Mammoth Cave National Park to honor Floyd Collins’ legacy with special history tour in 2025

Contact: Molly Schroer, 270-758-2192

MAMMOTH CAVE, KY - Mammoth Cave National Park will commemorate the 100th anniversary of famed cave explorer, Floyd Collins, with a special Floyd Collins History Tour in February 2025. The tour will visit key locations in Collins' life, including Crystal Cave which has not been actively toured by the public since 1961. Tickets for this limited tour will be distributed by a lottery process through Recreation.gov that will be open from Thursday, Dec. 5 to Wednesday, Dec. 18.

"Floyd Collins's tragic death was a major event for the region that has impacted lives well beyond Kentucky's cave country," said Superintendent Barclay Trimble. "His daring curiosity and discoveries represent a legacy of cave exploration in the Mammoth Cave region that continues today. We are honored to celebrate his life, 100 years later, by inviting the public on this very special tour opportunity."

On January 30, 1925, Floyd Collins became entrapped in the unexplored Sand Cave as he was looking for a new cave to develop for tourism. The rescue attempt was a high-profile national news story that drew thousands of spectators who closely followed the over two-week rescue operation. Despite round the clock work by engineers, geologists, and cavers, Collins tragically died inside the cave before rescue workers could reach him. Collin's rescue attempt was a major news event in the early 20th century with reporters from across the country descending on the rural Kentucky region surrounding Sand Cave to cover the story. The tragedy sparked books, songs, a musical, and brought attention to the competitive nature of cave exploration in the Mammoth Cave region at the time. This attention accelerated a growing movement to turn the cave area into what is now Mammoth Cave National Park.

The Floyd Collins History Tour will include visits to the Collins's family homesite, Sand Cave Overlook, and Mammoth Cave Baptist Church where Collins is buried. The tour will also venture into Collins's famous show cave, Crystal Cave, which boasts beautiful and unique cave formations and large canyon passageways. Tickets for the tour are $50.00 and must be applied for via a lottery system through Recreation.gov. The lottery system will provide an equitable opportunity for everyone interested in attending this limited, yet high-demand event.

Additional events and programs that highlight the Floyd Collins story, history of pre-park communities, and over 200 years' worth of cave exploration at Mammoth Cave will be announced in early 2025, prior to the 100-year commemoration. To see the most up to date information on park events, visit the 100th Anniversary of Floyd Collins website. To learn more about, and apply for, the Floyd Collins History Tour lottery, please visit Recreation.gov.