Gourd Creek Cave in Missouri’s Ozarks, southwest of Rolla, gained significance as an archaeological site because of reported human remains near its entrance, deep wood-ash deposits, and a long local reputation as a Native American resort. Newspaper references to the cave reach back to the 1870s, while legend held that the last survivor of an exterminated Native American tribe had hidden gold there, attracting treasure hunters who had already disturbed the site before Gerard Fowke examined it in 1922. The cave also became a social and picnic destination from the late 19th century onward, especially after nearby iron mining developed, blending archaeology, folklore, and recreation in its history.