The Rhizotron of Illinois

Let the U.S. Department of Interior declare the tunnels a national park open to the public, and you have the Rhizotron of Illinois.

There, while ducking low ceiling, getting soiled, fighting claustrophobia and coughing up pulverized coal, you get to survey the ecology of an extinct landscape. Over there is a dense mat of ferns, and over there are some delicate fronds frozen in time. Look up, and you might see the grass-like leaves of the giants of coal age forests, the lycopids, or the diamond patterns of their bark.

As splendid as the prehistoric cave paintings of Lascaux. As marvelous as the Sistine Ceiling, though this might have a truer version of the Creation story.

Found at Pruned