Mitchell Cavern and Winding Stair Cave was designated a National Natural Landmark for its exceptional value in illustrating the nation's natural heritage and contributing to a better understanding of man's environment. In the 1920s, Jack and Ida Mitchell operated a profitable construction and real estate business, but their lives changed when Jack invested everything in an unsuccessful out-of-state silver mine, causing them to lose their savings and their business to fail. During the Great Depression, their only assets were stocks in desert claims that included these caverns. Fascinated by the beauty and mystery of the caverns, they moved here in 1932, partly to protect the caves from vandals. Beginning a new life in their 50's, they camped on the hillside, built their home, and gradually reconstructed their lives as they built the paths, shelters, and buildings still seen today. They first lived in a tent and used salvage pipe to bring water to the area. They saved and displayed interesting rock specimens and Indian artifacts they found, built a campground, and soon provided tours and information for visitors. They succeeded in protecting the caves and making them accessible to many more people, and after Jack's death the caverns became part of the State Park System, allowing the Mitchell tradition of sharing, exploration, and education about the caverns to continue.