Graham Cave, Montgomery County, County, Missouri

Graham Cave is named for Robert Graham, the first settler in this part of Missouri who bought bottomland along the Loutre River from Daniel Boone's son, Daniel Morgan Boone, in 1816. Graham expanded his holdings to include the adjoining hills and this cave, in 1847. The property remained in his family until it was purchased by the state of Missouri to become a state park in 1964.

The Grahams used the cave with it's picturesque 120X16-foot opening as a hog pen, until archeologists asked permission to explore there. Extensive excavations with astonishing results were carried out by scientists from the University of Missouri and Missouri Archeology School. History was rewritten when evidence was found of human habitation dating back 10,000 years much earlier than it was previously thought that people had inhabited this area.

Today Graham Cave State Park offers both recreational and educational opportunities. In addition to the cave there is a visitor center, campground, boat ramp on the Loutre River, picnic areas, hiking trails and other recreational ammenities. I stopped and camped here in the summer of 2004 while on a cross-country road trip with my grandchildren, Alexandria and Nicholas. We found it to be a beautiful and fascinating place, one definitely worth returning to and exploring more thoroughly on a future visit.