Morrison Cave
In the summer of 1905 George Morrison was working for the Jefferson Lime Company at Lime Spur, Montana, 43 miles east of Butte. About a mile east of Lime Spur he had seen a hole in the side of the mountain which he decided to investigate. Taking a very long rope he climbed the hill to the hole. He tied one end of the rope to a nearby tree and descended into the darkness. When his feet touched bottom he lighted a candle and found himself in a crystal palace. Stalactites and stalagmites everywhere he looked. Crawling through a small opening since named “Fat Man’s Misery,” he came to a chamber about 125 feet in diameter, which he named the Cathedral. Here he found great columns 12 feet in circumference, reaching from floor to ceiling. Back in a beautiful crystal alcove he found a spring of ice-cold mineral. Out in an open space he found a monster stalagmite which he named the Fountain.
Retracing his steps to the rope he continued on down to the next landing and from there explored a chamber which he named the Art Gallery. Again he went down the rope to a third “level,” where he found a small lake of clear, sparkling water, and a very long chamber, at the end of which he found the petrified waterfalls. On the return he stopped at the different landings and explored still further. Everywhere he went was an enchanted by the wonderful crystal formations of lime. And well he might be, for he was the first to behold this great work of nature that had been forming for centuries.
Because of his great strength he was able to climb back up the rope and send the report of his discovery to his uncle, D.A. Morrison of Whitehall, Mon., who was a member of the Jefferson Lime Company. The other members were F.T. McBride and George H. Casey of Butte. In 1906 this company built a stairway at expense down into the cave, so that people might visit the most wonderful cave in the world.
The Morrison Cave was the name chosen, and by this name it is generally known. President Roosevelt set the cave aside as a National Park in in May, 1908 under the name of the Lewis and Clark Cavern. D/A. Morrison has put an iron door with a large padlock at the entrance and has done more than any one else to protect the cave from vandalism.
See Great Falls Daily Tribune, Dec. 17, 1911, “The Wonderful Morrison Cave and the Story of Its Discovery.”
Find out more
Blog Post: Lewis and Clark Caverns (with Photo Gallery)
Blog Post: Our Visit to Lewis & Clark Caverns
You must be logged in to post a comment.