It seemed as though the extraction of the guano was not intended to be a paying proposition, for the Big Cave changed hands many times after that.

Little did any of us know then that the Big Cave, known in later years as the Bat Cave, would some day be worth millions as a sight-seeing attraction and would completely dwarf the income derived from the guano operations.

Of course that eventually came about, beginning in 1923. President Coolidge proclaimed the area Carlsbad Cave National Monument in October of that year, and a great amount of publicity during the years that followed prompted thousands of tourists from all over the world to come to see what some writers have termed "The Eighth Wonder of the World."

Former Owners of Carlsbad Caverns

1905—Santa Fe Railroad. (Owned east portion over Bat Cave. 40 acres.)
1906—C. F. Hagan sells one half to H. F. Patterson of Carlsbad.
March 26, 1906—T. W. Teague of El Paso.
April 19, 1906—The El Paso Guano Fertilizer Company.
April 21, 1908—G. M. Cooke.
September 12, 1909—J. D. Lanford sells to Carlsbad Guano Fertilizer Co.

T. A. Blakely held a patent to the east wing of the Carlsbad Cave, where the guano beds were worked extensively. In 1942 the Government purchased this tract from Mr. Blakely.

Letter from U. S. Congress recognizes Long as cave's discoverer
[Click here to see original negative image.]

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