Carlsbad Caverns were not discovered by a single person. Instead, they were known to the native peoples of the area for centuries before the arrival of Europeans.

The first documented European to explore the caverns was Jim White in 1888. He entered the cave through a small opening near the surface, which he named "the Bat Cave". However, White did not fully explore the caverns and did not realize their true size and significance.

In 1901, a rancher named John Slaughter explored the caverns more extensively, and he was the one who ultimately brought the caverns to the attention of the public.

The National Park Service officially established Carlsbad Caverns as a national park in 1930, making it accessible to the public and protecting its natural beauty.