"The scenery of the prairie is striking and never fails to cause an exclamation of surprise... the flowers are beautiful; the absence of shade and... profusion of light produce a gaiety which animates the beholder."

Judge James Hall, ca. 1839

The National Park Service reconstructed a tallgrass prairie in 1971 to represent the vast grassland that once covered 85 percent of Iowa. Site managers planted five species of grasses on land that had been farm field for more than a century.

Over the years, managers have used many techniques to continue the reconstruction process. Prescribed fire has become the primary tool for prairie management. The result today is a colorful array of flowers mixed with the green, purple, and golden hues of native grasses.

Three trails loop the visitor through this 81-acre sea of tall grasses and spectacular flowering forbs. One can imagine the pioneers crossing over land where mothers feared they could lose their small children in the 6 to 12 foot tall maze of grasses.

Related Documents and Publications

Tallgrass Prairie: A Multidisciplinary Curriculum for Teachers (PDF file, 24.9 MB) provides opportunities for learning and activities in science, social studies, language arts, mathematics, and reading. It encourages observations, problem solving, and high-order thinking. 

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).

The Prairie Management Plan, 2003 (PDF file, 289 KB) outlines strategies for managing the restored tallgrass prairie. 

Evaluation of fire effects and restoration progress through 21 years of prairie vegetation monitoring at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, 1982-2005 (PDF file, 4.48 MB)