Horse Cave, city in Kentucky
Horse Cave is a small town in Hart County, Kentucky, built above a large cave containing an underground river. The town features over 50 historic buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places, including old brick structures with Victorian trim arranged along narrow streets that seem to follow the pattern of cave passages below.
The town was founded in the 1850s by Major Albert Anderson, who purchased over 500 acres of land, planned the streets, and promoted railroad connections to the area. In the late 1800s, Horse Cave became the fifth largest tobacco market in the world, making it a major economic hub for the region.
The town's name possibly comes from the large cave beneath it, which holds significance in local memory and identity. Today, a growing Amish community that moved to the area in the 1980s preserves traditional crafts and skills, with colorful hex signs painted on barns carrying specific family meanings and heritage symbols.
Visitors can explore the town on foot since most historic buildings and shops are concentrated downtown, mainly along Main Street. It is best to visit on weekdays since many small cafes and antique shops close early on Sundays.
The cave beneath the town remained closed for many years due to pollution and hazards but was reopened in the 1990s following major cleanup efforts. This offers visitors a rare chance to experience one of the state's few underground rivers through a privately operated cave with actual flowing water.
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