When A.C. Neff and Isaac Golladay lowered themselves into the unknown depths below the Neff farm in 1884, they took the first steps in an exploration that has fascinated millions of visitors. The two teenaged boys were the first to see the underground wonders of Shenandoah Caverns, one of the oldest attractions in Virginia�s Shenandoah Valley.

Significant exploration did not take place until 1888 but the public got its first glimpse of the caverns� colorful formations and vaulted rooms on May 30, 1922, when Shenandoah Caverns opened for business. On the same date, the Lincoln Memorial was being dedicated 100 miles away in Washington, D.C.

Caverns owner Hunter B. Chapman erected a hotel above the caverns entrance, which, combined with the nearby railroad line and U.S. Route 11, guaranteed a steady stream of visitors from throughout America and around the world. Among the galaxy of famous people who have thrilled at the underground formations are actress Greta Garbo, who stayed at the hotel with her mother and sister. Both President Herbert Hoover and his vice-president, Charles Curtis, visited as private citizens. Hudson Maxim, the inventor of smokeless powder, visited as well as socialites from the Astor and Vanderbilt families. Authors Joe Mitchell Chapple and Bob Davis and Pony Express rider Bull Montana also toured the caverns� many rooms. Foreign ambassadors and even the Dali Lama have made the journey to the Shenandoah Valley to see this natural wonder. Shenandoah Caverns was also the scene of many �first� events. The first movies filmed underground were made at Shenandoah Caverns by the Hearst International News Service and shown around the world as part of newsreel coverage. The first telephone system installed underground placed telephones at various points in the caverns with access �to the entire Bell System,� as reported by a newspaper of the day. Bob Davis, a correspondent for the fabled New York Sun filed the first newspaper story from a cavern, using the underground telephone. The first elevator in a cavern was installed at Shenandoah Caverns in 1932, hand dug through 60 feet of limestone. Shenandoah Caverns remains Virginia�s only cavern with an elevator. Ownership of the caverns passed to H.B. Long in 1948. The hotel was renovated in 1951. Struck by a disastrous fire in 1957, the hotel closed but the lodge building was again renovated and continued to function as the entrance to the caverns and gift shop.

Earl C. Hargrove bought Shenandoah Caverns in 1966. He added a second attraction in 1996 on the second floor of the lodge building. Main Street of Yesteryear is an exhibition of antique department store window displays. �These are the kinds of beautiful, moving window displays that families used to visit on Main Streets across America at holiday time,� says Mr. Hargrove.

A third attraction, added in 2000, occupies a separate 40,000-square-foot building. American Celebration on Parade exhibits famous parade floats, props and settings from important events in America�s entertainment and political history. Floats from the Rose Parade, Presidential Inaugurals and other prestigious parades share space with settings from world summit meetings and other events.

All three attractions are available for a single admission price. Shenandoah Caverns is open all year and is located one mile from Exit 269 of I-81, four miles north of New Market, Virginia. Visit www.shenandoahcaverns.com for further information.

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Contact: Marvin Bond 301-306-4665