Cave of the Mounds

Useful Information

Location:	2975 Cave of the Mounds Road, Blue Mounds, WI 53517-0148. Blue Mounds. 32 km west of Madison off Hwys 18-151. (43.0167396, -89.8148580)
Open:	All year daily 9-17. [2024]
Fee:	Adults USD 23.99, Children (4-12) USD 14.99, Children (0-3) free. [2024]
Classification:	Karst Cave Ordovician limestone
Light:	Incandescent Regenerative Electricity
Dimension:	T=10 °C.
Guided tours:	D=60 min.
Photography:	allowed, no tripods
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Cave of the Mounds, P.O. Box 148, 2975 Cave of the Mounds Road, Blue Mounds, WI 53517, Tel. +1-608-437-3038. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

04-AUG-1939	discovered during quarry works.
MAY-1940	opened to the visitors.
1988	the cave was designated a National Natural Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Description

Cave of the Mounds is named after two hills called the Blue Mounds. It is located inside the southern slope of the East Mound. Both hills consist of Ordovician galena dolomite. Like many karst caves, the cave has formed along a major crack, which can be seen throughout the cave.

The cave has speleothems like dripstones, curtains, lily pads and some helictites. A beautiful but rare speleothem found here, are the cave pearls.

The Ordovician limestone of this area is called galena dolomite, because of the ore deposits found here. Galena is a lead ore, which was mined in the area around the cave. The cave was discovered during mining operations, as a part of the cave was opened by a blast.