Nearly 100 years ago, three men by the names of Browning, Gilmore, and Ford discovered a cave in Noel, Missouri; in 1927, just two years later, the cave was opened for the tourism business; and in 2016, fourth graders from Joplin took their turns at exploring the passages of that same cave, now known as Bluff Dwellers Cavern.
First, we had to get there:
First, we had to get there:
It didn't take long for students to get accustomed to the cave setting. It's probably doesn't have much in common with Hoggatt Cave, but there were some similarities.
Beyond the entrance, students were witnesses to a host of cave formations (speleothems), including drapery, cave bacon, soda straws, stalactites, stalagmites, and columns. There were more exotic formations forming underwater in the cave, as well. The Cave Duck, which has sat in its position for over 70 years, was not the only critter we saw; we also saw a couple of species of bats, and a some of them actually took a fight plan that included the airspace just inches above our heads.
The cave guides gave our classes high marks of praise for their polite demeanor and their manners. Our host, Mary Jane, even called Principal Hennessey to relay the message that we were so well behaved.
Of course, any time they fall asleep on the return trip is good for me! I could as easily snap pictures of the boys in the back, but here's what we have for the bus ride back to school:
Of course, any time they fall asleep on the return trip is good for me! I could as easily snap pictures of the boys in the back, but here's what we have for the bus ride back to school:
