Most people picture daring Victorian explorers when they think of America’s first cave adventurers. But long before them, in the 1830s, an enslaved man named Stephen Bishop risked everything to map the depths of Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave. 🌑🔥
Armed with only a lantern and sheer courage, he crossed the terrifying “Bottomless Pit,” discovered miles of uncharted passages, and etched his legacy into the stone itself — even though history nearly buried his name.
His story isn’t just about caves — it’s about resilience, brilliance, and a legacy carved in darkness.
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