Cave Research Foundation

Information about Cave Research Foundation

Approaching a cave entrance, NPS Photo

The Cave Research Foundation (CRF) is an American private, non-profit group dedicated to the exploration, research, and conservation of caves. The group arose in the early 1950s from the exploration efforts at Floyd Collins Crystal Cave, now within Mammoth Cave National Park. Its stated goals were to: to promote exploration and documentation of caves and karst areas, initiate and support cave and karst research, aid in cave conservation and protection, and to assist with the interpretation of caves and karst to the public.

Growth

CRF officially incorporated in 1957 under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Guadalupe Cave Survey, explorers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, became part of CRF in 1971. In 1976, cave survey at Sequoia National Park/Kings Canyon National Park, California, and Buffalo National River, Arkansas, became CRF projects. Additional cave projects in Cumberland Gap National Historic Park, Kentucky, Lava Beds National Monument, California, Ozark National Scenic Riverway, Missouri, and China, have been included as operation areas of the CRF.

Focus

Starting with Mammoth Cave National Park, CRF work has primarily focused on United States federal lands---particularly within United States National Parks. As such, the CRF has been involved with several of the major cave exploration achievements of the 20th Century. In particular, CRF mapping at Mammoth Cave, Kentucky led to its documentation as the world's longest known cave.

Since its inception, CRF has primarily been concerned with cave mapping. Thus, its membership draws experienced cavers, particularly those interested in cave surveying and cartography.

Scene at Slaughter Canyon Cave, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, NPS Photo

Cave Books

Cave Books, founded in 1981, is the non-profit publishing affiliate of the Cave Research Foundation. It is perhaps the world’s largest publisher of books on caves, karst, and speleology. Cave Books is staffed by volunteers, and the Managing Editor is Paul Jay Steward.

Notable CRF Cartographers and Authors

James "Jim" Borden: Lead explorer of Roppel Cave, Coauthor of Beyond Mammoth Cave
Peter and Ann Bosted: Noted Cave Photographers
Roger Brucker, Explorer and coauthor of The Caves Beyond, Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins, The Longest Cave, and Beyond Mammoth Cave: A Tale of Obsession in the World's Longest Cave.
Patricia Crowther , explorer and computer programmer
Will Crowther , explorer and computer programmer
Joel Despain: noted cartographer; author of Crystal Cave: a guidebook to the underground world of Sequoia National Park and Hidden Beneath the Mountains: The Caves of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park
Chris Groves, Ph.D., CRF President 2004-2006, Professor, Western Kentucky University Department of Geography, Director, Hoffman Environmental Research Institute
Patricia Kambesis: former president of CRF, cave cartographer. Coauthor of Deep Secrets: The Discovery and Exploration of Lechuguilla Cave.
Arthur N. Palmer, Ph.D.: highly-respected karst scientist, author of several books on cave geology.
Patty Jo Watson, Ph.D.: pioneer in ethnoarcheology, Member, National Academy of Sciences.
Richard "Red" Watson, Ph.D.: author of numerous books on caves and philosophy.
William B. White, Ph.D.: highly-respected karst scientist, author of several books on karst hydrology.

External links

Cave Research Foundation website

Motto
"In God We Trust" (since 1956)
"E Pluribus Unum" ("From Many, One"; Latin, traditional)
Anthem
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A non-profit organization (abbreviated "NPO", also "non-profit" or "not-for-profit") is a legally constituted organization whose primary objective is to support or to actively engage in activities of public or private interest without any commercial or monetary profit purposes.
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cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter. Some people suggest that the term 'cave' should only apply to cavities that have some part which does not receive daylight; however, in popular usage, the term includes smaller spaces like sea caves, rock
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2nd millennium
Centuries: 19th century - 20th century - 21st century

1920s 1930s 1940s - 1950s - 1960s 1970s 1980s
1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
1955 1956 1957 1958 1959

- -
- The 1950s
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Location Kentucky, USA
Nearest city Cave City
Coordinates
Area 52,835 acres (214 km²)
Established July 1, 1941
Total visitation 597,934 (in 2006)
Governing body National Park Service
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Karst topography is a landscape shaped by the dissolution of a soluble layer or layers of bedrock, usually carbonate rock such as limestone or dolomite. These landscapes display distinctive surface features and underground drainages, and in some examples there may be little or no
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19th century - 20th century - 21st century
1920s 1930s 1940s - 1950s - 1960s 1970s 1980s
1954 1955 1956 - 1957 - 1958 1959 1960

Year 1957 (MCMLVII
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Commonwealth of Kentucky

Flag of Kentucky Seal
Nickname(s): Bluegrass State
Motto(s): United we stand, divided we fall

Official language(s) English^[1]

Capital Frankfort

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Location New Mexico, U.S.
Nearest city Carlsbad
Coordinates
Area 46,766.45 acres
(46,427.26 federal)
189.
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State of New Mexico

Flag of New Mexico Seal
Nickname(s): Land of Enchantment / Tierra del Encanto
Motto(s): Crescit eundo

Capital Santa Fe
Largest city Albuquerque
Largest metro area
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Location California, USA
Nearest city Visalia
Coordinates
Area 404,051 acres (1,635 km²)
Established October 1, 1890
Total visitation 954,507 (in 2006)
Governing body
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Location California, USA
Nearest city Fresno
Coordinates
Area 461,901 acres (1,869 km²)
Established March 4, 1940
Total visitation 552,766 (in 2006)
Governing body National Park Service
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Buffalo River, located in northern Arkansas, is the United States' first National River. The entire Buffalo River is slightly over 150 miles in length, of which the lower 135 miles sit within the boundaries of the area managed by the National Park Service where it is designated the
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State of Arkansas

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Nickname(s): The Natural State (current),
The Land of Opportunity (former)
Motto(s): Regnat Populus (The People Rule)

Official language(s) English

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Cumberland Gap (el. 1600 ft./488 m.) is a pass through the Cumberland Mountains region of the Appalachian Mountains, also known as the Cumberland Water Gap. Famous in American history for its role as the chief passageway through the central Appalachians, it was an important
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Location Northern California, USA
Nearest city Klamath Falls, Oregon
Coordinates
Area 46,560 acres (188.4 km²)
Established 21 November, 1925
Total visitation 107,475 (in 2005)
Governing body
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State of Missouri

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Nickname(s): The Show Me State
''
Motto(s): Salus populi suprema lex esto
Before Statehood Known as
The Missouri Territory

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