Did You Know There's An Incredible Lost National Monument Hiding In Wyoming?
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Caryl
Author
I bet you thought once a national monument, always a national monument, but that’s not always the case. America is home to 109 national monuments and would have even more if some of them had not been decommissioned. Wyoming is home to one of those monuments that lost its status and got kicked off the list.
Shoshone Cavern National Monument is located near the summit of Cedar Mountain about 4 miles from Cody. Not only did the cavern lose its status but it also lost its name. The cavern is now called Spirit Mountain Cave.
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The entrance to the cavern is covered by a metal gate and a permit from the Bureau of Land Management office in Cody is required to enter the cavern.
The main cavern follows a fairly straight path and extends about 2,500' into the mountain. There are a few side passages that branch off from the main path.
Geologists believe the cave was formed by hydrogen sulfide water that seeped into the cracks of the mountain creating the crystal formation along the walls. The walls are covered with white crystals and dripping formations that are mostly white but in some areas are red and brown.
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The cavern was originally discovered in 1909 by a hunter named Frost and his dog. Subsequently, an exploration party, including William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody inspected the cave.
Soon after its discovery, the cavern was designated a national monument in 1909 by William Howard Taft and kept that status for 54 years. It was the second national monument established in Wyoming. In 1954, Congress delisted the monument and transferred the area over to the city of Cody.
For a good visual of the cavern, check out this footage by YouTube user, Dallas Reid.
Because of its lost status and name change, Shoshone Cavern National Monument may be gone but it is certainly not forgotten.
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