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All the United States Ohio Put-in-Bay Crystal Cave

Crystal Cave

Take a drunken tour inside the world's largest known geode.

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

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David Smith
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  Sean Munson
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Crystal Cave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, 7/26/2013   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Staircase down to the geode cave   evilgreentriangle / Atlas Obscura User
Sign at the entrance   evilgreentriangle / Atlas Obscura User
  jDreams / Atlas Obscura User
Largest single celestite crystal (14 sided as they all are)   evilgreentriangle / Atlas Obscura User
Crystal Cave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, 7/26/2013   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Crystal Cave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, 7/26/2013   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Crystal Cave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, 7/26/2013   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
Crystal Cave, Put-In-Bay, Ohio, 7/26/2013   Keri Kilgo / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The difference between Ohio’s crystal cave and other, more mundane varieties may not be apparent—at first.

But in the Crystal Cave, you are not in fact inside a cave but wandering within a single rock: It is the world’s largest geode.

The geode was discovered in 1887, by workers digging a well for winery operator Gustav Heineman. Heineman found that the formation was in actuality a “vug,” or large cavity within a single rock. It took its name from the three-foot-long Celestine crystals jutting from the walls, many of which have been mined in order to be used as fireworks. As a result, the cave is likely less beautiful today than it once was, though it is also roomier, and many of the crystals remain in place.

Though the setting—the world’s largest known geode, studded with crystals—is hard to beat on its own, you may as well take advantage of the accompanying Heineman winery tour, and explore the crystal cave with a bit of a buzz.

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Know Before You Go

Tours are offered seven days a week from early May through late September. The cave itself is quite small and can be viewed in 15 minutes or less. 

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jdsmith70

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Martin, icatsstaci, marybiros, Keri Kilgo...

  • Martin
  • icatsstaci
  • marybiros
  • Keri Kilgo
  • evilgreentriangle
  • jDreams

Published

December 23, 2012

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Crystal Cave
978 Catawba Street
Put-in-Bay, Ohio, 43456
United States
41.646609, -82.826722
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Nearby Places

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

miles away

Kelleys Island Winery Ruins

Kelleys Island, Ohio

miles away

Kelley's Island Glacial Grooves

Kelleys Island, Ohio

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay

Ohio

Places 2

Nearby Places

Perry's Victory and International Peace Memorial

Put-in-Bay, Ohio

miles away

Kelleys Island Winery Ruins

Kelleys Island, Ohio

miles away

Kelley's Island Glacial Grooves

Kelleys Island, Ohio

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Put-in-Bay

Put-in-Bay

Ohio

Places 2

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