“Oh the Hills are alive (extend “ive”) with the sound of Mu (long “Mu”) sic.” Well, bells at least. Use all your senses except smell, and maybe not taste either, and guess where this movie was taken. Guess correctly, scroll down to “Comments” at the bottom of the post, and enter your answer. All correct answers will be gathered and one randomly chosen. 
What do you win? You’ll get a brand new box of “Cotton Swabs.” Sorry, this older photo has me cutting one in half so two of our “almost” grand prize winners could at least get something… but you might win the entire unopened box. Okay, that’s enough for this week’s contest. Who won last week’s contest and where was the mystery photo taken? Well here’s the photo and others from this St. Paul landmark. My wife, Lois used to ride her bike up there and had a garden spot nearby in the 1980s.
Got it yet? The ancient people known as the “Hopewell” occupied this high bluff more than 1,500 years ago. In more recent times the Dakota used the same site for a similar purpose. What was it?
Both groups valued this commanding view of the Mississippi River valley as sacred ground in which to bury their dead. Their burial practices though, varied.
“Although there was much diversity in the mound-building customs, the typical Hopewell mound had a distinct internal structure. A low, circular platform of clay was constructed at the center of the mound. Ashes of the deceased were placed in the concave top of the platform, and sometimes fine pottery and stone tools were also included. This was all covered by the conical mound, which consisted of alternating layers of sand and earth. The Hopewell capped the mound with a thick layer of gravel and pebbles.
In more recent times, the Dakota Indians used this site for their burials. Unlike the Hopewell, the Dakota wrapped the bones of their deceased in a buffalo skin before burying them. Valuable objects like knives, foods, pipes, or even horses or canoes were also placed within the mound. The Dakota may have used mounds constructed by the Hopewell or constructed their own on the same site. At least thirty-seven mounds once stood along the bluffs of the Mounds Park area; only six remain.” (National Park Service)
Mounds Park, established in 1893, is one of the oldest St. Paul parks. You can visit the park at 10 Mounds Blvd. Saint Paul, MN.
Looking at St. Paul, west and a bit north from the park. Where's that darn canoe? I had it a minute ago.
Looking southeast from the overlook
And the winner is….randomly chosen from two correct answers…Christine of St. Paul.
Congrats! Here’s a google map for anyone interested in a bird’s eye view.
Flood waters threaten. Stillwater, MN may be sandbagging today. You can keep hourly tabs on the Mississippi from the windows of the Science Museum in downtown St. Paul. Check out Museum Flood Watch (my title). Remember, before you put your paddle in the water, put a sandbag on your levee. Corey – Final Mounds Park memory –
Paddlin' Madeline 
What a beautiful view of St. Paul. (Would be nicer without all the snow.)
Corey, of what material is your canoe made? Your “movie” made it look so easy to carry . . . . I took a picture of my kids last week under the same arches arches you used at the Sculpture Garden. Confirming the Sculpture Garden is an inhospitable place in the wintertime. I told them that you were there with your canoe. They think you are as funny as ever. 🙂
Carol,
The canoe is made of Kevlar, a pretty light material and the trim is wood. So it’s a compromise – not ultra-light and not ultra-heavy like a fiberglass or wood/canvas design. Add to that I’m built pretty much like *Arnold* * Schwarzenegger* so carrying it is a breeze. Truth told it hurts and I’m installing a new portage yoke to make it more comfortable.
I hope no frostbite at the Sculpture Garden. Best wishes to the gang, Corey
I think it’s time we make a banjo out of Kevlar.
A Kevlar banjo (see Dan’s Comment below) would provide superior defense in the event of a bar brawl or a hail of bullets from an unsympathetic audience. A more important consideration, would Kevlar be easier to tune? CM
Carol,
The canoe is made of Kevlar, a pretty light material and the trim is wood. So it’s a compromise – not ultra-light and not ultra-heavy like a fiberglass or wood/canvas design. Add to that I’m built pretty much like Arnold Schwarzenegger so carrying it is a breeze. Truth told it hurts and I’m installing a new portage yoke to make it more comfortable.
Philip thinks it’s the J.J. Hill House and so does Chad with more specifics – “Between JJs and Louis'” Thanks for your entries. We’ll just have to see, eh? Corey
I think it’s St. Paul.
From Julie
in Minneapolis
Julie,
You may be on to something there. Can you be any more specific?
from the sounds of of the bells I would say you are on your way to confession. but I would say behind the j. j. hill house.
I think schwartzneggger is about 90 years old
Mike,
All will be revealed on Friday, and I mean all. Thanks for the entry and the update on Arnold. After viewing recent photos I’ve come to believe he may be relying on parts from others and then re-assembled in California – so it might be tough to assign an exact age to the “whole”.