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Meramec Caverns / Attraction in Missouri
Guided-walking tours along well-lighted paved walkways conducted by trained rangers depart every 20-30 minutes starting at 9:00 am. The Cavern Tour takes one hour and twenty minutes to complete, covering 1 ¼ mile round trip. The entire cave complex stretches upwards past the height of a 7-story building. Meramec Caverns is the largest commercial cave in the state of Missouri. European discovery of the caverns was made by Jacques Renault, a French explorer, in 1720. It was used as an ammunition mill during the American Civil War and legend has it that there is a connection with the legendary western outlaw Jesse James. Development of the caverns as a tourist attraction commenced in 1901.
