Field Trip: Indian Echo Caverns

Last week, when Grandma was visiting, we took an impromptu trip to Indian Echo Caverns!

All tours of the caverns are guided, and our guide seemed very knowledgeable and passionate about the caverns, so I felt like we learned a lot. Probably my favorite area of the caverns was "crystal lake," shown above. Pumpkin does not have a favorite part and says she like everything, though there were a few funny nicknames for some of the rock formations. Below is the Cave Guardian, also known as Jabba the Hutt, also known as Caterpillar with a Backpack.

But we were able to see and learn about many different rock formations, such as stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone, seen below.

We also learned about various artifacts found in the caverns, such as a box of coins dated from the early 1900's back to the 1200's, a journal, and many Native American artifacts. After studying Native American history in the fall, it was really neat to hear about the Susquehannock people, who lived on the banks of the Swatara Creek, seen below. Artifacts, such as arrowheads and hatchets, were found on the banks of the creek, in what is now the parking lot, and in the caverns. It is not believed that they lived in the caverns, but would sometimes store things in them. 

Of course, no trip would be complete without visiting as many farm animals as possible!