In the late 1830s, the owner of Mammoth Cave hoped to attract more tourists to the area. One of the key figures in making that happen was a slave named Stephen Bishop. Stephen became one of the most popular guides in the caves history, as well as a brave and savvy explorer, responsible for the expansion of the cave system with his discovery of several 'new' areas like the Bottomless Pit and Ruins of Karnak.
It was stipulated in his owners will that Stephen was to be emancipated seven years after the owners death, and he was finally free in 1856, but unfortunately his story does not have a happy ending.
There is so much more to be said about the role of slaves related to the early exploration and management of Mammoth Cave than what's covered in this episode. For further research, I recommend starting with the following-
*Legendary tour Guides who were Enslaved Americans
A National Council for the Social Studies Publication Number58 • January/February 2017
*Mammoth Cave, Slavery, and Kentucky: Overcoming the Chains that Bind
Susan Farmer Western Kentucky University,
*https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/02/travel/in-kentucky-a-family-at-the-center-of-the-earth.html
*https://www.nps.gov/maca/learn/historyculture/african-american-history.htm
If you'd like to be pen pals, you'd like to send me holiday cards or some homemade jam, my mailing address is:
Jessie Bartholomew
9115 Leesgate Rd, Suite A
Louisville, KY 40222
Email kyhistoryhaunts@gmail.com topic suggestions, feedback or corrections. Connect with the show on Instagram @kyhistoryhaunts and search Kentucky History & Haunts on Facebook. Leave a comment on this episode if you're listening on Spotify and let me know what you think!
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