Russell Cave National Monument in Northern Alabama

Russell Cave National Monument is located in northeastern Alabama near the Tennessee border.

Russell Cave is an archaeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric peoples in the Southeast United States.

Russell Cave National Monument

Contents

Russell Cave National Monument

About Russell Cave National Monument

Russell Cave has been home to prehistoric culture in the southeast for thousands of years.

The cave was carved from geologic forces in the limestone. Russell Cave has produced one of the most comprehensive records of the human habitation of Native Americans.

Artifacts have been found in the cave that dates back 10,000 years.

The National Park Service oversees the park as a National Monument.

The park site includes a visitor center, nature trail, boardwalk to the cave shelter, and picnic area.

The park service has great ranger programs and a Junior Ranger program that is great for all guests.

Is Russell Cave National Monument worth visiting?

Yes, The park offers the visitor to tour the cave from a boardwalk overlook, learn more about prehistoric Indians, and enjoy some epic bird watching.

History of Russell Cave

Russell Cave National Monument is located in northeast Alabama, near the town of Bridgeport. The area is often known as the “TAG” region because the borders of Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia meet.

Over 300 million years ago what is now Alabama was covered by the sea. Over millions of years as waters retreated, limestone gave way to thousands of caverns.

Somewhere between 9,000 and 11,000 years ago, a sinkhole exposed a tunnel beneath the ground.

Over time, falling rocks built up near the entrance to the cave, creating land and easy access inside. It was around 7,000 BC that humans began using the cave as a shelter.

This National Monument is one of the oldest places in America where evidence has shown continuous human activity.

Evidence of humans at Russell Cave come from three main time periods: the Archaic (7,000 BC-500 BC), the Woodland (500 BC-1,000 AD), and the Mississippian (1,000 AD-1,600 AD)

Russell Cave was named after Colonel Thomas Russell from North Carolina. A Revolutionary War veteran, Russell owned the land encompassing the cave during the time period when maps of the area were drawn.

Dating further back, the land was owned by Russell’s brother-in-law, Major James Doran. The surrounding land around Russell cave is named Doran’s Cove in his honor.

Excavations dating back to the Archaic Period unearthed stone points for hunting and remnants of fire pits. Several burials sites including human remains were found dating back from this time period.

The remains ranged in age from infant to 50 years old and were buried in shallow graves. The Native inhabitants of this age likely hunted deer and turkey and fished in the Tennessee River.

They are also credited as the first inhabitants to begin using an atlatl, a long carved stick with an end that held a spear. These tools were very useful for hunting and protection.

Russell Cave during the Woodland Period saw southeastern Native Americans beginning to use the bow and arrow and construct pottery. Archeologists have recovered remnants of both.

Also recovered were collections of seeds from the Chenopodium plant, otherwise known today as Goosefoot.

A small, flowering plant with edible seeds, the Chenopodium plant has traditionally been used as a blood purifier, sedative, and laxative.

Evidence at Russell Cave shows Native Americans were domesticating this planet which means this practice, outdated Natives, in Mexico domesticating maize by 1,000 years.

By the Mississippian Period, Native Americans were beginning to live together in villages near the area and utilizing agriculture to thrive.

Russell Cave was still used during this time, but likely by nomadic peoples or by hunters in the winter.

During the time of the European's appearance, it was the Cherokee Indians who lived in this area of Alabama. There is evidence of their fishing methods within Russell Cave.

Most of these excavations and discoveries took place in the 1950s and 1960s.

In 1953, the Tennessee Archeological Society first recognized Russell Cave as an archeological site when they began the first dig there.

In 1956, the National Geographic Society purchased 310 acres around the cave from landowner Oscar Ridley.

Numerous excavations included digs by the National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Institute, and the National Park Service.

These excavations dug more than 32 feet below the cave floor. Over the years, nearly two tons of artifacts have been excavated from Russell Cave.

Russell Cave has been like a hidden time capsule giving scientists a glimpse into humans, and the animals that once lived in Alabama.

Prehistoric people hunted many of the same animals that are hunted today – raccoon, black bear, grey fox, bobcat, and river otter.

