Legend of Penn's Cave - Centre Hall, PA
Posted by: 
94RedRover
N 40° 52.886 W 077° 36.389
18T E 280387 N 4528865
The Seneca Indians discovered Penn's Cave centuries ago. This limestone cavern has immense springs flowing through it, making it an all water cavern, rich in local history and boundless natural beauty.
Waymark Code: WM5BTK
Location: Pennsylvania, United States
Date Posted: 12/14/2008
Views: 20
Just off Route 192 in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania, Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park is a great family attraction. The limestone cavern is an all water cavern, and guided tours are conducted on flat bottom boats for an underground view of the cavern, and a tour through their 1,500 acre wildlife preserve.
The Seneca Indians found this cavern in the Valley of Karoondinha (Penn's Valley). There is a famous legend of an Indian maiden, named Nitanee, who fell in love with a French trapper, named Malachi Boyer. Their marriage was forbidden, so the lovers ran away. Unfortunately, they were captured, and were brought back to Chief O-Ko-Cho, Nitanee's father. Malachi was thrown into Penn's Cave to die. Swimming the springs that flood this cavern, searching for an entrance not guarded by Indians, Malachi died. Lengend speaks of the name "Nitanee" being echoed through the caverns on still summer nights. The Indian maiden of local history is honored today, offering her name to the famed Penn State Nittany Lion.
Type: Local Legend or Lore
Referenced in (list books, websites and other media):
Sign on property - website reference
Website Reference: [Web Link]
Additional Coordinates: Not Listed
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