Missouri’s Underground Wonders You Didn’t Know

Missouri is known for Mark Twain, Kansas City BBQ, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Harry S. Truman, but one bizarre fact you might not know about Missouri will surprise you.

Missouri’s Bizarre Underground Cave World

There are so many great things about Missouri, but did you know the Show-Me State has over 7,500 caves scattered throughout the state, according to Love Exploring? I had no idea! I knew there were caves here, but I didn’t realize there were that many.

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Why Missouri Is Known as the Cave State

It may be called the Show-Me State, but it’s also known as the Cave State because of the endless caves waiting to be explored, many of which I’m sure haven’t even been discovered yet.

It seems the number of caves grows each year, and it wouldn’t surprise me if, in a few years, Missouri’s cave count gets close to 10,000.

Famous Caves You Can Visit in Missouri

Some of the best caves you may know include the Mark Twain Cave in Hannibal, the Angel Showers formation in the Ozark Caverns, and the Lily Pad Room in the Onondaga Cave, among others. There’s even a cave where you can learn to scuba dive, or, if you already know how, you can dive in and explore on your own.

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The Growing Number of Missouri Caves

With endless caves to explore, you never know what might still be waiting to be discovered. Maybe a lost treasure from Jesse James, or autographs carved in stone like those inside the Mark Twain Cave. Missouri’s cave systems offer an endless journey through the state’s history, just waiting beneath your feet.