{"id":"nps-ruca","slug":"russell-cave-national-monument","name":"Russell Cave National Monument","designation":"National Monument","category":"national-monument","categoryLabel":"National Monument","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"RUCA","designation":"National Monument","sourceId":"nps-ruca"}],"states":["AL"],"stateNames":["Alabama"],"location":{"lat":34.97402063,"lon":-85.81560314},"bbox":[-85.8233,34.9676,-85.8062,34.9817],"acres":{"value":322,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"Russell Cave National Monument is an archeological site with one of the most complete records of prehistoric cultures in the Southeast. In the 1950s, archeologists uncovered a large quantity of artifacts representing 12,000 years of use in a single place. Although you cannot go in the cave, the discovered artifacts help bring to light many cultural developments of phenomenal human journeys.","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/ruca/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=34.9817&b_tl_lng=-85.8233&b_br_lat=34.9676&b_br_lng=-85.8062","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Russell%20Cave%20National%20Monument","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/ruca/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8726D8-1DD8-B71B-0BD90F30D72A98BF.jpg","title":"Russell Cave in Spring","alt":"Russell Cave in Spring","caption":"Prehistoric people continuously used Russell Cave for over 10,000 years","credit":"NPS Photo / Mary Dawson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C872522-1DD8-B71B-0B89883F1BC8FD30.jpg","title":"Winter flood in December 2015","alt":"Winter flood in December 2015","caption":"14,000 acres drain into Russell Cave","credit":"NPS Photo / Mary Dawson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C872BFB-1DD8-B71B-0B78CA89CD61BF25.jpg","title":"Looking out of the cave shelter","alt":"Looking out of the cave shelter","caption":"Looking out of the cave shelter in the fall","credit":"NPS Photo / Mary Dawson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C872878-1DD8-B71B-0BCA73C1709C59ED.jpg","title":"Northern Cardinal","alt":"Northern Cardinal","caption":"Russell Cave is site 44 on the Alabama birding Trail.","credit":"NPS Photo / Mary Dawson","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/3C8729F8-1DD8-B71B-0BD29F85896F3BE3.jpg","title":"Deer behind visitor center","alt":"Deer behind visitor center","caption":"For a park of its size, Russell Cave National Monument has a diverse landscape that provides a remarkable habitat for wildlife observation.","credit":"NPS Photo / Mary Dawson","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Guided Tours","Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Living History","Historic Weapons Demonstration","Junior Ranger Program","Wildlife Watching","Birdwatching","Museum Exhibits","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Archeology","Native American Heritage","Animals"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Russell Cave National Monument","description":"The park is closed on New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.  All operating hours are in central time and the main gate into the park closes at 4:30 pm.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","monday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","thursday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","sunday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","tuesday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","friday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM","saturday":"8:00AM - 4:30PM"},"exceptions":[{"name":"Thanksgiving Day","start":"2026-11-26","end":"2026-11-26","hours":{}},{"name":"Christmas Day","start":"2026-12-25","end":"2026-12-25","hours":{}},{"name":"New Year's Day","start":"2027-01-01","end":"2027-01-01","hours":{}}]}],"directions":"Russell Cave National Monument is located at 3729 County Road 98 in Bridgeport, Alabama. It is situated in the northeast corner of Alabama, just south of the Tennessee state line.","weatherInfo":"The weather in Bridgeport, Alabama is mild. The average temperature in the winter is in the low 50's. The average summer temperature is in the high 80's. We receive about 50 inches of rain each year. Snowfall varies, but only lasts a few days per event.","contacts":{"phone":"2564952672","email":"RUCA_Information@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center","description":"Begin your exploration of the park in the visitor center. Pick up a park brochure for more information about the cave shelter and hiking trails. Watch a 7 minute film about the early inhabitants of Russell Cave and view the artifacts that were excavated from the cave shelter. Check out the Eastern National bookstore that has an assortment of books and souvenirs for adults and children.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/ruca/planyourvisit/basicinfo.htm","lat":34.9786490475,"lon":-85.8099173746}],"campgrounds":[],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"paint-rock-river-national-wildlife-refuge","km":29},{"slug":"chickamauga-and-chattanooga-national-military-park","km":48},{"slug":"sauta-cave-national-wildlife-refuge","km":49},{"slug":"fern-cave-national-wildlife-refuge","km":56},{"slug":"little-river-canyon-national-preserve","km":65},{"slug":"wheeler-national-wildlife-refuge","km":100}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=ruca"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.622Z","alerts":[{"source":"NPS","kind":"Caution","title":"Bridge Work","text":"On Monday, October 19, work will be taking place on the bridge leading into the park. Please use caution while driving and watch for workers in the area. The park will remain accessible to visitors. Thank you for your understanding","url":null,"updated":"2026-10-14 00:00:00.0","id":"nps-E7D50587-9ABD-47DD-B962-9C3CFFACC52B"},{"source":"NPS","kind":"Information","title":"Portion of the boardwalk is closed","text":"The last section of boardwalk is closed for ADA accessibility. Sorry for the inconvenience.","url":null,"updated":"2025-07-10 10:41:39.0","id":"nps-A53FF1DD-3C2A-4D28-AA46-DCCEA3DEF498"},{"source":"NWS","kind":"Frost Advisory","severity":"Minor","title":"Frost Advisory issued November 8 at 10:11AM CST until November 9 at 8:00AM CST by NWS Huntsville AL","text":"* WHAT...Temperatures as low as 33 will result in frost formation.\n\n* WHERE...Portions of north central, northeast, and northwest\nAlabama.\n\n* WHEN...From 11 PM this evening to 8 AM CST Monday.\n\n* IMPACTS...Frost could harm sensitive outdoor vegetation. Sensitive\noutdoor plants may be killed if left uncovered.","instruction":"Take steps now to protect tender plants from the cold.","url":"https://alerts.weather.gov/search?id=urn%3Aoid%3A2.49.0.1.840.0.9b8b710540847f12e2ec6793d336916110d7c343.001.1","starts":"2026-11-08T23:00:00-06:00","ends":"2026-11-09T08:00:00-06:00","id":"nws-urn:oid:2.49.0.1.840.0.9b8b710540847f12e2ec6793d336916110d7c343.001.1"}],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/russell-cave-national-monument/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/russell-cave-national-monument.geojson"}