Collections

 

Museum collections have been kept at Mammoth Cave National Park since its founding in 1941; at that time the collection consisted of biological, geologic, historical and archaeological artifacts/specimens. Today the collections held at the park consist of 1,202,691 items and includes a diverse array of artifacts, specimens and documents. In addition, to the items housed from Mammoth Cave, the park museum collections also houses items from Abraham Lincon Birthplace National Historical Park and seven parks associated with the Cumberland Piedmont Inventory and Monitoring Network.

The collections today are the result of scientific research projects, compliance projects, gifts from donors and visitors, documents related to park history and the daily activities of the park, the original collections from the 1930s and the occasional artifact found and turned in to the staff by park visitors.

Of particular interest are artifacts and documents from the early formation of the park including a barrow that belonged to Floyd Collins, photographs taken by the Works Progress Administration (WPA) of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) building the infrastructure of the park in the 1930’s, plant specimens collected from the same time period, saltpetre mining artifacts and an early map drawn in 1908 by Max Käemper.

 

What If I Find An Artifact? 

Leave It Be
Artifacts are not souvenirs! Leave the artifact where you found it. Please don’t pick it up, move it, throw it, put it in your pocket or your bag, or bury it.

Document the Location
Note where you are. Snap a picture of the artifact where you found it. Step back and photograph the artifact with a landmark. Please don’t post them on social media.

Alert a Park Ranger
Show a park ranger your pictures and the location of the artifact. If you cannot find a ranger, use the “Contact Us” form on the Mammoth Cave National Park website to email the information.

Taking Artifacts Is Illegal
Federal law protects archeological sites and artifacts on federal lands. You may not dig, collect artifacts, use metal detectors, or deface rock images in national park units.

 

Digitized Park Collections

Open Parks Network - The Open Parks Network is a digital archive maintained by Clemson University and the National Park Service. The database has more than 350,000 cultural heritage objects and 1.5 million texts, including photographs, drawings, and reports. Materials were drawn from more than 20 national parks, 2 state park systems and 3 university libraries.

 

Contact Curatorial

Research requests and educational tours may be scheduled upon request by contacting the curator's office at [phone] or e-mail us.