Manitou Cave

Manitou Cave is a cave in Alabama, near the town of Fort Payne, in the side of Lookout Mountain. The cave was reputedly named for "the great spirit" by the Cherokee in the 18th century.[1][2]

Manitou Cave
Coordinates34°25′44.0394″N 85°43′26.04″W
AccessPrivate tours only
Show cave opened1888

During the Civil War, the cave was a source of saltpeter for the Confederate Army. The mineral was mined by laborers to provide the essential ingredient for black powder.

The cave was first opened by the Fort Payne Coal and Iron company in 1888 as a tourist destination.[3] The cave remained open as a public park through the early 20th century. After decades of neglect, Manitou Cave was reopened as a tourist attraction in 1963 by the Walter B. Raymond, Sr. family, who operated it through the mid-1970s.[2][4][5] The cave is now closed to the general public, although adventure tours are offered by private tour companies.[6][7][8]

References
  1. Hollis, Tim (March 12, 2013). See Alabama First: The Story of Alabama Tourism. The History Press. p. 87. ISBN 9781614238836. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  2. "Manitou Cave to glow again for gala ball". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL: Halifax Media Group. August 26, 1976. p. 12. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  3. "History of Fort Payne". A Pictorial History of DeKalb County, Alabama. Fort Payne, AL: Landmarks of DeKalb County. 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  4. "Caverns Attractions in DeKalb Sections". The Gadsden Times. Gadsden, AL: Halifax Media Group. September 20, 1964. p. 32. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  5. "Noccalula Falls Cave... is it real? Mysterious & Legendary Caves at Lookout Mountain". Gadsden, AL: Etowah Historical Society. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  6. Storey, Deborah (June 15, 2012). "True Adventure Sports in NE Alabama offers cave trips, rappelling, survival classes and more". The Huntsville Times. Huntsville, AL: Advance Publications. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  7. "Wild Cave Tour". Sweet Home Alabama. Alabama Department of Tourism. January 9, 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
  8. "Caving Adventures". Fort Payne, AL: True Adventure Sports. Retrieved January 20, 2015.


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