The relatively new Muskingum University Columbarium provides a final resting place for alumni who have called the college campus home. The sandstone, granite, and brick wall is composed of niches for cremation urns. The word "columbarium" comes from the word "columbary,” compartmentalized housing for doves or pigeons (a dovecote; Columba is the genus name for doves). Not only are the rows of niches similar to the arrangement of a dovecote, but in Christendom, the dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. While many cemeteries and churches include columbaria, only a few college campuses have a university-owned columbarium separate from a traditional cemetery.
The title of the cache comes from the university’s traditional school colors and team name -- “muskie” being a nickname for the “muskellunge” species of fish; a prized catch, the muskie is native to the Muskingum River that flows through the county where the university is located. These largest species in the pike family put up quite a fight for the fishermen.
At the time this cache was placed, there were two other caches on campus; be sure to check them out too! And watch for the pair of red-tailed hawks that have nested in the oak tree at the NE corner above the valley.