Tallgrass Prairie Observation Deck

The observation deck at the bottom of the hill is the head of the prairie trails.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

West Branch, Iowa

Significance:

Part of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

Amenities

11 listed

Audio Description, Benches/Seating, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information - Maps Available, Parking - Auto, Parking - Bus/RV, Scenic View/Photo Spot, Trailhead, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible

The 81 acres of tallgrass prairie reconstructed here offer a glimpse of an Iowa landscape that had almost vanished by the time Herbert Hoover's grandparents moved here in 1854. Prior to the settlement of West Branch, prairie covered 85 percent of Iowa. Trees were scarce until planted; the Hoovers imported lumber from farther north for construction of the president's birthplace. Tall native grasses, sprinkled with brilliantly colored wildflowers once covered these rolling hills for as far as the eye could see.

Valuable Farmland

Iowa's prairies became some of the most valuable farmland in the world. The plowed fields of the Miles Farm characterized the immediate landscape during Hoover's youth. Prairie remnants persisted along the creeks and railroad tracks where Hoover spent many boyhood hours exploring.

Young Bert Hoover: Sod Buster

Hoover enjoyed a keen interest in the natural world and often referred to boyhood experiences: "I was taken for a summer to live with Uncle Pennington Minthorn in Sioux County, Iowa, where he was breaking in a prairie farm. We lived in a sod house and I was privileged to ride the lead horse of a team which was opening the virgin soil."

Lost Resource

The tradeoff is that today less than one percent of prairie land still exists in Hoover's home state. This is one reason the National Park Service restored this historic cultivated field to much of its original splendor. Because their root systems run as deep as the plants are tall, native prairie grasses are well-adapted for controlling runoff and stabilizing areas susceptible to erosion.

Hoover's Legacy of Public Lands Conservation

Herbert Hoover, an avid fisherman and proponent of outdoor recreation, saw the value in conserving natural resources. 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. In honor of his conservation achievements and his fondness for the outdoors, this prairie offers a quiet and dignified setting to commemorate the life of the 31st president.

Trails

This prairie offers over two miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and nature study. Trail maps are available from the visitor center or at the Tallgrass Prairie Observation Deck.

• A Vanished Landscape

  
  

  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:

  01/16/2021

  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)