Cumberland Caverns, near McMinnville on Cardwell Mountain, combines notable geology, early exploration, mining history, and modern cultural use. Discovered in 1810 by Aaron Higginbotham and later linked to nearby Henshaw Cave, it grew from a site of local adventure and saltpeter mining into a major cave system whose map expanded significantly in the 1940s and 1953. Opened to the public as Cumberland Caverns in 1956, it is recognized as a National Natural Landmark and among Tennessee’s longest caves. Its formations and prominent chambers are well known, and its Volcano Room became an unusual concert venue with national visibility through Bluegrass Underground.