2 votes

Old Guides' Cemetery

Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky USA

7
Photos

Free

Free to Visit

Open Now

Tue 9a-7p

Independent
Credit Cards
not Accepted
Not Wheelchair
Accessible
No Public
Restrooms
No Wifi

“RIP”

This cemetery is just above the entrance to Mammoth Cave. It is the cemetery that was used for the old guides of the cave along with some of the patients who died of Tuberculosis when the cave was used as a hospital. This cemetery was in very bad shape. It has had a lot of people visiting the cemetery who have not used a lot of care. There were several tombstones that could not be read. We learn some of the history of this cemetery from an exhibit posted outside the cemetery.

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Reviewed by
Anna Hider

Blogger
1,414 Reviews
637 Helpful

April 10, 2015

Rated 4.0

Honestly, the history of Mammoth Cave is way more interesting than you would expect. The first person to really explore and map the cave was a slave named Steven Bishop. When a man named John Croghan bought the cave in the mid-19th century, he bought Steven Bishop as well. Croghan decided to use the cave as a TB hospital because he thought that the air in the cave was healthier somehow. It wasn't. Bishop was freed upon Croghan's death from TB, and was later buried in this cemetery when he himself died.

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
kayleefriend23

13 Reviews
1 Helpful

September 25, 2021

Rated 5.0

Who knew Mammoth Cave had such an interesting history?? Swing by the Old Guides Cemetery and monument before entering Mammoth Cave to get acquainted with those who discovered and profited from the cave. This cemetery serves as a burial site for the man (slave) who discovered the cave system as well as Tuberculosis patients that were “treated” in Mammoth Cave long ago.

1 person found this review helpful

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