring for a time, Herbert and Sprague began the long climb back toward the entrance: We started on back, found the string and followed it. Those on top helped to pull us up. They went down as far as where the main part turned down, but got scared and went back.
1959 NSS Wind Cave Expedition
Cave Exploring Gets Organized
The National Speleological Society conducted an official expedition to Wind Cave in 1959. It was led by Robert F. Brown. Although the trip was intended to be of a preliminary nature and lasted only 10 days, more surveying and scientific research was conducted during these 10 days than all other previous times.