Meramec Caverns

Meramec Caverns is a collection of limestone caves in the Ozark Mountains near Stanton, Missouri. Pre-Columbian artifacts found in these caves suggest that they were used for hundreds of years by Native Americans. They were the first caves west of the Mississippi to be explored by Europeans when a French miner stumbled upon them in 1722. During the late 1700’s and early 1800’s the caves were a source of saltpeter, necessary for the manufacture of gunpowder. According to legend, Meramec Caverns provided a hideout for Frank and Jesse James and their gang. The caverns were a widely publicized stop along Route 66, and they’re still very much open for business. I’ve never visited the Meramec Caverns, but I’ve seen them on TV and in the movies. If you’ve ever seen the 1973 movie Tom Sawyer with Johnny Whitaker and Jodie Foster, you’ve seen these caverns, too.