Term: Blue Mounds (geology)
Definition: From Increase Lapham's 1844 Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin:
"The BLUE MOUNDS, are two large conical hills, or mounds, one in Iowa, and one, the largest, in Dane county, twenty-five miles west from Madison, and twelve miles south from the Wisconsin river. Their elevation is such that they can be seen at a distance of fifteen or twenty miles or more and in the first explorations of the country, they were very important land-marks to guide the traveller in his course through the boundless prairies. The Indian name is Mu-cha-wa-ku-nin, or Smoky Mountains, applied to them, it is said, on account of their summits being usually enveloped in a cloud, or fog. From the summit of these mounds,which are covered with vegetation the way up, there is a very grand view of the surrounding country, extending far beyond the Wisconsin on the north, and embracing a wide circle on all sides. The Platte Mounds, which are similar in many respects to the Blue Mounds, and may be considered as rivals, are seen at the southwest. Near the Mounds are the remains of a Fort, built during the Black Hawk war, in which several families were protected from the savage foes. The stranger is here shown the grave of Lieutenant Force, who was killed by an Indian hid in the tall grass, in a small ravine, near the place where the grave is now seen. This Indian was afterwards killed, near the Four lakes, in a skirmish with General Dodge's volunteers, and a gold watch belonging to Lieutenant Force, was taken from the pouch of the Indian, and restored to his family."
[Source: as above]
