Media & Research Resources
Primary sources, historical documentation, images, and press materials for journalists, educators, and researchers.
Everything on this page is cleared for editorial use with attribution to Majestic Caverns.
Hours
Fri : 10 AM - 5:30 PM | Sat : 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Sun : 12 PM - 5:30 PM | Mon : 10 AM - 5:30 PM
Closed Tue - Thurs except for group appointment
✨ Limited-Time Early Entry for Spring Break
Open at 9 AM on Saturdays now through April 18
Majestic Caverns at a Glance
• Located in Childersburg, Alabama, within two hours of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta
• Federally documented in 1796 by Benjamin Hawkins, U.S. Superintendent of Indian Affairs during the Washington administration
• Among the earliest federally recorded natural landmarks in the United States
• Listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage (1976)
• Archaeologically documented Woodland-period Indigenous site with Copena burial traditions
• Civil War saltpeter mining evidence remains visible inside the cave today
• Purchased by Ida E. Brandon Mathis in 1912 and preserved by the Mathis family
• Opened to the public as a show cave in 1965
• Family owned and operated for over a century
• Welcomes approximately 30,000 to 70,000 guests annually
Primary Sources & Historical References
The following sources support the historical information presented throughout the site:
• Letters of Benjamin Hawkins, 1796–1806 — Georgia Historical Society and University of Georgia Libraries
• Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage — Alabama Historical Commission
• Encyclopedia of Alabama — Majestic Caverns article
• University of Alabama archaeological studies documenting Woodland-period burials and Copena traditions
• Alabama Women’s Hall of Fame — Ida Elizabeth Brandon Mathis
• Regional Civil War records documenting saltpeter mining operations in Alabama caves
• Additional documentation available upon request
Downloadable Photo Media Kit
All assets are approved for editorial use with attribution to Majestic Caverns.
Photography (High Resolution)
Cave interiors and formations
Healing All Cathedral Chamber
Underground waterfall
Civil War saltpeter mining features
Family stewardship and ownership photos
Exterior entrance and grounds and attractions
Graphics to Download
Story Angles for Writers
A Living Landmark for America’s 250th Anniversary
For journalists and educators exploring coverage or curriculum topics:
• A federally documented cave from the Washington administration still open to the public
• Indigenous heritage and archaeological preservation in Alabama
• Civil War saltpeter mining and wartime industry inside natural caves
• The rare continuity of a family-owned historic landmark
• Living cave formations still actively growing
• Heritage tourism and educational field trips in the Southeast
• A century of preservation by one Alabama family
About Majestic Caverns
A Living Landmark for America’s 250th Anniversary
Majestic Caverns is a family-owned historic site located in Childersburg, Alabama. The limestone cavern was officially documented in 1796 by Benjamin Hawkins during the Washington administration and is listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage for its archaeological and historical significance.
The site contains documented Indigenous heritage, visible Civil War saltpeter mining features, and more than a century of preservation under the stewardship of the Mathis family, who purchased the property in 1912. The caverns opened to the public as a show cave in 1965 and continue to operate today as an educational and heritage destination.
Majestic Caverns remains one of the few historically documented natural landmarks in the United States that is both privately preserved and continuously open to the public.
Fact Sheets & Documents
Media Contact
For interviews, research requests, or additional materials:
press@majesticcaverns.com
256.379.7252
Location & Media Access
Majestic Caverns is located in Childersburg, Alabama, within easy driving distance of Birmingham, Montgomery, and Atlanta.
The site offers ample parking and year-round access for visiting families, school groups, and media crews.
Guided cave tours operate in a climate-controlled 60° environment, allowing filming and photography opportunities regardless of outdoor weather conditions.
Majestic Caverns features a wide, gently sloped tunnel entrance that allows wheeled access into the cavern system.
Unlike many caves that require stairs or narrow passages, the primary entrance is large enough to accommodate utility vehicles, rolling camera cases, and professional media equipment when coordinated in advance.
This unique access has made Majestic Caverns particularly well suited for:
• documentary filming
• historical features
• educational programming
• broadcast and digital media production
All filming activity, equipment transport, and on-site coordination must be arranged in advance and is subject to site approval.
press@majesticcaverns.com
Address
5181 DeSoto Caverns Parkway
Childersburg, Alabama 35044
Phone
(256) 378-7252
