Mammoth Cave honors the Bransford family during Black History Month

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Mammoth Cave is celebrating Black History Month by remembering a few cave guides from the 1800’s.

The Bransford family were African-American cave guides who began working at Mammoth Cave in 1838.

Nick and Matt Bransford were the first two tour guides of the family, both were enslaved and leased to work at the cave.

On the wall of the Snowball Room at the cave is an inscription quote “To Nick The Guide” written on Aug. 17, 1857.

Following the Civil War, the two continued working for the cave as free men.

Their kids, grandkids and more descendants continued working for the cave.

In fact, one of their descendants, Jerry Bransford still works for the cave during the summer months.

The family left an essential legacy for the cave, according to tour guide Jackie Wheet.