Nature
Marvel Cave, just west of Branson, Missouri, is a National Natural Landmark and one of the Ozarks’ longest-running tourist attractions. First entered on record in 1869 during a search for lead, it was mistakenly believed to contain marble, leading to brief mining ventures for supposed marble and later bat guano. After William Henry Lynch bought the cave in 1889, his family opened it to tours in 1894 and helped make it a regional destination. Its immense Cathedral Room, one of North America’s largest cave entry chambers, became especially famous. In the mid-20th century, modernization and the development of Silver Dollar City tied the cave even more closely to Ozarks tourism.
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Branson West, Missouri · United States
