A Historical and Descriptive Narrative of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky

Publisher Marketing: It is our purpose to describe, from our own observations made in the spring of 1867, and from the observations of others, that grand and weird cavern known as the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, a wonder of its kind, unequaled in America or in the world, within whose sublime portals travelers have confessed the most profound awe at entrance, and the greatest rapture when its glorious mysteries were made visible to them. Finding the object to be one of greater magnitude than was anticipated, it occurred to us, as an afterthought, that a short sketch might interest a friend at home. In executing this intention, it was soon discovered that a surprising number of pages were required to give even a brief intelligible outline of the great cavern. It was then suggested that the sketch which had been commenced should be extended, and published in book form, that the information it contained might be accessible to the general public, instead of being restricted to one or two friends, as at first designed. In preparing this history of the Mammoth Cave, we make as much use as possible of the materials just mentioned, collating their agreements and disagreements with our own observations. We are chiefly indebted, however, to the valuable Manual of Professor Wright for all measurements and material facts, such as can be acquired only by a protracted series of observations; and we trust that this general announcement of the authorities that we draw upon will serve us in many instances instead of quotation marks.