The Blue Mound - A Kansas Historical Documentary

The Blue Mound is a lonely, 1,054ft hill rising up from the prairie southeast of Lawrence, Kansas. It has been the center of history in northeast Kansas since the Kansa Tribes roamed the area, and it continued its importance through the westward expansion era of the Oregon and California trails, the Bleeding Kansas and Civil War era, and into modern times as a ski hill.

This documentary dives into the hill's rich history, and the historic events that have taken place in the shadow of its slopes, from explorers like John C. Fremont and Kit Carson, to Quantrill's Raid, to the construction of the University of Kansas.

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[MarkDunn]

I drove up in there a few times. I knew it had to be recognized as something. Thanks for this.

[bccradventures]

Interesting bit of information, Thankyou!

[Comeoffitman]

I never walked up to the top but I could imagine walking and strolling up to the top and seeing the prairies below and the sunsets and the deers and stuff and enjoying the view and being able to look off in the distance like a distance traveler in life.

[urassisdragon]

Can you hike the blue mound these days? I have lived around Lawrence for nearly 45 years and the only time I ever heard of it was Taos, NM when I was like 16 and then again today! Thanks for sharing!

[abtfilmskansas]

Love this!!! Let's collab one day!!

[farmallpaul]

Great video! Why did they call it the "blue" mound?

[Entertainor]

Excellent piece! I have vague memories of skiing Mount Bleu in the 70s as a kid. I remember that the rope pull was hard to hold onto and the artificial snow was mostly ice. Thanks for posting this video!

[shannelbrooks]

I never knew of this till now, thank you for doing this.

[bryanlisbona]

Great historical report! Really enjoyed it!

[vikingshelm]

KS and MO have such interesting history.

[FWestgate]

👍🇺🇸 you should contact Sgt Samuel J Churchill Camp 4 of Lawrence ks ( Sons of Civil War Veterans) they have history sessions at there monthly meetings or get togethers ( they’d really like this history) and they have a lot history themselves that might somehow connect in to this history. They meet at the American Legion off 6 th street

[rustysmith]

Wow great film. Never heard of the Blue Mound but have definitely passed it many times

[TheNdouglas]

Tall Guy Films. Very well done. So informative! I did not know about the early frontiersmen and activity before the Civil War. Not far from there was the route Quantrill took into Lawrence, I believe down Haskell Street. So interesting. My brother and I used to ride our bikes from Barker Street out to Blue Mound via Haskell St in the early 70s. Not much traffic back then. Going up that hill after a good ride out there was definitely a challenge for us young teenagers in the Summer. Thank you so much for creating this well done mini-documentary about Blue Mound an Lawrence, Kansas.

[kenbest]

Good job. Interesting history about Lawrence Kansas and the Blue Mound.

[seankeikbusch]

Well done! I remember visiting some cliffs south of Lawrence where wagon trains had passed and people had carved up a cliff side with their initials and the date. I can't remember exactly where it was though, could have been the blue mound but maybe further south.

[KANSASIOUX]

Is the this every night I ride my horse.

[cindyedwards]

Is the Blue Mound in Lawrence, the same Blue Mound in Blue Mound Kansas? And what is the story of the mounds in Mound City? I can't seem to find information on them and I saw mining company leveling one in Mound City. Seems like very little information on the mounds in that area.

[richavic]

Nice.
Is the site of the former Blanton's bridge just east of what would be Louisiana Street if extended?
The trail from there, according to your map, curves to the east. Does any evidence of it, ruts or the like, exist?
Before the completion of K-10, a sign marking the path followed by the raiders was south of 31st Street & Louisiana. That road was abandoned for mitigation as a part of the completion of the eastern leg of K-10.

[johnkelly]

hand waving for emphasis. Lots an lots of it.