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

Diamond Caverns

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

1. Diamond Caverns Marker

Side One

Inscription. On July 14, 1859, a slave was lowered into a pit discovered on the farm of Jesse Coats. He saw glistening calcite crystals that he thought were diamonds. The first public tour was made by a wedding party on August 19, 1859. Guidebooks were written about the dave and its beautiful limestone formations.

The cave is famed for its pristine cave formations, and was shown with Mammoth Cave in the late 1800s. Mammoth Cave Railroad ran nearby. Passages found in 1936 doubled the length of the cave. It is the second-oldest show cave in Kentucky and the fourth-oldest continuously visited commercial cave in the United States.

Diamond Caverns, LLC.

Erected 2008 by Kentucky Historical Society and Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2259.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 14, 1859.

Location. 37° 6.966′ N, 86° 3.756′ W. Marker is near Park City, Kentucky, in Barren County. Marker can be reached from Mammoth Cave Parkway (State Highway 255) 1.3 miles north of Interstate 65, on the right when traveling north

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. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Park City KY 42160, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named Diamond Caverns (here, next to this marker); Locust Grove Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Union City: Cave Crossroads (approx. 1.6 miles away); Hearth and Home (approx. 1.6 miles away); Bell's Tavern (approx. 1.8 miles away); Sand Cave (approx. 2.6 miles away); The Forest Returns (approx. 2.7 miles away); Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail (approx. 3.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Park City.

Also see . . . Historic Diamond Caverns. Official website of Diamond Caverns. Includes a detailed history of the caverns. (Submitted on August 11, 2016.)

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

2. Diamond Caverns Marker

Side Two

Diamond Caverns Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

3. Diamond Caverns Markers

Diamond Caverns Entrance Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

4. Diamond Caverns Entrance Building

View to South From Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane Hall, July 31, 2016

5. View to South From Mammoth Cave Railroad Bike & Hike Trail

Mammoth Cave Parkway (State Highway 255) on the right

Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 452 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 11, 2016, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.