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Honoring First Nation People at the Aquifers and Caverns in “Marianna, Florida"

We went to another amazing location that honors the legacy of First Nation People in the northwest Territory. Actually, this was our second journey to see the “Florida” Caverns situated just two miles north of the “City of Marianna”, which is appropriately nicknamed “The City of Southern Charm.” That’s the feeling we got arriving there along “Highway 90” which runs through town where many buildings are restored to reflect that wonderful old-time charm of years gone by. We also enjoyed traveling on tree-lined streets while sightseeing through picturesque neighborhoods near the “downtown” area.

Our first trip to the caverns took place in 2016 after a close friend gave such fascinating details about her experiences inside these amazing caves and we knew this was a place to see with our own eyes. Before the visit, we gathered information about the namesake park that harbors these caverns and is situated along the Chipola River which runs down the middle from north to south. More importantly, surveys state that “human beings are known to have used portions of the park for at least 5,000 years” and “two Native American village sites have been recorded.” Now—we were better prepared to take this wonderful Journey of Appreciation.

Purpose and Significance of “Florida Caverns Park”

Our research revealed that the purpose and significance of “Florida Caverns Park” (1,449 acres) is to preserve and interpret irreplaceable natural, historic, and cultural resources for guest enjoyment and recreational uses like hiking, camping, and paddling. Reportedly, there are over 30 dry caves within the “park”, and the dry terrestrial and aquatic caverns feature exceptional geologic formations and habitat for rare species of bats and other cave creatures.

Substantial natural and cultural communities are protected along the Chipola River, which is 80 feet wide and runs 1.9 miles within the “park”, except for the section that is subterranean. It is said that the river disappeared into a sinkhole creating a half-mile long natural land bridge which was used evasively by Indigenous people. Also, according to geologists, some sands in the “park” were derived from erosion of the ancient Appalachian Mountains, said to be among the oldest mountains on earth and extending from Canada to Alabama. Additionally, rare plants (including trillium, mayapple, and bloodroot) associated with the southern Appalachian Mountains, were found near limestone outcrops. These relic plants were highly venerated by First Nation People for their many uses and healing properties.

For instance, trillium root was a sacred female herb, facilitating childbirth and treating female related concerns; mayapple was used to induce vomiting and expel toxins from the body; and bloodroot was nicknamed “warpaint” because red sap bleeds from the roots of the flower and was used as dye for clothing, baskets, and face paint. Our research also revealed many important modern-day medicinal applications utilizing these plants. As a reminder, when foraging in nature, it is always best to rely on experts to accurately identify the plants with edible and healing qualities.

Obviously, the waterways connect us in many fascinating ways.

After entering the “park” and enjoying panoramic forest views along the way, we found out that the cavern “tours” were not available that day. When we arrived at the “visitor center”, it was just past noon and we wanted to see as much of the “park” as possible. Browsing in the museum briefly, we scanned information about the cultural resources consisting of historic structures, ruins, and archaeological sites, with emphasis on the limestone formations inside the popular caverns.

Also, we observed presentations about the “Chatots” (Indigenous People who are reported to have inhabited the area); we saw mannequins staged to portray these people as they might have lived around a cavern shelter; and we viewed artifact displays representing thousands of years of their existence in the “park”. And it has been said that Chatots built low mounds along the Choctawhatchee and Chipola Rivers; and reportedly, they established villages along the Apalachicola River, which originates in Chattahoochee on the “Florida-Georgia border” and runs south through the Panhandle to the Gulf of Mexico at the town of Apalachicola.

Though these were very interesting interpretations and observations, we were anxious to get outside to focus on the natural beauty of the area.

Frankly, we were disappointed about missing the “tour” and we decided to ask for directions to the Tunnel Cave, which affords an opportunity to view the inside of a cave. A “park” ranger kindly gave us directions to the tunnel, which is a 100-foot passage that crosses part of a bluff located at the end of the nature trail. Along the way, we embraced the natural scenery provided by a variety tree species that included oaks, pines, and hickory.

Tunnel Cave adventure begins…

By the time we reached the cave, sunlight was starting to fade and mosquitos were making their presence known, providing great motivation for us to walk fast. The Tunnel Cave adventure begins at this huge rock formation with an opening that requires bending over slightly in order to step inside. Jamal entered without hesitation even as the ranger mentioned possibility of bats occupying the cave. However, once I spotted a dangling spider…then another and another, I lost my nerve to move further into that uncertain dark space. Jamal, being inquisitive, readily walked through the tunnel. It seems that the only light source came from an opening at the other end, so Jamal was only able to get a few pictures to show what I missed. What an exhilarating experience.

Another scenic area to experience before leaving…Blue Hole Spring

The road to Blue Hole Spring was delightful because it felt like a moving meditation with a variety of trees streaming past our window, showcasing species typical in lowland forests (e.g., hickory, red maple, and tupelo). Then…we got a glimpse of the creamy turquoise water at Blue Hole Spring—unforgettable!

