Mormon Hollow, Fontanelle Forest, Bellevue

 Mormon Hollow is in Bellevue, in the Fontanelle Forest.  In 1846,  after the Mormons were chased out of Nauvoo, they took most of the summer to cross Iowa.  There was a lot of mud.  They finally made it to the Missouri River.  A group of Saints employed the Sarpy ferry initially; but eventually made their own.  They consulted with Chief Big Elk about where to stay.  They let him know they were only traveling through.  Eventually is was determined a hollow close to the Fontanelle Trading Post.  This later became known as Mormon Hollow.  The lower end of the hollow reached where the Missouri River flowed at the time.  It now flows further to the east.  They stayed there about six weeks before the Saints living there were asked to move north by Brigham Young.  They then established Cutler'ser's Park and Winter Quarters about ten miles north.  

The valley would have provided protection against the wind.