Partly due to its isolated location in the high mountains and the lack of interest in cave exploration back then, this cave was completely unknown until the end of the 19th century. It was not until the nature explorer Anton von Posselt-Czorich from Salzburg penetrated about 200 meters into this dark cave by himself in 1879 that the Eisriesenwelt was officially discovered. A year later he published a detailed report of his exploration in an Alpine association newsletter. Nonetheless, the cave was soon forgotten again.