Photos: Kartchner Caverns through the years
Look through the gallery to view photos of Kartchner Caverns since its discovery up to its public opening in 1999.
Kartchner Caverns
Visitors look over an exhibit about the Big Room. The Underground Microbiology Exhibit focuses on invertebrate life in Kartchner Caverns.
Kartchner Caverns
Stalactites hang from the celing of part of the Big Room at Kartchner Caverns State Park near Benson, Ariz. on Thursday Oct. 6, 2003. David Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Randy Tufts silhouetted in Big Room (Arizona Sunset Underground) in Kartchner Caverns. (Mandatory photo credit: Steve Holland)
Kartchner Caverns
Soda Staws, stalagmites and columns in the Shelf Passage of Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Stalactites at Mud Flats in the Big Room in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects
Kartchner Caverns
Soda Staws and stalagmites in the Shelf Passage of Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Orange drapery in upper Rotunda room, backlit by Steve Holland in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Forest of soda straws in Mushroom Passage of Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
A mushroom stalagmite in Mushroom Passage of Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Angel wing shield, side view of Steve Holland in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Angel Wing shield (side view) in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Roland Browne and Angel wing shield in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Big Room at Kartchner Caverns State Park. Courtesy of Arizona State Parks
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
A water droplet hangs on a formation in Kartchner Caverns State Park on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
A caver is silhouetted in Strawberry Room in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Kubla Khan column (58 feet tall) from Throne Room with Anita Pape at the base in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Soda Straws and small columns in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Long (approx 10 foot) soda straw in Mushroom Passage of Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects, Inc
Kartchner Caverns
Dave Dalton in raft near Angel Wing shield in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Deb Buecher, Dave Dalton in rafts near Pirate's Den in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Soda Straws on ledge at Throne Room Overlook in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Bottom of a stalagmite exposed in the ceiling of Shelf Passage in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit to K.L. day & Arizona Conservation projects
Kartchner Caverns
Multicolored, backlit bacon draperies at Throne Room Overlook in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K.L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Debbie Buecher in crawlway near the Pop-up in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Steve Holland at entrace to Throne Room in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K.L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Backlit stalactites and stalagmites at entry to Throne Room in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K.L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Mass of helictites at top of column at Throne Room in Kartchenr caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K.L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Randy Gruss kneeling at right in Kartchner caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K.L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Close up of helictites in Echo Passage in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects,Inc.
Kartchner Caverns
Helictites, stalagmites and soda straws in Echo Passage in Kartchner Caverns. Mandatory photo credit: K. L. Day & Arizona Conservation Projects
Kartchner Caverns
A trail past formations in Kartchner Caverns State Park is shown in this undated photograph from Arizona State Parks. (Credit: Courtesy Arizona State Parks via Cronkite News Service)
Kartchner Caverns
Stalactite formations drip with water - a sign of a healthy cave - in the Big Room at Kartchner caverns. Photo by Chris Richards.
Kartchner Caverns
A "fried egg" cave formation in the Big Room at Kartchner caverns, part of the cave system. Photo by Chris Richards. Assign.
Kartchner Caverns
Park Ranger Ginger Nolan is dwarfed by the cave formations in the Big Room. Photo by Chris Richards.
Kartchner Caverns
A "cave popcorn" formation in the Big Room at Kartchner caverns. Photo by Chris Richards.
Kartchner Caverns
Dr. Rickard Tomey, Cave Resources Manager for Kartchner Caverns State Park, looks over stalagmites, stalactites, and columns in the Big Room, November of 2003. Photo by David Sanders.
Kartchner Caverns
Known as cave "bacon" water buildup took thousands of years, as seen in the Big Room. Photo by David Sanders.
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park 'big room' on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park near the entrance to the cave on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park in the 'big room' on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of crystal calcite formed by fracture in the rock that let water to seep through the limestone said Bob Casavant with the UA and State Park, while in Kartchner Caverns State Park on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park in the biggest expanse in the 'big room' on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star
Kartchner Caverns
Photo of Kartchner Caverns State Park on November 13, 2006 near Benson, Ariz. Photo by Dean Knuth/Arizona Daily Star