Utah's Favorite Cave Has Been Attracting Visitors For More Than 100 Years
By Catherine Armstrong|Published June 26, 2020
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Catherine Armstrong
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Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy.
Timpanogos Cave is a family favorite in Utah. The hike to the cave is strenuous, but offers stunning views of American Fork Canyon, and the cave tour introduces you to natural wonders unlike any other.
Timpanogos, Hansen and Middle caves were discovered in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Today, thousands of visitors enter Timpanogos Cave every year, but that’s nothing new – visitors have marveled at the wonders inside the cave for more than 100 years. Check out these early photos of Timpanogos Cave:
The history of Timpanogos Cave actually starts with nearby Hansen Cave. It was discovered in 1887 by Martin Hansen. He built a rudimentary trail up the mountain and offered cave tours there from 1888-1891.
The boys were exploring Hansen Cave with a larger group, and got bored and began exploring the cliffs outside the cave. While poking around, they dislodged a rock, which fell into the cave. James and Frank returned to the group at Hansen Cave to tell them of their discovery, and the group explored the cave. Not long afterward, a rock slide covered the entrance to the cave, and later explorers were unable to locate it.
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The entrance to the cave was unknown for years, until 1921 when Vearl Manwill accidentally stumbled upon it while exploring nearby Hansen Cave. Manwill and his friends decided to do everything they could to preserve the cave...
To further protect the cave, President Warren G. Harding established Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Visitors from all over the country began to visit.
In 1933, all the national monuments in the country were transferred over to the National Parks System, and rangers began to wear the National Parks uniform.
For more information about Timpanogos Cave, visit its page on the national parks website. For the latest updates about Timpanogos Cave National Monument, make sure to follow its Facebook page.
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