REPORT OF A VISIT TO THE LURAY CAVERN, IN PAGE COUNTY, 

 VIRGINIA, UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SMITHSONIAN IN- 

 STITUTION, JULY 13 AND 14, 1880. 



During the summer of 1880 a party was sent out by the Smithsoniai® 

 Institution to investigate the famous Luray Cavern in Page County ,. 

 Virginia. An invitation had been extended by Messrs. Cami^bell and 

 Stebbins, the proprietors of the cave, and Mr. Eobert Garrett, vice- 

 president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, courteously granted passes'- 

 over his road. 



The party consisted of Wm. J. Rhees, chief clerk, Daniel Leech, cor- 

 responding clerk, Dr. Charles A. White, geologist, Prof. Charles Rau,. 

 archaeologist. Prof. Otis T. Mason, etjinologist, Prof. Fred. W. Taylor^ 

 chemist, Dr. Elmer R. Rej^nolds, ethnologist, T. W. Sraillie, photog- 

 raj^her, and Prof. J. H. Gore, civil engineer. 



Leaving Washington at 8.35 on the morning of July 12, the tourists^, 

 after passing Point of Rocks, Harper's Ferry, Charlestown, Winchester,, 

 Strasburg, and Woodstock, all made memorable in the late civil war,, 

 arrived at New Market at 2.44 p. m. Having selected quarters for the 

 night, they made an excursion to the "Endless Caverns," about four 

 miles south of the town. These caverns constitute, together, a series 

 of very pretty grottoes, but no examination of them was allowed by the 

 proprietors. INIr. Smillie, however, secured some very fine negatives of 

 valley scenery. 



After a night of refreshing sleep, the explorers were ready to mount 

 Burke's tally-ho early the next morning for a most romantic ride over 

 the Massauutton Mountain to Luray. Nothing could exceed for variety 

 of quiet rural beauty the ever-changing landscape revealed in the great 

 Shenandoah Valley at each turn of the winding ascent. There was 

 plenty of time, as the stage lumbered along, to alight and walk leisurely 

 behind in order to look back over the magnificent amphitheatre. Ar- 

 rived at the crest, all were ordered to mount to their seats in order to 

 " make time" down the tortuous eastern slope to the place of destination. 

 A very picturesque ford of the east fork of the Shenandoah forms the 

 gateway to the lovely Page Valley, having the Blue Ridge in the back- 

 ground. 



Four miles of rolling limestone road brought the travelers to the 

 quaint old town of Luray, straggling along the turnpike, and contain- 

 S. Mis. 31 29 ' 449 