As a breathtaking centerpiece in the area, this second magnitude artesian spring maintains a pleasurable 64-degree year-round temperature. And—no matter what direction we wandered (amid greenery of beautiful trees, plants and flowers), it was still difficult to resist turning back for another glance at that milky, aqua colored water. By any stretch of the imagination, this natural setting has all the makings of a paradise meant for people to enjoy, while providing a generous habitat for many animal friends.

Continuing to “explore” the area, it is easy to envision a large family reunion taking place, where everyone could enjoy themselves with options like taking a nature hike to the boardwalk overlooking the spring, going for a refreshing swim, or simply being alone in peaceful reflection. We certainly embraced this beautiful moment of serenity.

Also, we were impressed by towering bald cypress trees as they graced the shoreline, proudly displaying plenty of knobby knees that provide oxygenation and stability. Later, we learned that water from the spring flows south as “Carter’s Mill Branch Run” and then connects with the Chipola River (a tributary of the Apalachicola River). And though we did not witness this marker (‘The Natural Bridge of the Chipola River”), there is a place where the river drops into a deep cave and flows underground for ¼ mile. Again—waterways uniting to connect us.

Here are a few more details related to the Blue Hole Spring that we found interesting:

—Reportedly, in the 1960s, “Carter’s Mill Branch” was transformed into a relatively natural swimming area, the Blue Hole, with a sandy beach and retaining wall.

—The main pool is oval shaped, 100 feet in diameter and about 39 feet deep. An adjacent small pool, Little Blue Hole spring, measured 97.6-foot maximum depth in 1999. Both of these areas cover approximately two acres.

—Nearby signage explains that, “The spring water appears blue to our eyes because it absorbs all other colors in the spectrum and reflects back the color blue.”

—One of two Indigenous village “sites” is located near the Blue Hole swimming area. Research revealed that 24 archaeological sites are recorded in the “Florida Master Site File” and that further surveying of this area would likely disclose the vastness of Indigenous occupation in the area since it is speculated that most Indigenous campsites were situated near cave entrances at this location.

Bidding farewell, we acknowledged this opportunity to honor Indigenous culture in the region. We learned a lot while visiting this wonderful spot and we are looking forward to returning to take the cavern “tour”.

Second visit to “Florida Caverns Park”

We once again felt the charm of “Marianna” as we travelled north on “Highway 166” for another experience at this “park”, which is mostly situated in the Chipola River floodplain, at elevations of 65 to 75 feet above sea level; however, the eastern edge has elevations up to 180 feet. In fact, we stopped to capture some amazing footage at the Chipola River Bridge. Reportedly, eroding limestone bluffs on the east side of the river have created some of the oldest surface formations in “Florida”. Fascinating—we’ll have to take a closer look at the photos taken near the river.

Along this meandering road to the entrance, we were engulfed by panoramic views of forest land, covered with lots of trees and shrubs, with hills and slopes apparent in the background. After parking, the pleasure of being surrounded by beautiful greenery continued along a pathway to the “Visitor Center”. We paused at an information kiosk to see color images and learned more about the trees, plants, and flowers normally found in hardwood forests, such as “Florida” maple, American beech, southern magnolia, and wildflowers like the white funnel shaped Atamasco lily (or ‘rain lily’) and the red bell-shaped columbine. It feels good when we can identify these gifts of nature while walking the trails.

Waiting in the museum for the 45-minute cavern “tour” to begin, we watched a documentary film and read this brief statement on a brochure: “The park’s caves have a long and interesting geologic history. Sea levels were once much higher than today. Shells, coral and sediments, gradually accumulated on the sea floor. As sea levels fell, these materials hardened into limestone. As acidic groundwater dissolved crevices just below the surface, cave passages large enough to walk through were created.” Both the film and brochure interpretations offered perspectives that should be helpful as we explore the caverns.

Soon we joined the “park” ranger and group members for the short walk to the “tour” cave, which was located down a flight of stairs where the entrance was through a wooden doorframe. Approaching this large dark gray rock formation, we noticed patches of green and brown moss covering its outer surface. We asked about a single little plant that was demonstrating its right to live on this limestone structure and the ranger said he thought it might be a hydrangea. Though we were not sure either, we learned later that some hydrangeas do enjoy habitats like shaded ravines, low rocky ledges and bluffs. We are familiar with the oakleaf hydrangea and their large leaves; however, the leaves on this plant have a different shape. And since there are reportedly more than 70 species of hydrangea, perhaps this little plant is one of them.

Once we stepped inside the cave, the temperature dropped, light faded, and WOW-factors skyrocketed! What an unbelievable feeling. I was actually under the ground (some say, 25 feet or more) inside a cave and everything was spectacular—I didn’t know where to look first because there was so much to see. For me, it was like being in a large chocolate factory, trying to decide what to buy. I had to gain composure and focus on this incredible experience.

