Topic: Dunbar Cave

Friends of Dunbar Cave spread the mulch

By Debbie Boen | April 1, 2008 |

On March 29th, Friends of Dunbar Cave and other volunteers spread Christmas tree mulch to areas around the dam, parking lot and picnic tables at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. They started this job at 9 am and were done by noon. The 39 volunteers included members of Den 11, Pack 509, Tiger Den, Pack 565, and many other lovers of the park.

The rain held off in the cool weather. The young worked with the old, all sharing pride in their hard work and accomplishment. The Friends of Dunbar Cave send out a hearty thanks to all who volunteered. «Read the rest of this article»

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Recent discovery adds to Dunbar Cave’s collection of ancient art

By Debbie Boen | March 9, 2008 |

In February Dr. Jan F. Simek, distinguished Professor of Science at UT Knoxville, came to Dunbar Cave to confirm a finding made by Dunbar Cave Staff, Nathan Smith.  Dr. Simek has concluded that it is indeed an Indian artwork in the category of a mud glyph. This means that Dunbar Cave has all three types of cave art that are possible: petroglyphs, pictographs and mud glyphs.

The first type of art is petroglyphs, images carved or incised into rock by prehistoric or neolithic peoples. Dunbar Cave has several drawings of this nature. They are concentric circles that are carved into the rock with a design similar to the pictograph shown at the right. These carvings are found along the cave tour but are very difficult to see.

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Winter scenes at Dunbar Cave

By Christine Anne Piesyk | February 1, 2008 |

Away from the traffic and chaos triggered by Thursday’s unexpected icy snowfall, Clarksville Online author and photographer Debbie Boen enjoyed the solitude, silence and peaceful beauty of the Dunbar Cave landscape in winter. She gives these images from one of Clarksville’s natural treasures.

The view from the mouth of the cave

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Clarksville residents interviewed for new Dunbar Cave film

By Debbie Boen | January 20, 2008 |

Clean Cut Productions at APSU is making a short introductory film for Dunbar Cave. This film will introduce Dunbar Cave to its visitors and talk about how the cave was formed, its cultural history, and how it is a natural area. The Friends of Dunbar Cave is sponsoring the costs of production.

The mouth of Dunbar Cave providing 58 degree natural air-conditioning. Picture taken in 1890 and hand colored for postcard.

“I remember when Dizzy Dean, the famous pitcher turned sportscaster, and Joe Namath, came to a huge golf tournament at Roy Acuff’s newly built golf course,” (now Swan Lake Golf Course). “They gave out baseballs with Dizzy Dean’s autograph on them. I think I still have mine somewhere. That was when Joe Namath had just gone pro,” says Jerry Clark in a recent filmed interview at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area.

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Experts examine Dunbar Cave graffiti; questions asked, answered

By Debbie Boen | January 12, 2008 |

When you see the amount of graffiti on the walls inside Dunbar Cave, you can’t help but feel shameful about that horrible violation to the cave.

Thousands of scribbled signatures cover the fragile walls of this living underground environment. One visitor commented, “I wonder if there was a time when each person was handed a marker as they were going into the cave?” Visitors also see little of natural stalactites or stalagmites; many of them were taken down either through vandalism or for grinding up into mineral waters.

Nathan Smith, David Britton and Ranger Adam Neblett

A one-quarter mile length of cave on the tour shows very tiny drips of new growth on the ceilings and floors. The cave owners since 1973, the State of Tennessee, have been preserving the cave from vandalism. «Read the rest of this article»

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Wildlife panels at Burgess Falls State Park to detail Tennessee ecology, wildlife

By Christine Anne Piesyk | November 7, 2007 |

Tennessee plays habitat to much wildlife in the form of mammals, amphibians, fish, insects, trees, shrubs and plants. State Natural Areas are dedicated to preserving nature. Can you recognize a Tennessee flying squirrel, nuthatch, snapping turtle, maiden hair fern, sycamore, and a queen snake? Have you ever seen an American toad, great horned owl, alumroot and northern hemlock?

Clarksville artist Debbie Boen has been living a ‘wild life’ with such creatures for the past 21 months as she created and recently completed drawing the pictures for panels to be installed at Burgess Falls State Park in Tennessee. This artistic project required the rendering of three panels representing a woodland, lake and stream bank areas. Altogether, the panels illustrate 15 specific trees, 37 plants and flowers, 41 insects and 65 mammals, birds, fish and amphibians. «Read the rest of this article»

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Dunbar Cave hosts Haunted History tours

By Christine Anne Piesyk | October 27, 2007 |

Over 200 people turned out for the first of two evenings of Haunting History at Dunbar Cave Friday. This annual event includes a modified nighttime cave tour with young actors from the Roxy Regional Theater performing informational skits inside cave chambers on the the history and ecology of the caves.

Tiki torches lit the path along the lake leading up the caves, where ironically it was warmer in the static temperature of the caves than it was outdoors. Guests could take away the chill of cool 50 degree air with a warm cup of apple cider or chocolate.

Among the skits inside were a presentation by Ally Campbell, Aaron Juvera, Della Coleman and Elizabeth Coleman (above left), who answered haunting questions about cave art.

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Dunbar readies ‘Haunting History’ tours

October 24, 2007 |

For the 8th year running, Friends of Dunbar Cave brings Haunting History right before Halloween. Visitors can see exciting and fun skits performed inside Dunbar Cave on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27 between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The $5 per person entry fee goes toward maintaining, preserving and promoting Dunbar Cave State Natural Area. Parking is free.

At different “stages” inside the cave, talented young performers from the Roxy Regional School of the Arts, directed by Roxy regional Theater Stage Manager Ellie Ellis, will presents skits. These historically based vignettes won’t scare you but while being entertained, will offer information about bats and other critters, the haunting history of the cave, and Native American art in the cave.

No reservation is needed. Guided tours leave the Visitor’s Center every 15-20 minutes. «Read the rest of this article»

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