It was once a place where John Muir likely stood, gazing across the landscape. Skiers used to fly down its slope. Generations of students would gather here to listen to lectures.
But this knob of land overlooking Lake Mendota on the UW-Madison campus no longer is a welcoming spot. Neglected for decades, it is covered by deteriorating concrete, aging benches and an obsolete reservoir.
Now, a $167,000 gift will allow university officials to restore Muir Knoll, perched on Observatory Drive, to a place where people will want to study, reflect and share stories.