More limestone rocks greeted us as we were guided through dimly lit tunnels with walls canvased by an array of holes, dimples, lumps, and shells. We carefully maneuvered on uneven dry, and sometimes wet, flooring through a maze of separate cave rooms named to reflect the images portrayed by the dissolving limestone (e.g., rainbow room, “wedding cake room” and waterfall room). Each room was inundated with designs showing “icicle ceilings”, snow-capped mountain peaks, sculpted columns, and mirrored ponds.

The ranger offered conversations about the cave’s indigenous beginnings and explained how dissolving limestone created these formations over the millennia. He even tried to engage our imaginations by shining a flashlight on popular shapes like draperies and ducks, to name a few. However, we found ourselves more interested in seeing the shark’s tooth, sea urchin exoskeleton, and plenty of fossilized sea shells and marine debris (sea biscuits, sand dollars, clams and other animals) in ceilings, walls and floors.

Judging from reactions of most group members, it was thrilling whenever colorful lighting (in red, blue, green and yellow) was used to emphasize various limestone formations in some cave rooms, creating beautiful silhouettes and shapes. The ranger mentioned that the cave’s lighting system causes unnatural algae and moss growth (similar to green patches seen earlier on the outer rock surface near the cave entrance), which requires regular maintenance treatments. With so many other more fascinating things to look at, moss around light sources was not noticeable.

At a certain point during the tour, the ranger wanted everyone to experience what it was really like being inside a cave…without lanterns or electricity. We were asked to remain still and not move around—then he turned off the lights. Wow! I mean…our hands disappeared right in front of us and we were immersed into a world of complete darkness. It was eerie yet thought provoking—and why it is important to acknowledge the ingenuity and instincts of the ancestors, which enabled them to thrive and pass these traits along to their progenies…all of us…as Descendants.

We wanted to learn more about how those incredible images were formed and our research turned up the following brief explanations:

(1) Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcium carbonate. Shells and marine debris accumulated and became cemented together to form calcium carbonate or limestone. Geologists report that limestone formations in the cave passages and exposed along the Chipola River were deposited on the sea floor more than 30 million years ago.

(2) Solution holes gradually form over time as limestone erodes or is dissolved, producing a solution or mixture of rainfall and weak acid called carbonic acid (carbon dioxide dissolved into water). The solution of carbonic acid and calcium carbonate (limestone) forms calcium bicarbonate which when reaching the cavern interior deposits calcite that makes the formations and can even fill the entire cavern.

(3) Speleothems are secondary mineral formations deposited in caverns through a process called dissolution, which occurs when limestone is exposed to acidic water and is slowly dissolved away; their shapes are determined by whether they were deposited by dripping, flowing or seeping water, or in standing pools of water.

(4) Stalactites and Stalagmites are the designers of those captivating “icicle ceilings”, “knobby kneed floors”, and tall columns. These features were created when surface water seeped through limestone dissolving the calcium which dripped from cracks in the ceiling forming stalactites that grow down from the ceiling, and water dripping from these stalactites formed stalagmites, which grow up from cavern floors; and columns form when stalactites and stalagmites meet.

(5) Flowstones are massive deposits produced when water flowing along ledges and down walls leaves behind sheets of calcite and sometimes other minerals. These are the ‘draperies’ that we witnessed. Calcite, or calcium carbonate, is usually coarsely crystalline, densely packed, and colored various shades of tan, orange, and brown. They may be pure white but appear milky because of inclusions of water within the structure.

(6) Rimstones are cave formations made up of calcite and other minerals that look like stairs, often extending into flowstones above or below the original rimstone.

(7) Minerals, visually prominent in some cave natural artwork, add color to formations resembling “ice cream” melting or “soft-serve” swirled on top of a cone, or long rolling layers of volcano lava. Well—these images popped into my mind first… According to the “tour” guide, three minerals are primarily responsible for coloring many cave formations: Calcite or natural calcium carbonate (white creamy or clear); Manganese (black to grayish); and Iron (orange-brown).

(8) Additionally, some sources claim that clay and quartz are other minerals found in the “park”. Indigenous People made tools using Chert (a low-grade flint or flintstone) which occurs in limestone. Flint is a hard, fine-grained quartz that sparks when struck against steel or when two flintstones are struck together and for centuries, fire was made by this method. It is also said that some Clovis spearheads were made using flint. According to some researchers, flint has been one of the most useful types of stones to mankind.

Historians have reported that originally another cave in the “park” was considered before the current “tour” cave was selected and developed into the spectacular cavern shown today. According to exploration records from 1842, “Old Indian Cave—once called the Natural Bridge Cave—is a remarkable historical and geological landmark…” Currently, this cave is under “preservation management” as a sanctuary for hundreds of bats and is unavailable for “touring”.

As we left the area, we expressed gratitude for this unbelievable experience. We most certainly will visit this site again and broaden our knowledge of First Nation People in the northwest region.

You and your family are encouraged to experience this wonderful natural treasure and create your own memories.

Once again, our Journey of Appreciation has placed a spotlight on the universal connectivity that we have with each other. We look forward to continued growth along this path of learning, observing, and sharing with kindness and love.