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Howe Caverns: A Photo Tour

By Kim Knox Beckius, About.com

2 of 10

Mighty Stalagmite

Howe Caverns Chinese Pagoda Stalagmite

The largest stalagmite inside Howe Caverns in New York is nicknamed the Chinese Pagoda.

© 2005 Kim Knox Beckius
A stalagmite is a limestone cave formation that grows upward from the floor. The stalagmite in this photo, nicknamed the Chinese Pagoda, is the largest one inside Howe Caverns. Stalagmites and stalactites, which hang from the ceiling, grow at a rate of about one cubic inch in 100 years. That means the Chinese Pagoda, at 11 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter, is about 500,000 years old.

It took Lester Howe and Henry Wetsel almost a year to explore the caverns' mile and a half of underground passageways by the light of a whale oil lantern. In February of 1843, Howe offered his neighbor $100 for the property, and he opened Howe's Cave--the third commercial cave in America--for torch-lit tours. The tours cost 50 cents... and lasted eight to 10 hours.

Today, tours cost quite a bit more than 50 cents, but visitors can see Howe Caverns in just about an hour and a half without donning hip waders. Regular tours are offered seven days a week year-round.

After a period of ownership changes, decline and closure, the Howe's Cave property was purchased by investors in 1927, and in 1929, it re-opened as Howe Caverns following construction of an elevator and installation of walkways and electric lighting. Since the cave was made accessible to visitors (although it is not handicapped-accessible), visitation has grown. Today, Howe Caverns is the second most-visited natural attraction in New York State after Niagara Falls. In April of 2007, Howe Caverns was purchased for $3.7 million by two former shareholders, who have announced intentions to invest $2 million in the attraction over the next several years. Plans include opening an additional 1,800 feet of undeveloped cave, including some areas that haven't been seen for more than a century.

Kim Knox Beckius
Guide since 1998

Kim Knox Beckius
New England Travel Guide

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