[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 11]
[Senate]
[Page 14202]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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            WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION

 Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise today in tribute to Wind 
Cave National Park on the occasion of the park's centennial 
anniversary.
  Nestled in the southeast corner of the Black Hills of South Dakota 
and adjacent to Custer State Park, Wind Cave has a rich and colorful 
history that has informed and educated generations of people from 
around the world.
  Wind Cave was established as a national park by President Theodore 
Roosevelt on January 3, 1903, as the Nation's seventh national park and 
the first one created to protect a cave. It was designated as a 
National Game Preserve on August 10, 1912.
  But Wind Cave's history is recorded as part of Black Hills history 
from the time Native Americans told stories of holes in the ground that 
blow wind. The first recorded discovery of Wind Cave dates to 1881 when 
Jesse and Tom Bingham were first attracted to the cave by a whistling 
noise. As the story goes, wind was blowing out of the cave entrance 
with such force it blew off Tom's hat. A few days later, when Jesse 
returned to show the phenomena to some friends, he was astonished to 
find the wind had changed directions and his hat was sucked into the 
cave.
  Since that time, notable visitors have included Charlie Crary, the 
first person reported to enter the cave; J.D. McDonald, whose family 
gave the first cave tours and sold cave formations to J.D.'s son, 
Alvin; Alvin McDonald, who was the first explorer of the cave and who 
kept a diary and map of his findings; and ``Honest John'' Stabler who 
formed a partnership with the McDonalds to develop the first passages 
and staircases into Wind Cave. Indeed, the early history of the cave 
was plentiful and colorful.
  William Jennings Bryan and Governor Lee visited the cave in 1892. 
That same year one of the first attractions was put on display. For a 
quarter, visitors could come to the cave and view a ``petrified man'' 
that had been found north of the cave. Over the years, visitors would 
come to view the natural attractions Wind Cave would have to offer.
  Captain Seth Bullock became the cave's first supervisor in 1902, with 
George Boland serving as the area ranger. South Dakota Congressman Eben 
W. Martin was instrumental in the designation of Wind Cave as a 
national park. General John J. Pershing visited in 1910 and took 
important cave room readings with his pocket aneroid barometer. In 
1914, Ester Cleveland Brazell was a ranger guide at the Cave, possibly 
making her the first woman to hold the title of ranger in the National 
Park Service. Walt Disney and other film and video companies have 
produced films in the park and countless rolls of film have been shot 
by amateur photographers for display in home movies and scrapbooks.
  Today, Wind Cave has more than 108 miles of explored and mapped 
passages, making it the fourth-longest cave in the United States and 
sixth longest in the world. Well over 5.5 million people have visited 
Wind Cave over the past 100 years.
  The first major improvements in the park were accomplished by the 
Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Wind Cave was one of many 
important projects CCC workers developed in South Dakota. Many of the 
projects can still be seen today, including roads, the entrance to the 
cave, concrete stairs in the cave, and the elevator building and shaft.
  By 1935, the game preserve became an integral part of Wind Cave 
National Park. Bison, elk, and pronghorn became staples of the visitor 
experience, and the park's boundaries were expanded in 1946 to over 
28,000 acres.
  Wildlife management was a main priority and key challenge in the 
1950s and 1960s as herds grew and restoration and management of native 
grasses, exotic plant species, and animal herds became a main focus.
  The unique blend of wildlife and aesthetic beauty on the park's 
surface, combined with the beautiful cave formations, extensive 
passageways, and informative guided tours beneath the surface provide 
the general public with a wonderful Black Hills experience and one that 
provides young people with a unique learning opportunity. Visitors can 
take in such attractions as Lincoln's Fireplace, Petrified Clouds, 
Devil's Lookout, Roe's Misery, Sampson's Palace, Queen's Drawing Room, 
the Bridge of Sighs, Dante's Inferno, and the Garden of Eden.
  I want to commend the 18 superintendents who have served Wind Cave 
National Park, including current superintendent Linda Stoll, for their 
leadership and excellent stewardship of the park over the past 100 
years. I also want to applaud the dedication and commitment of the 
park's staff over the years, from rangers and administrative staff to 
tour guides and custodians. All of them have partnered to ensure the 
visiting public's experience at Wind Cave is a memorable one. Wind Cave 
National Park is one of the jewels in the Black Hills crown of tourism 
destinations. Over the years, it has been a privilege for me to work on 
infrastructure needs and issues of importance involving Wind Cave 
National Park.
  From earthquakes, floods and fires to the occasional lost spelunker, 
Wind Cave has come a long way since the ``Petrified Man'' displays and 
25-cent tours. Wind Cave today offers a complete visiting and 
educational experience for people of all ages. The ever-expanding cave 
continues to excite and astonish scientists, cave surveyors, 
spelunkers, and the general public. I wish to congratulate Wind Cave 
National Park on its centennial anniversary and encourage everyone to 
visit the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota and Wind Cave National 
Park.

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