Making Their Mark: The Signature of Slavery at Mammoth Cave

by Joy Medley Lyons

THE LEGACY OF THE BLACK GUIDES OF THE CAVES OF EDMONSON COUNTY KENTUCKY; FREED AND ENSLAVED GUIDES AND HOTEL SERVANTS, SHARING THEIE MEMORIES.

Genres: History

71 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Celeste]

Quick read regarding the history of the first enslaved guides of Mammoth Cave. It had a lot of historical information, and yet I felt left wanting more. Possibly the feelings and personal details have been lost to history. There were excerpts from letters of visitors. I wish there would’ve been whole accounts included, as that shows the full perspective of the details presented in the letters.

There were some dated terms regarding race in the book (mulatto), which was the term historically used. Bi-racial would’ve been more appropriate, explaining the historically used term (for example, it is written that way in census records shared). Using the term enslaved and enslavers versus slaves and masters would humanize those in bondage better.

There was a common theme of the enslaved guides and workers at Mammoth Cave being treated “better” than elsewhere. Yet there is an account of a white half brother of a bi-racial guide, selling his half-nieces and nephews. While it did appear they may have been granted more “privileges,” they were still enslaved. I believe the author’s intentions were to honor the subjects covered.

This book was recommended by a couple guides at the park, as the most informative historically. My hope is someone builds upon it and fleshes out details a bit more if possible.

[Amanda Morrison]

A quick read but without a doubt, an important read! This was a great addition to everything I learned from the park rangers during my stay in Mammoth Cave about Stephen Bishop and the other slaves who were Mammoth’s first tour guides. The last two lines of the book were perfect and brought a little tear to my eyes.

[Jeanette]

I highly recommend that everyone who visits Mammoth Cave National Park reads this. We cannot divorce the history of slavery from the formation of many national parks, and it's so meaningful to know the names of some of the people who colonial history assumed forgotten.

[Joe Archer]

Picked up on our trip to Mammoth Cave National Park. I appreciate the author calling attention to the legacy of slavery at the park, I was just hoping for a little more information than was provided on the historic tour. The book was short and added few additional details.

[Nancy Snyder]

An interesting account of the black slaves that served as guides to the Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Little is known about these men and their personal thoughts and feelings of being the first in many cases to walk this extraordinary National Park. I would like to have met the intelligent and charismatic guide...and hero, Stephen Bishop.

[Renee]

Like another reviewer I appreciate the good start, but hope a less guarded honest book might follow I haven’t heard the term maloto used in years, and issue of rape of slave women completely ignored. But we have to start somewhere

[Carter]

This was a very interesting book I truly enjoyed learning so much about Mammoth Cave all the hard work the salivary men and women contributed to this beautiful National Park.

[Sandra Oldfield]

Great overview little gem of an amazing place explored and maintained by amazing people

[K.C. Norton]

There were definitely times where the author romanticized or overlooked certain issues within her own text. There was some interesting information here but I’m not sure I would recommend this.

[Amy]

Nice overview of the men who mapped and discovered much of the caves while living as slaves and in the aftermath of the Civil War.