Whether underground, underwater or within ice, caves have attracted explorers since the days of early man. Adventurers and scientists have long entered these hidden chambers in search of their astonishing stone formations, unusual wildlife and the thrill of exploring part of nature that few have seen. Contemporary cavers often combine their spelunking skills with photographic expertise to bring these extraordinary places to light.

 “Caves: A Fragile Wilderness,” a traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institution, looks at the unique and mysterious environment of caves. The exhibition’s 39 color photographs were taken by 23 National Speleological Society members who have explored and photographed caves from Alaska to Malaysia.

The exhibition opens Feb. 3 and runs through April 1.

Caves provide essential habitats for unique plants and animals, some of which spend their entire lives in a dark, underground world. Caves are found in every state in the United States, as well as in most countries in the world. They come in all sizes and shapes and degrees of decoration. Some are wet and some are dry. And no two are the same.

Caves, however, are endangered by human activities both under and above ground.  Carelessness, ignorance, as well as intentional vandalism can quickly—and permanently—damage a cave, its formations, its environment, and the plants and animals that live in it.  Once destroyed, a cave and its contents cannot be recovered.

“Caves are a habitat that is usually out-of-sight, out-of-mind, but Virginia’s caves are part of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. That means that every drop of water that drips in a Virginia cave or flows through it ends up in the Chesapeake Bay,” says Judy Molnar, education associate at the Virginia Living Museum and a member of the Virginia Cave Board.

Molnar says, “not many people get to see caves because it is a hobby that not everyone embraces. But people can go to a commercial cave and appreciate how beautiful and how fragile they are.”

The exhibition was organized by the National Museum of Natural History in cooperation with the National Speleological Society, the largest caving organization in the world. It is circulated by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.

National Speleological Society members include explorers who discover new passages, biologists who study the secrets of life in caves, cartographers who define and map caves, and cave specialists who develop plans to protect and manage cave resources.  NSS members volunteer thousands of hours a year to clean caves and restore damaged formations.

After viewing the photographs, visitors can explore the museum’s Underground Gallery where they can see the striking features and creatures of a limestone cave typically found in Virginia.

The museum is located at 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, I64, exit 258A.

Winter hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $13 adults and $10 children (ages 3-12). Group rates are available for groups of ten or more.

For more information call 757-595-1900 or visit the web site at www.thevlm.org. Call 757-595-9135 for group reservations.

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