The Majestic Caverns. Photo credit: MajesticCaverns.com
In 1540, Hernando De Soto explored the southeastern region of the United States. His exact route through the state of Alabama is unknown, but it is commonly accepted that he entered through the northeast end of the state and traveled southward to the Montgomery-Selma area before either heading west or northwest into Mississippi. His expedition gave insight into the lives of Native Americans before other Europeans arrived, but it also brought diseases such as smallpox that caused depopulation of Native Americans in the areas that the 700-maned army traveled through. De Soto also engaged in battle with Native Americans in southern Alabama after being ambushed by the Mobilian tribe led by chief Tuskaloosa. The battle resulted in Spanish victory, but the Spaniards killed an estimated 2,000-6,000 Native Americans, making it one of the bloodiest battles in North American history.
Five centuries later De Soto is still remembered with sites named after him like Desoto Caverns and DeSoto State Park. Desoto Caverns has always been a natural wonder in the state of Alabama. Located in central Alabama in Childersburg, the caverns have been marveled at by tourists and residents alike. The park the caverns are in also offers cave tours, campsites, a Cave Café, and even amusement park rides. However, as of June 2022, the attraction will now be known as Majestic Caverns. The name change comes after management decided it wanted a name that reflected the physicality of the caverns. “[The new name] simply better expresses the enduring beauty of the caverns, honoring how those throughout history have described it...” said president of Desoto caverns, Joy Sorensen.
Before De Soto arrived, Native Americans used the caverns as burial grounds. They believed that the largest cavern room, called the “Healing All Cathedral,” had healing and calming properties, and they called it “Kymulga,” meaning “Healing All.” It was even the first recorded cave in the United States, with presidential agent, Benjamin Hawkins, describing the beauty of the caves to George Washington in a letter in 1796. During the Civil War, the caverns served as a mine for saltpeter to make gunpowder, and during the early twentieth century, in the prohibition era, the caverns became a speakeasy.
Check out the Majestic Caverns website to find out more information about this wonderful Alabama attraction.
John Morgan Underwood is from Springville, Alabama, and is a student at the University of Alabama majoring in English and minoring in News and Media. His family moved around a lot during his childhood before residing in Alabama.
Before De Soto arrived, Native Americans used the caverns as burial grounds. They believed that the largest cavern room, called the “Healing All Cathedral,” had healing and calming properties, and they called it “Kymulga,” meaning “Healing All.” It was even the first recorded cave in the United States, with presidential agent, Benjamin Hawkins, describing the beauty of the caves to George Washington in a letter in 1796. During the Civil War, the caverns served as a mine for saltpeter to make gunpowder, and during the early twentieth century, in the prohibition era, the caverns became a speakeasy.
Check out the Majestic Caverns website to find out more information about this wonderful Alabama attraction.
- https://majesticcaverns.com/caverns
- http://genealogytrails.com/ala/history_desoto.html
- https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=114373
- https://www.thisisalabama.org/2021/09/27/desotocaverns/
- https://hooversun.com/news/desoto-caverns-now-majestic-caverns
John Morgan Underwood is from Springville, Alabama, and is a student at the University of Alabama majoring in English and minoring in News and Media. His family moved around a lot during his childhood before residing in Alabama.
RSS Feed