Near Cave City in Barren County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)

Sand Cave

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 28, 2025

1. Sand Cave Marker

Inscription.
Floyd Collins was first to explore Sand Cave. Fallen rock trapped him in narrow passage 150 ft. from entrance, Jan. 30, 1925. Rescuers reached him with food and heat for short time. Aid cut off by shifting earth closing passage. Engineers sank 55-foot shaft but were unable to reach Collins' body until February 16. Rescue attempt publicized worldwide. Aroused sympathy of nation.

Erected 1970 by The Kentucky Historical Society and the Department of Highways. (Marker Number 1385.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Believe It or Not, and the Kentucky Historical Society series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is January 30, 1925.

Location. 37° 9.08′ N, 86° 2.696′ W. Marker is near Cave City, Kentucky, in Barren County. It is on Old Mammoth Cave Road (at milepost 15), 1.2 miles north of Mammoth Cave Road (Kentucky Route 70), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1240 Old Mammoth Cave Rd, Cave City KY 42127, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave Country

and in the Pennyroyal Region.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

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 Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Sand Cave Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Location, Location, Location (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carnival Sunday (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Rescue Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Union City: Cave Crossroads (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cave City.

More about this marker. Marker is next to the Wayfarer Hotel, where there is a museum, and a path to the cave entrance.

Also see . . .
1. Floyd Collins: America's Greatest Doomed Cave Explorer. A better telling, this page also continues the story past his death; telling of his glass-topped coffin, the chained coffin, and his body's brief visit to

Photographed by Trinket Troy, April 26, 2006

2. Sand Cave Marker

a near-by field, where he lost his leg. (Submitted on April 29, 2006.)

2. Mammoth Cave National Park (National Park Service). (Submitted on October 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 28, 2025

3. Sand Cave Marker

Sand Cave entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jason Voigt, September 28, 2025

4. Sand Cave entrance

It is about a mile from the marker, and accessed through a trail only. The entrance is blocked off from the public

Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 29, 2006, by Trinket Troy of Burke, Virginia. This page has been viewed 5,338 times since then and 85 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. 2. submitted on April 29, 2006, by Trinket Troy of Burke, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on October 3, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.