While the entrance to the caverns were discovered in 1882 by two Whitehall men; Charles Brooke and Mexican John, the the Lewis and Clark caverns were discovered in 1892 by Tom Williams and Burt Pannell, two hunters.  Tom Williams explored the caves 6 years later and then talked to a local investor named Dan Morrison about further developing the cavern for tours.  Until 1908 the caverns were a successful tourist business, when the railroad laid claim to the land and gave it to the federal government and was consequently turned into a National Monument.  In 1937 the state of Montana received its first state park as the federal government declared the Lewis and Clark Caverns a state park.  Even though the name of the park is ‘Lewis and Clark Caverns’ it is believed that Lewis and Clark never visited the caverns, chances are they never knew they existed.

two shots while walking up the trail to the cavern;

The entrance to the caverns;