Niagara Cave


Useful Information

Location: Hwy I-90 Exit La Crosse, WI, Winona, MN, Rochester, MN, or Austin, MN. Near Harmony, MN. From Harmony: 4 km south on Minnesota 139, then 4 km west on county 30.
Open: APR Sat, Sun, Hol 10-16:30, tours every 20 min.
MAY Mon-Fri 10-16:30, tours at 10:30, 12, 13:30, 15, 16:30, Sat, Sun, Hol 10-16:30, tours every 20 min.
Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend daily 9:30-17:30, tours every 15 min.
SEP Mon-Fri 10-16:30, tours at 10:30, 12, 13:30, 15, 16:30, Sat, Sun, Hol 10-16:30, tours every 20 min.
OCT Sat, Sun, Hol 10-16:30, tours every 20 min.
Last tour at closing time.
[2011]
Fee: Adults USD 11.88, Children (13-17) USD 9.88, Children (4-12) 6.88, Children (0-3) free, Seniors (65+) USD 9.88.
Prices plus Minnesota sales tax.
[2011]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave ordovician limestone
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: T=9 °C, L=4,800 m.
Guided tours: L=800 m, D=60 min., V=25,000/a
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address: Niagara Cave, 29842 County 30, P.O. Box 444, Harmony, MN 55939, Tel. +1-507-886-6606, E-mail: contact
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1924 discovered.
01-JUN-1934 opened to the public.
01-JUN-2009 75th anniversary.

Description

Niagara Cave is a limestone cave with some formations and nice river cave profiles. It has a small river which forms waterfalls, the largest being 18 m high. This waterfall is called Niagara, after the Niagara Falls at the Canadian border, and is the reason why the cave is called Niagara Cave. The limestone contains several fossils, like Sunflower Coral. One room of the cave is used as a wedding chapel, where more than 300 weddings took place.

The cave was discovered in 1924, reportedly by a farmer who sent his children down a sinkhole to look for three little pigs who had been falling down into the sinkhole. According to legend, the kids climbed down, discovered the cave, rescued the pigs and climbed back to the surface. We have no idea if it is true, but it is a pretty common discovery story.