March 2023 Written by Eliza What is camouflage? It is a defense tactic that organisms use to disguise themselves by matching their background. Also called cryptic coloration, camouflage allows organisms to conceal their location, movement, and identity from the world. It is used by prey and predators alike! Did you know camouflage isn’t always used to hide? Some organisms make themselves bright colors to warn possible predators that they may be poisonous. Other organisms will make camouflage themselves to appear more dangerous so others will not mess with them. This is called Mimi ..read more

March 2023 Written by Eliza Birds are a cornerstone of a healthy natural environment. Since prehistory humans have relied on birds for food and the continuation of a healthy natural environment. But have you ever thought about what we can do to help them on a daily basis? The biggest aid we can provide for our avian friends is creating a healthy and natural environment for them. We can do this by placing bird feeders, providing bird baths, and planting native plants in our garden spaces.  Bird Feeders Placing bird feeders in your yard or porch is a great way to interact wit ..read more

February 2023 Written by Stalac-Tate Cave of the Mounds is known as the Jewel Box of America’s Show Caves for the variety and delicacy of its formations. Hundreds of thousands of people visit Cave of the Mounds each year to discover the wonder and beauty of this hidden treasure. And even though Cave of the Mounds is unique in its look, size, and formations, it is not the only cave in Wisconsin. Cave of the Mounds is a limestone/solution cave created by water flowing down through the limestone, slowly dissolving and washing it away. Other types of caves are ice caves, glacier cav ..read more

November 2022 Written by Stalac-Tate The history of Cave of the Mounds is vast considering this place has been open for over 80 years of time. This place has not only been open for over 80 years but no person or animal had seen the cave until 1939. The time without anyone seeing this wonder has helped in the preservation process. Then vs Now Comparison Entrance Sign Cave Entrance Building Onyx Ridge Tall Stalagmite South End Oldest Stalagmite North Cave Stairs Glacier Room Painted Waterfall Painted Waterfall Cathedral Room The Narrow ..read more

November 2022 Written by Jenny Cave of the Mounds has many colorful speleothems. Massive stalagmites, colorful stalactites, hidden helictites, and glossy flowstone astonish visitors on a daily basis. Guests wonder how the cave formed, how the formations develop, and what creates the different shapes. During a tour, guest comments often shift from generalized to specific questions. At the start of the tour questions revolve around the geology of caves and how they form. But as we move through the passageways and begin to see more and more formations the questions shift to wonderi ..read more

October 2022 We are so impressed by the photos that our guests take that we want to share them with the world! To do this, we are asking for visitors to send in some of their best pictures of our property from 2022. It could be above ground in our gardens or in our Woodland Restoration or below ground in our cave.   The top 3 photos will be featured on the Cave of the Mounds Facebook page. Submit up to three of your own photos. They will be voted on in early January 2023. Contest Rules All photos will be organized into three categories: cave, garden, woods. These photos should ..read more

September 2022 Written by Jenny During the spring and summer, many guests have enjoyed the beauty of our gardens before, or after, their visit to the cave. The colors and textures of the various plants added excitement and beauty throughout the long days of the summer. Now those days are becoming shorter, but we can still enjoy the remaining flowers while listening to the steady hum of insects during the last days of summer. We may not want to admit it, but we know that cooler weather is coming soon. As the colorful petals fade and disappear, a new beauty emerges. In the opening space ..read more

July 2022 Written by Jenny Forward The Wisconsin state motto, Forward, has been in use since 1851. This simply stated inspirational motto is very fitting for the Cave of the Mounds. Today it is easy to take tourism for granted because we can use the internet to find any number of amazing worldwide wonders and natural landmarks. We also have options for transporting ourselves across cities, states and countries. However, when the cave was unexpectedly discovered in 1939 things were quite different. In 1939: FDR was president of the US The US was nearing the end of the Dust Bowl a ..read more

June 2022 Written by Stalac-Tate The Driftless Area is the portion of Wisconsin that was never covered by glaciers. During the ice age, roughly 1.5 million years ago, glaciers covered the northern and eastern parts of Wisconsin. These glaciers acted like bulldozers picking up rocks and sediment as they scraped across the landscape. All those rocks and sediment are what we call drift and as the glaciers retreated and melted they left their drift across the landscape. However, glaciers never touched Southwest Wisconsin so they were never able to leave their drift behind. Thus, we call t ..read more

May 2022 Written by Jenny Road trips. Loading up the car for a day, or a week, of picnicking, music, conversation, learning and relaxing while exploring places both near and far. But perhaps my favorite part of a road trip is the planning and imagining each trip. Surrounding myself with books, maps and stories activate my imagination while sparking my curiosity about the world we live in. When in town for a visit to Cave of the Mounds, why not also consider some of the other interesting geology of Wisconsin? Wisconsin Rocks! A guide to Geological Sites in the Badger State Color ..read more