Our Old Kentucky Home

     Since we didn’t get to leave on our original departure date, we started our fifty states study in our own backyard. We actually live in the corner of three states, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana, so we have plenty to do while we wait. The first week of school and our study of Kentucky went great. Jesse covered basics like the capital, state flag, bird, flower, etc. He loved learning about Daniel Boone and the Wilderness Trail. Anyone who knows Jess, knows he loves all things survivalist, and, well, what word better describes Boone? I would have loved to take another trip south to Daniel Boone National Forest where Cumberland Falls is located. This is the site of the only moonbow in the western hemisphere, but the weather did not cooperate. Another time, I hope. Gabby’s focus was Mammoth Cave, and Jacob’s was Fort Knox, but everyone shares information throughout the week, and we all learn from each other.

     Our trip to Mammoth Cave last weekend was a blast.  We learned all kinds of cool stuff in the Interpretive Center before we even set foot in the actual cave.  The kids enjoyed displays of the alien-like cave critters: Bats, crickets, and creepy colorless fish with no eyes.  Some of the wildlife we studied we saw firsthand inside the cave!

Cave Cricket

     Pre-tour instructions included a warning not to touch the cave formations, so the models of stalagmites, stalactites, needles and straws made it possible for the littles to satisfy their touchy-feelies, plus it was one of the best tutorials I've ever seen on how the formations come about. Mammoth Cave System is the longest in the world, almost 400 miles of underground tunnels. The model in the museum looks kind of like a shallow bowl of spaghetti.

      One of our favorite historical characters was Stephen Bishop, a slave who mapped much of the cave for the first time and led some of the first tours and expeditions into the cave. His studies eventually earned him his freedom.

     We also picked International Bat Day to visit, so we were treated to extra-cool bat demonstrations (including infrared, bat-finding, heat sensor guns--I though Jesse's head was going to explode). Talking to park rangers and biologists about bat business was the bomb. (Couldn't resist the alliteration. Sorry.) We learned about White-Nose Syndrome and how it is affecting the bat population at Mammoth Cave and across the U.S.

Bat we saw while touring the cave

     The cave itself was amazing, a first for all of us. We were surprised by the wall of cool air outside the mouth of the cave. You just suddenly step into 58 degrees.  Pretty nice since it was pushing 90 outside. The cave stays the same temperature year-round.

Entrance to Mammoth Cave

 Until the 1941 when Mammoth Cave became a national park, it was privately owned and operated. Graffiti covers the walls and ceilings in some areas. This would be sad, if it wasn't so terribly interesting. It lends to the mystery of the cave to think about who may have walked its passages before you.

Francis from Akron was here, April 23, 1935

 The tour guide really knew his stuff and was lots of fun. He kept us listening while we gawked at rooms as big as cathedrals, hollowed out in huge circles by ancient rivers.

 We also crawled through openings so tiny we had to duck and squeeze through.

Fat Man's Misery

     Our first ever spelunking experience took about two and a half hours and covered two miles of the cave. There are many other tours to choose from. We only covered a small fraction of what there is to see. You can even book night tours by lantern light. In all, it was a great introduction to our U.S. travels.

Next week: Ohio!