Moqui Cave

Moqui Cave

Moqui Cave was a short stop for us just north of our RV Park.  It turned out to be a very interesting and unique museum – in cave fashion!  It was once used by the Anasazi people as a shelter or food store according to archaeological digs in the area.  In the 1920’s it was used as a speakeasy during prohibition.

The late Garth and Laura Chamberlain purchased the cave in 1951 and designed, built and managed a fully operational tavern serving food and drink and including dancing on Friday and Saturday nights.  The Chamberlains and their five children worked very hard to make the cave a first class tourist attraction and were very successful at it. 

 

 

 

 

 The Moqui Cave has remained in the Chamberlain family over the years and is now changing from the goal of a successful tavern and dance hall to the goal of a historical museum.  Now managed by daughter-in-law LeeAnne Chamberlain along with her son, Tanner, and her daughter, Saige, the cave has become a fascinating historical museum.  They begin with a cliff dwelling facade, like nearby Anasazi dwellings, along the front entrance to the cave.  Once we entered the nice cool sandstone cave we were greeted by Saige.  She made our visit even more interesting when she began to tell us the history of the cave, her family lineage, her great grandfather and especially his many talents.  Besides being drafted in to the NFL in 1942 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was a veteran of WWII; he was also a Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff.  He was an archeologist, and was a talented artist having won many awards for his jewelry, woodcarving, bronze sculptures, oil paintings and Kachina Dolls.

 

It is easy to see that Saige, Tanner and their mother are preserving the history began by Garth and Laura Chamberlain.  The museum includes a large collection of dinosaur tracks that once inhabited the area.  It houses a large fluorescent and fossil mineral display, Native American artifacts including arrowheads, ceremonial points, jugs, pots, and working tools of the Anasazi-Navajo from centuries ago.  Here are a few more photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More to come soon  😊

Jan  🌷🌷🐾🐾