Penn's Grandest Cavern

Published in 1916, this illustrated edition of Penn’s Grandest Cavern begins with several legends of Penn’s Cave and the surrounding area, followed by a description and history, all compiled and written by Henry W. Shoemaker. His description of the caverns reads like a travel guide, with information about not only the cave but also its formations, such as “The Lobster’s Claw,” “Statue of Liberty,” and “Garden of the Gods.” Shoemaker provided his readership with advice on the best ways to travel to the cave, including appropriate trains to take, and a review of the accommodations there. A history traces the ownership of the property and details its exploration and development into a tourist site. Shoemaker also noted how Penn’s Cave compared to other local caves and their development. This volume presents seven of Shoemaker’s stories relating to Penn’s Cave and Penn’s Valley, including two of his most famous legends: “The Legend of Penn’s Cave” and “Nita-nee: The Indian Maiden for Whom Nittany Mountain Was Named.”

Henry W. Shoemaker (1880–1958) was the author of over twenty volumes of popular Pennsylvania literary folklore and numerous narrative volumes about Pennsylvania’s disappearing wildlife during the first half of the twentieth century. He also served as Pennsylvania’s first State Folklorist from 1948 to 1956.