The site has also revealed that animals now nonexistent in Alabama were once hunted – cougars, armadillos, and a species of giant boar called peccary.

The National Geographic Society donated Russell Cave to the U.S. government in 1961 and President John F. Kennedy dedicated it as a National Monument in May of that year.

Many of the priceless artifacts found during excavations can be seen at Russell Cave’s museum where you will also see detailed timelines of the cave’s history.

The area also offers hiking trails, in particular, a section of the North American Birding Trail meanders through the hills near the cave.

Recreational caving is no longer allowed at Russell Cave for the preservation of evidence, living species, and possible future excavations.

One such species is an extremely rare species of scorpion that is only known to exist in one other place on earth.

Each year in May, the site holds a Native American festival where reenactments of Cherokee people and demonstrations of weaponry making are featured.

Sinkhole, Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama

Things to know before your visit to Russell Cave NM

Entrance fee

$0.00 - There is no fee to visit the park.

Learn more about National Park Passes for parks that have an entrance fee.

Free Entrance Days -Mark your calendars with the five free entrance days the National Park Service offers annually.

Time Zone

CST - Central Standard Time

Pets

Pets must remain on a leash during a visit to the park. They are allowed on the trails but are not allowed in the park visitor center.

Cell Service

There is no cell service while at the park.

Park Hours

Daily from 8 am to 4:30 pm

The park is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.

Wi-Fi

There is no Wi-Fi at the park.

Insect Repellent

Insect repellent is always a great idea when outdoors, especially if you are around any body of water.

We use Permethrin Spray on our clothes before our park trips.

Water Bottle

Make sure to bring your own water bottle and plenty of water with you. Plastic water bottles are not sold in the park.

Parking

There is a nice size parking lot at the entrance to the park near the visitor center.

Food/Restaurants

There are no restaurants within the park.

Gas

There are no gas stations within the park.

Drones

Drones are not permitted within National Park Sites.

National Park Passport Stamps

National Park Passport stamps can be found in the visitor center.

Make sure to bring your National Park Passport Book with you or we like to pack these circle stickers so we don't have to bring our entire book with us.

Electric Vehicle Charging

There is 1 EV Charging station within 10 miles of the park.

Details about Russell Cave National Monument

Size - 310 acres

Check out how the park compares to other National Parks by Size.

Date Established

May 11, 1961, the park was established by President John F. Kennedy.

Visitation

In 2021, Russell Cave NM had 22,393 park visitors.

In 2020, Russell Cave NM had 8,462 park visitors.

In 2019, Russell Cave NM had 16,642 park visitors.

Learn more about the most visited and least visited National Parks in the US

Russell Cave NM Address

3729 County Road 98
Bridgeport, AL 35740

GPS Coordinates - DMS: 34°58'43.0"N 85°48'35.2"W / DD: 34.978596, -85.809771

Russel Cave NM Map

Credit - National Park Service

Where is Russell Cave National Monument?

Russell Cave NM is located in far northern Alabama near the border with Tennessee.

Estimated distance from major cities nearby

Chattanooga, TN - 41 miles

Fort Oglethorpe, GA - 48 miles

Fort Payne, AL - 49 miles

Huntsville, AL - 70 miles

Calhoun, GA - 90 miles

Atlanta, GA - 157 miles

Birmingham, AL - 143 miles

Knoxville, TN - 151 miles

Nashville, TN - 117 miles

Memphis, TN - 322 miles

Estimated Distance from nearby National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park - 146 miles

Mammoth Cave National Park - 200 miles

Gateway Arch National Park - 422 miles

Congaree National Park - 387 miles

Shenandoah National Park - 506 miles

New River Gorge National Park - 410 miles

Where is the National Park Visitor Center?

The visitor center is located next to the parking lot.

