If you had to guess: where and what do you think is the
US’ second oldest tourist attraction after the
Niagara Falls?

Answer, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. It is not only a world
heritage site, but the longest cave in the world with more
than 360 miles (580 kilometres) of connected tunnels.

Guided tours have run here since 1816 and 4,000 year old
mummies have been found in the cave, and you can still see
petroglyphs of snakes and humans on the walls.

The cave was discovered at the end of the 18th century
when a man shot and wounded a bear then followed it into
the entrance that is still used today. The mummies became
travelling shows. Today, you can take a Violet City Lantern
Tour, a three-hour, 3-mile (4.8-kilometre) hike without
electric lights. Hikers use kerosene lamps to light the
cave’s steep, dark paths, just as visitors did 150 years
ago.

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