Free Topo Maps of Jewel Cave National Monument

Download free topo maps of Jewel Cave National Monument. Use the adjoining 7.5 minute quadrangle legend to locate the South Dakota maps you need.

Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend

Jewel Cave National Monument

Jewel Cave National Monument in South Dakota is situated in the Black Hills, near the town of Custer. Discovered in 1900 by two homesteading brothers, the magnificent formations and calcite crystals prompted them to name it Jewel Cave. They made plans to enlarge the cave entrance to allow tourists to enter. As exceptional as the cave was, it was evident that their entrepreneurial efforts were to no avail, as this sparsely inhabited area and the nature and difficulty of travel during those times dampened their dream of success. However, the Cave was recognized for its merits, by 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Jewel Cave a National Monument. Initially the Cave offered limited access to what would one day become one of the longest caves in the world. Today there are large rooms with boulders, crawlways, strands of gypsum in addition to the calcite crystals and other formations. An elevator to a lower level leads to the "Scenic Tour" opened in 1972, drawing millions of people annually. Over the years volunteers have been allowed to map the caves under strict regulations set by the Park Service. Rock climbers, geologists and others have been mapping miles of new terrain enabling the Park Service to study this natural resource, as well as opening new pathways. Hydrogeologists have studied Jewel Cave which was formed by the natural process of limestone dissolving by the acid rich waters enlarging cracks formed by the uplift of the Black Hills 60 million years ago. Today the ground water that seeps through the earth into the caves is monitored by the Park Service; especially after the Jasper Fire caused diminishment of trees and plant life that had been absorbing water prior to this fire. The vast acreage affected did not touch the structures; however 90% of the monument's surface area was destroyed by fire. The monument is more than stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and frostwork. Wildlife and plant life are all part of the history and magnificence of this region. Ironically, the grassy meadows created by the fire have also attracted herds of elk. The ponderosa pine forest and meadows are filled with plants and creatures. Few live near the mouth of the cave, such as the bats that winter in there, packrats and a few insects can survive near the entrance, as the depths of the cave cannot support organic life.