Jewel Cave is the second longest cave in the world (July 2011). Several different tours and talks are available daily at the monument located 13 miles west of Custer South Dakota. The most popular tour
is the Scenic Tour which takes about an hour and 20 minutes. This tour, as are all the tours, is ranger lead. It's a good idea to call ahead and make reservations as the tours sell out most days, particularly in summer months.
The ranger tour guides talk about the geology of the Black Hills. You will learn about the shallow sea that existed millions of years ago and the limestone layer (Paha Sapa formation - Paha Sapa is a Lakota word that means hills of black or black hills) that became home to Jewel Cave. The great granite uplift that pushed it's way
through the limestone is what cause the fractures in the limestone creating the cave passage ways.
Frank and Albert Michaud discovered Jewel Cave in 1900 while riding horse through Hell Canyon west of Custer South Dakota. The story of the brothers is fascinating and part of the history of the area but perhaps the most significant
part of the monuments history is the introduction of Herb and Jan Conn to cave by Dwight Deal in 1959. The Conns are responsible for the exploration and mapping of over 65 of the caves 154 miles.
Jewel Cave passed 154 miles discovered and mapped in May of 2011.
This Jewel Cave National Monument presentation was
prepared by Otto Bochman for the Western Dakota Tech / National Park Service Plus 50 Class Rapid City South Dakota.
The passages on the Scenic Tour are well lit with lots of opportunity to see the
calcite crystals and other formations.
Herb and Jan Conn contributed greatly to the tours and the cave exploration.
The passages on the Scenic Tour are well lit with lots of opportunity to see the
calcite crystals and other formations.