Wilkes Trip to the Mima Mounds 1841

In 1841 during the exploration of the Pacific Northwest by U. S. Naval Officer and Explorer Charles Wilkes took a journey from Tumwater falls near Olympia and rode out to see these strange little mounds, that are all over the Mound Prairie.

"The observatory duties being completed, I set out with Lieutenant Case. Alexander Anderson of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, accompanied us on a visit to the Shute's river falls, where we intended to take horses to ride to the Butte Prairie, with some men to open several of the mounds to discover their contents, if they had any. By the stupidity of the guide, we took the wrong arm of the sound and did not discover the error until we reached its extreme limit, as night overtook us and we were forced to camp.

The next day however, we reached the falls, which were insignificant, both in height and volume of water. This arm, which I have called Budd's, is a fine harbor, nine miles in depth, and about a half a mile wide. After forming our encampment, I gave Lieutenant Budd and Mr. Eld orders, Mr. Anderson and myself, with six men, set off for the Butte Prairie, with shovels and picks. 

We reached the place at 5 o'clock, through a rain which had wet the bushes and undergrowth so much, that in passing through the Indian trails, we were completely drenched. Theses bushes consisted of Rubus and Alder. On our route we passed several beautiful and secluded prairies, of excellent soil, and covered with many flowers. The men began their digging early in the morning. 

These mounds have been formed by scraping the surface earth together in a heap. The soil, therefore, is very rich, and they have a rank growth of vegetation on them. Much of this rich earth or mould must have been brought from a distance. The regularity of their construction and shape as well as the space over which they are scattered, are surprising. Although I could obtain no direct information respecting them, I was one day told that the medicine men gathered herbs from them to make the concoctions with which he effects his cures.

Although all tradition concerning them may be lost, yet the custom of these medicine men may have survived and taking into consideration the influence they have had and still have over the tribe, it is possible that their predecessors might have had something to do with the formation of these monuments. They certainly are not places of burial. They bear the marks of savage labor and are such and undertaking as would have required the united efforts of a whole tribe.

The hole which was dug directly in the center, was about four feet in diameter. At the depth of six feet was found a kind of pavement of round stones, laid on the subsoil of red gravel. No articles of any description were recovered in the mounds, which seemed to be grouped in fives, Although there is a general resemblance among them, they evidently have been constructed successively and at intervals of several years. 

I heard it suggested that they had been formed by water courses, but this I view as impossible for they are situated on a level prairie, and are at least a thousand in number. Observations for latitude and longitude were obtained here, but the weather did not permit me to get angles on Mount Rainier, as I was desirous of doing. The next day I parted with my friend, Mr. Anderson, who desired to return to Nisqually, while we returned to the falls. The ride was more disagreeable than we had before found it, and I felt heartily glad to get back to the surveying parties.