Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Cave of America's First Doomsday Cult
A marker at the cave entrance, placed by the Rosicrucians, declares that this was where Johannes Kelpius, America's first Rosicrucian master, came with his followers to await the End of Days. That was in 1700. The group eventually disbanded, disappointed.
- Address:
- E. Hermit Lane, Philadelphia, PA
- Directions:
- Take E. Hermit Lane to map point, which is an unmarked, unimproved road leading into the woods. Drive in a little way. The cave should be on the left, up the hillside, above Wissahickon Creek. Look for the marker at its entrance.
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The cave is about 100 feet down the hill from the parking spot on the map. Unfortunately you can't walk straight down to it and must drive further down the road to the brown gate by the big house in the park. Turn right at the big brown gate and then take a right again at the first small trail. Go down the path and you'll see the big granite marker In front of the cave.
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German mystic and Rosicrucian leader Johannes Kelpius gathered his followers at this spot to welcome the Biblical Second Coming. After Kelpius died in 1708 his cult community fell apart, but the Rosicrucians are still around today -- they erected the granite marker near the cave.