Onondaga Cave State Park, Show cave and state park in Crawford County, Missouri.
Onondaga Cave is a show cave with geological formations including stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstones spread across one mile of illuminated passages through limestone. The cave sits within a broader state park that encompasses forests and natural areas along the Meramec River valley.
The cave was discovered in 1886 behind Davis Spring Mill and passed through multiple owners before becoming a state park in 1982. This transition from private discovery to public preservation shaped how the site developed over more than a century.
The name comes from the Iroquois language, meaning 'People of the Mountain', and was chosen when the cave opened to visitors in 1904. This naming reflects the cultural connection between the Native American heritage and the landscape that became important to the site.
The cave stays at a constant temperature of about 57 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, so bring a light jacket regardless of outside weather. Guided tours follow marked paths through the cave, and the park grounds are easily walkable for most visitors.
The Vilander Bluff Natural Area within the park contains more than 200 ancient red cedar trees and serves as a nesting site for great blue herons. This combination of cave geology and wildlife habitat creates a layered natural experience that surprises many visitors.
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