May 14, 2016

2549 UNITED STATES (Missouri) - Fantastic Caverns


Fantastic Caverns is a show cave located in Springfield, the only cave in North America to offer a completely ride-through tour (in a Jeep-drawn tram). It was discovered by John Knox in 1862,  but he kept its existence quiet until 1867, because he didn't want the cave to be exploited by the Union or Confederate governments as a possible source of saltpeter (used for making gunpowder).

The caverns were used as a speakeasy during the Prohibition years and hosted music concerts during the 1950s and 1960s. The temperature inside Fantastic Caverns is about 60°F (15°C) year-round. In the winter and fall, billboards advertise that the cave is a "warm 60 degrees," while in the summer and spring, billboards advertise the caverns to be a "cool 60 degrees." The cave hosts over 100,000 visitors a year.

About the stamp, issued in 2014 with the occasion of Earth Day, I wrote here.

References
Fantastic Caverns - Wikipedia

Sender: Mary Beth
Sent from Springfield (Missouri / United States), on 28.07.2014
Photo: Mike Roberts

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