Jennings Township near Leavenworth in Crawford County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Welcome to Wyandotte and Siberts Cave!

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 29, 2025

1. Welcome to Wyandotte and Siberts Cave! Marker

Inscription. These caves tell the story of rock and water, and their connection to living things.

Wyandotte Cave
Wyandotte Cave is one of the largest mapped cave systems in the country. It also serves as the hibernaculum for one of the largest gatherings of Indiana bats.

1. 2200 BC-240 AD Chert was mined for use in tools and weapons. Chert is similar to flint.
[Captions] Chert tools and points; Chert nodule seams in Wyandotte Cave

2. 240 AD-390 AD Torch remains in the cave suggest an area was used for mining epsom salts. Epsom had medicinal uses.
[Captions] Torch remains; Epsomite

3. 240 AD-690 AD Aragonite crystals were mined for jewelry. Artifacts containing Wyandotte aragonite have been found in Adena and Hopewell mounds.
[Caption] Aragonite

4. 1806 William Henry Harrison visited Wyandotte Cave as a possible source of saltpeter for gunpowder.

5. 1810-1815 The cave was mined for saltpeter for the War of 1812.
[Caption] Saltpeter processing

6. 1849 Henry P. Rothrock purchased the land including Wyandotte Cave. He began conducting tours of the cave.

7. 1934 A new lodge structure at the cave served tourists after the original

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had burned down.

8. 1966 The State of Indiana purchased the 1174-acre Wyandotte Cave property.

9. 1972 The U.S. Department of Interior designated Wyandotte Cave a national landmark.

10. 2002 The significance Wyandotte Cave as a winter hibernaculum for the federally Endangered Indiana bat leads to added protection of the cave including closing the cave to winter tours.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. A significant historical year for this entry is 2200 BCE.

Location. 38° 13.712′ N, 86° 17.653′ W. Marker is near Leavenworth, Indiana, in Crawford County. It is in Jennings Township. It can be reached from South Wyandotte Cave Road (County Road 81) half a mile north of Ohio River Scenic Byway (State Road 62), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7311 S Wyandotte Cave Rd, Leavenworth IN 47137, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Shawnee Hills

and in Southern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Ohio River Valley,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Early Mining at Wyandotte Caves (within shouting distance of this marker); Leavenworth Skiffs (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Hoosier National Forest (approx. 3.2 miles away); Where Did Buttons Come From (approx. 3.2 miles away); Ohio River Lock and Dam No. 44 (approx. 3.2 miles

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, November 29, 2025

2. Welcome to Wyandotte and Siberts Cave! Marker

Featured marker is on the left. The panel on the right is non-historic in nature.

away); Captain Winfield Scott Paris (approx. 3.2 miles away); Leavenworth (approx. 3.4 miles away); Mt. Solomon Lutheran Church (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Leavenworth.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 14, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 74 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 8, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.