History
Mercer Caverns was discovered on Sept. 1, 1885 by Walter J. Mercer and is one of the oldest continuously operating show caves in California. Originally known as the New Calaveras Cave, Mercer Caverns has been hosting visitors for over 125 years. Shortly after its discovery and exploration Mr. Mercer began taking the first visitors through the caverns for an admission fee of $0.50 in gold. Those first visitors descended into the caverns on ropes and had only candles to light their way. In the early 1900's one of the first electric lighting systems in a western commercial cave was installed in Mercer Caverns. The first known remains of the ancient Sierra Ground Sloth (megalonyx sierrensis) were discovered in Mercer Caverns. Mercer Caverns won a Grand Prize at the 1900 Paris World Exposition for its delicate crystalline formation of aragonite flos ferri. On August 2, 1985, Mercer Caverns was granted the designation as California Point of Historical Interest #004.
Specialties
Mercer Caverns has been welcoming visitors for cave tours for over 125 years. Mercer Caverns is located near the historic gold mining town of Murphys in the heart of the California Gold Country. Visitors taking a tour of Mercer Caverns descend into the earth by a series of walkways and stairs (208 stairs down and 232 stairs up) eventually to a depth of 161 feet below the earth's surface. The tours pass through underground chambers where visitors will observe a variety of cave formations, including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, draperies, soda straws, cave coral, and helictites, to name a few. At the deepest part of the tour visitors will see a large delicate formation of fine crystals known as aragonite flos ferri for which Mercer Caverns is world famous. Visitors to Mercer Caverns will gain a memorable experience touring a subterranean world of wonders in the Calaveras County Motherlode.