Carlsbad Caverns was formed when water mixed with sulfuric acid seeped through the cracks in the rocks. The cracks became water-filled underground rooms. Eventually the reef rose above ground and air replaced groundwater. Without the water to support the ceiling, large pieces of the ceiling collapsed. Large rooms and hallways resulted from the process.
Pictographs are prehistoric records of human existence.
These are usually found in areas protected from sun and weather. Human preservation efforts ensure these to be enjoyed and studied in the future. Although he was not the first man to discover the cave, Jim White made Carlsbad Caverns famous through his exploration efforts. During the twenty years bat guano was mined in the cave, White worked for all but one of the mining companies. In his spare time he continued exploring the cave.