One Of The Oldest National Parks In The U.S., Wind Cave In South Dakota Has Been Open Since 1903

When it comes to incredible history and world-famous landmarks, there is no place quite like South Dakota, which is home to landmarks and attractions, both old and new. If you are more interested in the older and more historical, you will want to visit Wind Cave National Park, one of the oldest parks in America and a national park to visit in South Dakota.

You know Hot Springs for its amazing Mammoth Site and the eponymous hot springs, but did you know that it is also home to one of the oldest national parks in America?

Welcome to Wind Cave National Park, which is home to not only one of the first national parks in America, but the first to ever protect a cave system!

Established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt, Wind Cave National Park is home to a complex cave system that dates back millions of years and can be toured on a near-daily basis.

How many millions of years are we talking about? Thanks to its layers of limestone, experts predict the caves date back to the Mississippian period, making them 358.9 to 323.2 million years old.

In addition to being one of the oldest national parks in America, Wind Cave boasts several other accolades, as it is the sixth-longest cave in the world (thanks to its length of 140 miles), the densest cave on earth, and for containing 95% of the world's discovered boxwork formations.

To learn even more about this incredible cave and its fascinating history, be sure to visit the National Park Service's website.

Are you ready to tour Wind Cave National Park? Reservations are free and can be made by calling the National Park Service at 605-745-4600.

Is this national park to visit in South Dakota on your bucket list? Or have you already visited? Let us know in the comments! Do you know of any places in South Dakota that we have yet to cover? Let us know here! For even more must-visit SoDak caves, click on Going Into These 5 Caves In South Dakota Is Like Entering Another World.