Olentangy Indian Caverns, Natural cave system in Delaware County, Ohio, United States
The Olentangy Indian Caverns are a limestone cave system in Ohio with three underground levels connected by passages and natural rock formations. The caves sit beneath a gentle hillside and open into a series of chambers of different sizes, shaped by water moving through the rock over a very long time.
The Delaware people used these caves for shelter and storage for several centuries before European settlement in the region. The caves were opened to the public in the 1800s and have welcomed visitors ever since.
The Richard F. Leitch Museum on the grounds displays artifacts left behind by Native Americans who once sheltered here. Walking through the collection gives a concrete sense of how people lived inside and around these underground spaces.
The tour takes visitors underground via a staircase, and temperatures inside stay cool year-round, so a jacket is a good idea regardless of the season. Wear shoes with a good grip, as some passages are narrow and the ground can be uneven.
The grounds include a petting zoo where San Clemente Island goats, one of the rarest goat breeds in the world, live as part of a breeding program. Visitors who come for the caves often leave surprised to find a wildlife conservation effort happening just above ground.
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