Chute’s Cave, in Minneapolis, operated as a show cave from 1876 to 1880 (conservatively estimated). A newspaper advertisement for Chute’s Cave, from the Saint Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer-Press and Tribune, August 26, 1876, is transcribed below. Although there are earlier newspaper advertisements for Fountain Cave, in St. Paul, dating back to 1852, they are very brief, just a sentence or two. The cave, tunnel, and springs still exist and are accessible.
CHALYBEATE SPRINGS.
A PLEASANT PLACE OF RESORT.
Chute’s Cave—A Boat Ride of 2,000 Feet, Under Main Street.
Under Mr. Manasseh Pettengill’s enterprising management, the Chalybeate Springs, on South Main street, East Division, have become a very pleasant and popular place of resort, and promise to prove a bonanza to their proprietor. The water from these springs is pure and sparkling, and possessed of mineral qualities highly beneficial to many classes of invalids. Those who visit the springs may drink freely of the waters, without money or price, and Mr. Pettengill is delivering the water to a large number of our citizens daily, at a moderate charge. He has erected upon the platform at the springs, a neat and commodious building for the accommodation of visitors, containing ice cream parlors and cigar stand, as well as a number of bathrooms that will soon be supplied with hot as well as cold water, and on the river front of the building a balcony invites one to a comfortable seat in the shade, from which position a handsome stretch of romantic scenery is visible.
An easy foot path has been constructed, leading from Main street down to this platform, and is preferable to the stairway. This path passes a little building occupied by M. Nowack, as a photograph gallery, where may be found stereoscopic views of that locality, and of all the prominent points of interest in the state, as well as an endless variety of Indian goods.
Mr. Pettengill is also constructing a platform for dancing parties, which will be appropriately “dedicated” with music and dancing, this evening. The band plays at the springs every Saturday evening, and with the grounds brilliantly illuminated, and the grand old Mississippi rolling and tumbling at your feet, the scene is a beautiful and impressive one.
If you have a desire to EXPLORE THE BOWELS OF THE EARTH, Mr. Pettengill can accommodate you in that particular also. The mouth of the “Chute Cave” is just below the springs, and the bottom of this cave is covered with about eighteen inches of water. For the moderate sum of ten cents you can take a seat in a boat, with a flaming torch at the bow, and with a trusty pilot sail up under Main street a distance of 2,000 feet, between walls of pure white sand-stone, and under a limestone arch which forms the roof. It is an inexpensive and decidedly interesting trip to take.
Mr. Pettengill is constantly adding new attractions about his premises, and those who have not visited the locality since last season will be surprised and delighted to see what has been accomplished there. It is really one of the most attractive spots for sight seers as well as citizens within our corporate limits, all of which the reader can verify by personal observation, which we heartily recommend, not forgetting “Chute’s cave.”