Leonard's Cave

This cave was on the property of and owned by the Leonard family near Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee. As caves go, it is a large one. In fact, the opening of Leonard's Cave is larger than the opening of Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. 

Although the cave is still largely unexplored, there is archaeological evidence that the cave, if not inhabited, was definitely used by Native Americans. The cave came to the attention of the Tennessee government in the early 1900s when the state geology department became aware that five skeletons had been found in the cave in the 1920s. Artifacts found in the graves established that Leonard's Cave had served as a burial ground for the Indians. Two of these skeletons have been placed in glass showcases on display in the State Museum in the War Memorial Building in Nashville, Tennessee. 

A large stream runs within the cave at all times. The "spring" in front of the cave is the headwaters of Trace Creek. The cave is unique in that it has a very large room at the entrance. In this large room, on the ceiling, is an imprint of a cow's hoof. How it got there, no one knows. This large entry room has a narrow passageway off to the right that opens up into another large room. Behind that second large room, one ducks down and proceeds through a small opening which reveals a third, smaller room. 

In the 1930s, Leonard's Cave was used as a combination dance and beer hall. It's reported that there was at least one death within the cave during that time frame.