What is now known as Illinois Caverns hosted its first paying customers in March 1901, operated by a Mr. White of East Saint Louis.

However the cave was never considered a commercial success (it closed in 1907), and had remained almost completely unimproved, excepting the extant concrete entrance stairs and a single ladder.

When the cave and environs were sold to the State of Illinois in 1985, care of the site was entrusted to Armin Krueger, until his death.

Numerous circular, crater-like depressions are evident in the area surrounding the entrance, easily visible from the air or space.

This species of amphipod is found nowhere else in the world except a few neighboring caves located in the southwestern Illinois karst.