Lamplight Caverns

Lamplight Caverns was a large natural cave system and a pre-War tourist attraction mentioned $$

Background
Originally discovered in the late 19th century, Lamplight Caverns is a large, naturally occurring underground cave system near Washington, D.C. that was transformed into a tourist attraction during the 1920s. The attraction's mascot was Murray the Mole.

In 2066, deeper portions of the cave system were annexed by Vault-Tec for use in its Societal Preservation Program, resulting in the construction of Vault 87.

Lamplight was popular with area schools as an educational student destination. On the Saturday morning of the Great War, multiple groups of students and accompanying adults became trapped in the caves, surviving only because they had the good fortune to be attending field trips there that morning.

By the end of November 2077, all of the Lamplight adults had either died or ventured outside for help, none returning, ultimately leaving the remaining children to survive on their own. In January 2078, the children declared themselves the "city" of Little Lamplight and elected Early Dawn Elementary student Jason Grant mayor.

By 2277, the settlement of Little Lamplight was populated entirely by children under the age of 16.

Appearances
Lamplight Caverns is mentioned $$

Behind the scenes
Emil Pagliarulo stated that Lamplight Caverns was loosely based on Luray Caverns in Virginia.