Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1941-05-23
MORRISON CAVE
OPEN JUNE %
FARMLAND OF NATURE SOON
TO BE FORMALLY
DEDICATED

Morrison cave a fairyland Of nature
IS miles east of Whitehall, will be
dedicated formally as state park on
June %.
A wind-driven rain on May 4 caused
the postponement from that date,
though Gov. sam c. Ford, state, county
and city officials and hundreds Of visi-
tors took part in informal proceedings
at the cave.
The cave is rival of the Carlsbad
cavern in New Mexico and Mammoth
cave in Kentucky and even surpasses
these world famed wonders Ii beauty
and picturesque formations.
Bruno Petsch has been named chief
guide at the cave.
1t is expected Morrison cave soon
will become one of Montana's most
famous scenic attractions. 1t was
to the cave. which had been known
since its discovery at the dawn Of
the century. 1t was discovered in
1901 by c. A. Morrison.
He was prospecting for mining claims
when he discovered the hole in the
mountain" which has been acclaimed
by biologists and world travellers TO
be uneoualed in any part of the world.
Though the land was on mining
claim, It also was on right-of-way
grant TO the Northern Pacific and the
railway turned 1t over to the United
States In 1912 the national parks serv-
ice closed the cavern because visitors
persisted in breaking up formations
which had taken centuries for nature
to make.
The cave remained closed for is
years until 1927 when residents OF JET
ferSon and Gallatin counties, the first
TO come into the Morrison Cave aSso-
citation. started a movement to interest
people in the cavern and interest the
government in reopeninS 1t.
1t is said that If traveller is out Tor
real adventure and thrills. he will get
lust what he wants in Morrison cave.
He will have the experience OF seeing
something different from anything he
has ever witnessed. He will have the
opportunity of looking closely at some
Of natures chemical experiments.
Stairs and ladders are provided to
assist in the descent OF the deep, dark
shaft into the interior OF the noun
tain. Upon making the descent, the
explorer may expect TO see such sights
as are contained In the following de-
scriptions:
Some distance from the shaft the
first horizontal passage is encountered:
The ceiling in this passage IS low ana
the walls are narrow. A short distance
along the hallway one comes to the
"casket." a formation having the APP
pearance Of q somewhat ornamental
casket with fringe Of small, exquisite
stalactites around the lid.
Beyond the caSket section OF gro
tesquely-formed miniature stalagmltes
arranged in confusion so that they give
the appearance Of being the remains
of a fierce battle between pygmy men.
Beyond the battlefield narrow pas
sage way where stalactites nearly reach
the floor slows up the journey.
The Cathedral
Just as the explorer is beginning TO
think that the low, narrow passage Will
never end. he comes into the awe-in-
spring grandeur OF the Cathedral
Here IS sight that has caused travel
ers to call the cavern one Of the Won
ders of the world. Vaulted ceilings are
studded with crystal filigree work:
Bounded domes seem to be supported
by massive marble-white pillars. A part
Of the cathedral is called the temple
Of the gods"
Here the floor is a series of side
galleries Great pillars extend from the
floor TO the vaulted ceiling some OF
them more than 30 feet high: A ire
mendous horned toad. measuring per-
haps 20 feet from nose to the base, |
sits near a giant toadstool overrun |
with a thicket Of totem-pole stalag- |
mites.
Unexplored. the cave might have
been dangerous, but in the past
few wears II has been thoroughly
charted by the CCC boys, who have
Ill Ynck and