Oregon Caves Historic District

Oregon Caves Historic District covers 60 acres (240,000 m) in the main visitor area of Oregon Caves National Monument in southern Oregon. The district includes four primary buildings plus two other structures. Because of the unique rustic architecture of these National Park Service buildings and the surrounding park landscape, the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Elijah Davidson discovered the Oregon Caves in 1... more

Oregon Caves Historic District covers 60 acres (240,000 m) in the main visitor area of Oregon Caves National Monument in southern Oregon. The district includes four primary buildings plus two other structures. Because of the unique rustic architecture of these National Park Service buildings and the surrounding park landscape, the area was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Elijah Davidson discovered the Oregon Caves in 1874 while bear hunting near Sand Mountain (now renamed Mount Elijah after Davidson). While Native Americans may have known of the caves prior to Davidson’s discovery, no evidence of earlier exploration or use has been found. Thus, Davidson is credited with being the first person the enter the caves. In 1907, Joaquin Miller visited the caves. After his visit, he wrote an article that highlighted the cave’s unique beauty. The article gave the caves nation-wide exposure. Under authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, Federal Government ordered a... less