Humorist Will Rogers called it the Grand Canyon with a roof over it. National Geographic said that for scenic quality, it is king of its kind. The world agrees -- it is one of Earth's great wonders. And yet, the dramatic exploration of Carlsbad Caverns began only a century ago.

More in a moment . . .

It was a prehistoric Indian who discovered Carlsbad Caverns a few hundred years ago. We know this from pictographs on the entrance walls and mescal cooking pits in the area. But since caves are dark, it is unlikely that the prehistoric visitor made it past the area of natural light.

After the West had been settled in the late 1800's, exploration of the caverns began -- slowly, one step at a time. The earliest recorded visit was in 1883 when a man lowered his 12 year-old son into the cave. But Rolth Sublett didn't go far . . . once again -- caves are dark.

The real exploration began in 1901 with a cowboy named James Larkin White. What he found, no man had seen before. White's descent took him past stalactites, stalagmites, and other exotic cave formations. His adventure must have seemed like a journey to the center of the Earth.

White was so excited about his subterranean discoveries that he wanted the whole world to know. He told everyone who would listen of his findings. Word spread in every-widening circles. National Monument status came in 1923, and Carlsbad Caverns became America's 26th National Park in 1930. Nearly 30 million people have visited the park over the years. And the exploration continues.

To explore the natural wonders of Carlsbad Caverns, visit the park, located about 27 miles southwest of the city of Carlsbad.