Ebey's Landing National Historical Reserve Reading the Cultural Landscape

PRESERVATION PRINCIPLES

Crockett Prairie

Location and Access

A sloping triangle of land, Crockett Prairie funnels between the Fort Casey Uplands to the west, Admiralty Bay along the south, and the East Woodlands.

The prairie is a mix of both natural and cultural resources. It contains a significant natural marsh, Crockett Lake, Keystone Spit, the ferry landing, and the rich, fertile soils which cover much of the prairie.

Primary access is along Highway 20 on Keystone Spit, Wanamaker Road and Fort Casey Road.

Significance and Integrity

As one of three natural prairies on the reserve, several original donation land claims occurred here during the period of early white settlement, including five by the Crockett family alone. As was the case in other areas of the reserve, these initial claims structured historic settlement patterns and land use.

Agriculture, the dominant land use since 1850, remains viable today, due in large part to those early patterns and the excellent agricultural soils found on the prairie.

The area also retains a number of significant historic structures, including several historic buildings, barns and outbuildings, road locations, and the remains of a bridge over Crockett Lake which connected Keystone and Prairie Center in 1874.

Development of plats for the towns of Chicago and Brooklyn in the late nineteenth century coincided with the period of community growth on the reserve. Although no structures from those developments remain (reportedly only one hotel ever existed), several features and buildings from the military era remain in the landscape around the Keystone area, including the wharf and dock remnants.

Crockett Prairie is significant also for the natural resources of Crockett Lake, including the marsh vegetation, wildlife habitat, and the recreational use of the beach and waterfront along the spit.

Although newer residential development on the ridge east of the prairie and along its base has had a visual impact on the natural setting, the historic settlement patterns, historic and current land uses and significant structures still remain and contribute to an overall landscape integrity.

Part of the Boyer farm, located on the original 1640 acre Hugh Crockett Donation Claim.

Crockett blockhouse and farm complex.

View of Crockett Prairie, looking west.

Preservation Principles

Preservation principles for Crockett Prairie focus on protection of both natural and cultural resources and significant historic landscape patterns.

1. Protect both natural resources of soil and historic landscape patterns by maintaining agricultural land use designation.

2. New development or structures not associated with existing complexes should be carefully sited along edges of the prairie or within existing subdivisions.

3. In order to protect the visual quality and historic patterns in the prairie, small scale elements such as fence lines, hedgerows, and the bridge remains over Crocket Lake should be retained.