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County: Rockcastle

Great Saltpeter Cave

Marker Number: 

715

Location: 

S. of Mt. Vernon, US 25

"Big Cave," five miles SE, source of organic material for production of gun powder from 1797 through Civil War. Important supply during War of 1812. Great rooms with passageway through mountain and interior water stream permitted manufacture inside of the cave. Working by torchlight as many as 70 laborers were employed when production was at high point.

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