Tallgrass Prairie

When you step onto the pathway that winds through the 81 acres of tallgrass prairie reconstructed here by the National Park Service, you have the opportunity to step back in time and get a glimpse of an Iowa landscape that had almost vanished by the time Herbert Hoover's grandparents moved here in 1854.

 

Tall grasses like big bluestem dominate this small prairie; they once covered a virtual ocean of land in central North America.

NPS PHOTO

 

Yellow coneflowers are among the brilliant flowers that bloom during the summer in the tallgrass prairie.

NPS Photo

Native plants like big bluestem and Indian grass, sprinkled with brilliantly colored wildflowers such as purple and yellow coneflowers and orange butterfly milkweed, once covered these rolling hills for as far as the eye could see. But a farmer and his family faced many hardships in this beautiful new frontier: an invasion of locusts, an extended drought, a killing frost, or one of the most terrifying yet spectacular events on Iowa's treeless plains—the prairie fire.

Despite its sometimes-devastating consequences, fires were common and critical for the health of a diverse prairie ecosystem. It cleared the land of dead and dying plants, returned organic nutrients to the soil, and kept invasive trees and shrubs under control so native flowers and grasses had space to grow. Which is why each year, the National Park Service attempts one or more prescribed burns to help keep this spacious landscape fresh and alive.

Iowa's prairies became some of the most valuable farmland in the world. The tradeoff however, was that between 1833 and 1920, 30 million acres of it was lost to agricultural cultivation. Today, less than one percent of prairie land still exists in Hoover's home state, which is one of the reasons the National Park Service restored this historic cultivated field to much of its original splendor.

Herbert Hoover saw the value in nature. During his presidency, the size of our national forests expanded by more than two million acres, and the land designated for new national parks and monuments increased by 40 percent. Spend some time here watching the native grasses sway. Smell the richness of the earth, and savor this wonderful recreational experience.

 

The Herbert Hoover Prairie Trails were designated National Recreational Trails in 1981.

 

• Audio Tour Stop 128: Tallgrass Prairie (2:10)

  
  

  Tallgrass prairie was part of the Iowa landscape that had almost vanished by the time Herbert Hoover’s grandparents moved here in 1854.

  Credit/ Author:

  NPS

  Date created:

  2010-06-22

  Download Original File:

  heho-128-TALL-GRASS-PRAIRIE.mp3 537 KB

  Audio Transcript
  When you step onto the pathway that winds through the 81 acres of tallgrass prairie restored here by the National Park Service, you have the opportunity to step back in time and get a glimpse of an Iowa landscape that had almost vanished by the time Herbert Hoover’s grandparents moved here in 1854.
  Native plants like big bluestem and Indian grass, sprinkled with brilliantly colored wildflowers such as purple and yellow Coneflowers and orange Butterfly Milkweed, once covered these rolling hills for as far as the eye could see. But a farmer and his family faced many hardships in this beautiful new frontier: an invasion of locusts, an extended drought, a killing frost, or one of the most terrifying, yet spectacular events on Iowa's treeless plains – the prairie fire. (sound effects: low roar of fire burning, crackling)
  Despite its sometimes-devastating consequences, fires were common and critical for the health of a diverse prairie ecosystem. (sound effects: native birds chirping) (music) It cleared the land of dead and dying plants, returned organic nutrients to the soil, and kept invasive trees and shrubs under control so native flowers and grasses had space to grow. Which is why each year, the National Park Service attempts one or more prescribed burns to help keep this spacious landscape fresh and alive.
  Iowa’s prairies became some of the most valuable farmland in the world. The tradeoff however, was that between 1833 and 1920, 30 million acres of it was lost to agricultural cultivation. Today, less than 1 percent of prairie land still exists in Hoover’s home state, which is one of the reasons the NPS restored this historic cultivated field to much of its original splendor.
  Herbert Hoover saw the value in nature. During his Presidency, the size of our national forests expanded by more than two million acres, and the land designated for new national parks and monuments increased by 40 percent. Spend some time here watching the native grasses sway. Smell the richness of the earth, and savor this wonderful recreational experience. (sound effects: birds chirping)

 

Take a Virtual Tour

This is a stop on the virtual tour of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

« Isaac Miles Farmstead | Gravesite »

 

The Tallgrass Prairie Trail Map (PDF file, 1.68 MB) helps visitors to explore the prairie and experience the area’s natural heritage. The Visitor Center has an exhibit about prairies and an interpretive garden with examples of tallgrass prairie plants (PDF file, 1.11 MB).

 

Cross-curricular activities encourage observation, problem solving, and higher order thinking.

National Park Service

Tallgrass Prairie: A Multidisciplinary Curriculum

Grades: Elementary and Middle (4 and above)
Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics
Use for: Classroom, Pre-visit, Field Trip, Post-visit

Prepare students for a visit to the park's 81-acre tallgrass prairie. Activities strenghten skills in observation, analysis, and interpretation in the field and in the classroom. Activities are written with middle school students in mind, but may be appropriate for other ages.

Download PDF file »

Tallgrass Prairie Walk

Grades: Elementary (3-6)
Subjects: Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Mathematics
Use for: Field Trip

Elemetary school classes may use this activity booklet and map for short teacher-guided visits (30 to 60 minutes) to the prairie during a field trip.

Download PDF file »