Early History

Cave City was incorporated as a town on February 2, 1866, but its history extends much further back in time. According to available records, James Perry acquired 200 acres of the land on which Cave City is now situated by land grant in 1798. In 1811 Henry Rountree, as assignee of James Perry, conveyed this tract to John Owen for the sum of $19.00. Owen added 142 1/2 acres to the original tract, and at his death, the entire 342 ½ acres were conveyed to Thomas T. Duke for the sum of $1,732.00.

In October 1853, Mr. Duke conveyed the entire tract to the Knob City Land Company of Louisville, which envisioned the place as a resort town due to its proximity to Mammoth Cave, widely regarded as one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Land Company paid $6,850.00 for the town site, or $20.00 per acre, the largest price ever paid for land at that time in Barren County.

This tract of land was also chosen for its proximity to the Telford Turnpike, a road built to join Louisville and Nashville before the advent of the railroad. This arterial highway was heavily used by both armies during the War Between the States, and also served the city and the stage lines that carried passengers north and south through Kentucky. These stage lines were abandoned when the Green River at Munfordville was bridged in 1859 and rail travel the length of Kentucky was possible. Modern-day U.S. Highway 31W follows this historical route.

A third reason for Cave City’s location is that a nearby cave with a small running creek offered a ready water supply. The water from Sink Hole Spring, as it once was called, was the only water supply of the town and was later used by locomotives of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. This cave was the origin of Cave City’s name.

Perhaps the most important event in Cave City’s development was the completion of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. About the year 1858, when James Buchanan was president and Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Douglas were engaged in the memorable debates which eventually led to the presidency for Mr. Lincoln, the first train ran through the city. Storekeepers depended on the railroad to bring their goods to supply their customers, and citizens of the town took short railroad trips to nearby places like Horse Cave and Bowling Green.

Ralph Waldo Emerson and a host of notables from all over the world came to Cave City by train and then took stagecoaches, operated by Andrew McCoy, to visit world-famous Mammoth Cave. The Emperor of Brazil, Don Pedro, was driven to Mammoth Cave by S. J. Preston. Preston gained the respect of the local citizens and the Emperor when he refused to take off his hat in Don Pedro’s presence. Preston declared he took off his hat to no one but God. The Emperor was so pleased with his attitude that he made an attempt to persuade Preston to return to Brazil with him.