Ruby Falls
For many teens, their first real job might be flipping burgers or bagging groceries at the local supermarket. In Chattanooga, Tennessee, however, many teens head underground for their first job—at Ruby Falls, a famed underground waterfall. Ruby Falls counts many high school students among its staff members. At Ruby Falls they experience the working world while also learning about one of Tennessee's most popular attractions.
The Caves of Lookout Mountain
Ruby Falls is tucked deep inside Chattanooga's Lookout Mountain. Early residents of Tennessee have known about the caves of Lookout Mountain for centuries. Native Americans visited its twisting underground caverns. Since then, outlaws, soldiers, and curious cave enthusiasts have explored the caves. But in 1905, a railroad was built through the mountain, and the caves were closed.
One local man did not want the caves closed. Leo Lambert loved exploring the caves, and he dreamed of reopening them to the public. Starting in 1923, Lambert teamed up with engineers to drill a hole into the mountain. He planned to install an elevator that would take visitors deep into the caves.
Finding a New Cave
Lambert's project took many years to complete. In 1928, while drilling into the mountain, his team stumbled upon a previously unknown cave shaft filled with strange and beautiful rock formations. They set out to investigate the new cave. After many hours of hiking, they stumbled upon an amazing site: a 145-foot waterfall located 1,120 feet below the mountain's surface. Lambert named the underground waterfall Ruby Falls in honor of his wife, Ruby.
In 1930 Lambert opened Ruby Falls Cave to the public. A year later, Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees took a stroll through the cave. The first tour guides earned only 75 cents an hour leading the Yankees and other visitors through the cave's tunnels.
Some features of Ruby Falls Cave still reflect bits of American history. The 1930s in the U.S. was a period known as the Great Depression. Many people were out of work and struggled to make a living. During that time, people broke off pieces of the rock formations in Ruby Falls Cave. They sold the rocks to help support their families. Today, visitors can still see some of the broken rock formations.
Attracting Millions of People
Since Ruby Falls Cave opened in 1930, millions of people have wandered into the depths of Lookout Mountain to explore the underground waterfall. Ruby Falls is now a National Historic Landmark.
The words “Ruby Falls” painted on barns, buildings, and highway signs have helped draw visitors to the cave. Now Ruby Falls nears the top of the list as one of Tennessee's most popular tourist attractions.
Ruby Falls and other places that attract visitors help boost the state's economy. Tourism has grown to be one of Tennessee's most valuable industries. Every year, tourists spend around $10 billion visiting Tennessee attractions such as Ruby Falls.
Assisting many of those visiting tourists are high school students on their first job. Whether they're selling refreshments or leading tours, they learn to interact with visitors, please customers, and take responsibility for their work. They also learn the history of Ruby Falls.