History of Wyandotte


Entrance to Historic Wyandotte - Sept. 30, 2006
(CES Media Club)

Wyandotte Cave is actually two caves. There is Siberts Cave and
Old Historic Wyandotte. The earliest date that is thought to be
the date when white man first "discovered" Wyandotte is 1798.
Historians are sure though, that Wyandotte was used by
Native Americans for shelter as far back as 3000 years ago. This is
known because of carbon dating of bits of burned hickory bark, pieces
of material that was woven, and bits of utensils or tools.

There is quite a lot of evidence of more recent Native Americans
using it for shelter, ceremonies, food storage, and even mining of
flint and calcite. The cave's name comes from a branch of the
Iroquois tribe of Native Americans. However, historians do not
believe that the Wyandottes actually ever used the caves.

Saltpeter is one item that has been mined there. Touring of the
caves commercially began in 1850. The Rothrock family was the
first group to offer these tours. They did this for 115 years.

Wyandotte Caves were sold to the Indiana Department of
Natural Resources in 1966. In 2002 the IDNR hired a
private business, Wyandotte Caves LLC, to schedule and
conduct the tours of Wyandotte.

Cannelton Elementary Media Club
toured Wyandotte Caves in September.
(CES Media Club)

They give tours every year of the caves. Now Wyandotte
Caves is one of four caves that are considered "show caves"
in Indiana. The other show caves are Marengo Caves,
Squire Boone Caverns, and Blue Spring Caverns.

Click on the photograph of the Wyandotte Visitor
Center below to find out more about tour dates of
Wyandotte Caves. It takes you to the official
Wyandotte Caves website.

Wyandotte Caves Visitor Center
(CES Media Club)

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Comments? Questions? You can e-mail us at: jgoble@cannelton.k12.in.us