Getting to Russell Cave National Monument

Closest Airports

Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (CHA)

International Airports

Huntsville International Airport (HSV)

Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Birmingham Shuttlesworth International Airport (BHM)

Regional Airports

Northwest Alabama Regional Airport (MSL)

Knoxville McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS)

Driving Directions

Fort Payne, Alabama (49.6 miles, drive time: 56min):
Follow I-59 N and take exit 231 for AL-40/ AL-117 toward Hammondville/ Valley Head. Turn left onto AL-117 N/ AL-40 W and follow for 1.6 miles. Turn right onto AL-117 N and follow for 23.6 miles.

Turn right to merge on US-72 E/ John T Reid Pkwy toward Bridgeport. Turn left onto Co Rd 75 and follow for 1 mile. Turn right onto Co Rd 98 and follow for 3.7 miles. The entrance to Russell Cave National Monument will be on the left.

Huntsville, Alabama (70 miles, drive time: 1h 10min):
Follow US-72 E/ Hwy 72 E from Huntsville to Bridgeport. Turn left onto Co Rd 75 and follow for 1 mile.

Turn right onto Co Rd 98 and follow for 3.7 miles. The entrance to Russell Cave National Monument will be on the left.

Chattanooga, Tennessee (42.7 miles, drive time: 47min):
Follow I-24 W toward Nashville/ Birmingham for 27 miles, following signs for Nashville. Take exit 152A for US-64/ US-72 W toward US-41/ Kimball/ South Pittsburg.

Follow US-72 W for 8.4 miles into Alabama. Turn right onto Co Rd 75 and follow for 1 mile. Turn right onto Co Rd 98 and follow for 3.7 miles. The entrance to Russell Cave National Monument will be on the left.

Nashville, Tennessee (119 miles, drive time: 1h 48min):

Use I-40 E to merge onto I-24 E/ Knoxville/ Chattanooga. Stay on I-24 E, following signs for Chattanooga, for 100 miles.

Take exit 152 for US-64/ US-72 toward US-41/ Kimball/ South Pittsburg.

Turn right to merge onto US-72 W. Follow US-72 W for 8.4 miles into Alabama.

Turn right onto Co Rd 75 and follow for 1 mile. Turn right onto Co Rd 98 and follow for 3.7 miles. The entrance to Russell Cave National Monument will be on the left.

Best time to visit Russell Cave NM

The best time to visit Russell Cave NM is in Spring and Fall when the weather should be comfortable and not that hot.

Weather and Seasons

Bridgeport, Alabama experiences hot and muggy summers with cold and wet winters most years.

The hottest months of the year are from May 26 to September 20th when the average temperature is above 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

The coldest months of the year are from November 28 to February 25th when the average temperature is below 57 degrees.

July is the wettest month with 12.4 days of rain.

The muggiest months are from May 20 to September 27th with a lot of muggy weather.

Best Things to do in Russell Cave NM

While Russell Cave NM is a pretty small park you can still enjoy multiple fun things to do while visiting the park.

Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center

The park visitor center is the perfect place to start your visit. There is a 7-minute park film, park store, artifacts and museum, and more.

The Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center was named after a former president of the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society bought the cave and donated it to the American people.

The visitor center has a museum displaying some of the thousands of artifacts that have been excavated from the cave. Displays include fishhooks, pottery, jewelry, and weapons.

There is a small gift shop in the visitor center with books about the park and other National Park gifts.

Park Film

The 7-minute park film does a fantastic job of explaining the importance and history of Russell Cave. It is filled with information while still being enjoyable to watch.

Junior Ranger Program

The Russell Cave Junior Ranger program is a bit intense but filled with great information.

The number of pages that have to be completed depends on the age of the participant.

There are a few pages that took some time to find the answers and figure them out.

The ranger did check each page and answer line by line so make sure you fill them out completely with what you think is the answer.

Many of the answers came from the movie and in the park visitor center.

Boardwalk to Russel Cave

Walk the short boardwalk to the entrance of Russell Cave shelter. Ask at the visitor center about guided Ranger walks to learn more about the inhabitants of the cave.

Though the cave passages stretch for miles you can only check out the entrance to protect artifacts.

Be careful as you get closer to the cave. The walkway can be damp and muddy. The nature trail is a great way to explore more of this park. You can look for wildlife and birds migrating through the park.