We visited the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve in September of 2009. It is so quiet and peaceful that it captured us and it became one of our Favorite Places.
This preserve is located in east-central Kansas. Prior to the immigration of pioneer settlers in central North America, the area from Indiana to Kansas and Canada to Texas was covered with tall grasses – 140 million acres to be exact. Now only 4% of Kansas is covered with this native tallgrass.
The preserve is managed jointly by the National Park Service,
The Nature Conservancy and the Kansas Park Service.
Part of this area was once a family ranch. The original ranch looked like this.
Today the home, barn, schoolhouse and many of the
out-buildings are still standing.
They are used primarily for educational purposes.
Many of the buildings and fences are made of native limestone.
The flint stone under the soil is what prevented this
area from being plowed under for agricultural purposes.
Cattle grazing became the primary source of income.
Today the preserve is home a small number of native bison.
They are being carefully re-introduced to graze the prairie land.
Throughout the preserve there are hiking trails and tours with the
purpose of educating visitors on the need to preserve the grasslands.
Visiting this area gave us a greater appreciation for the wide-open prairies.
I hope you’ll join me again next Sunday for more Favorite Places. If you’d like to join in, just grab the button at the top of this post, put it on your blog along with info about one of your Favorite Places. Come back and leave a link in the comment section and we’ll all come and visit you.
NORTHERN CALLIFORNIA
I have always, always wanted to visit this park. Thanks for telling me more about it. That was some ranch, with the walls/fences!
How interesting that the land couldn’t be used for agricultural purposes. I’m glad it’s being preserved because I’m sure someone in this day and age would figure out something different to do with it.
You have the best pictures! At first I thought it would be Nebraska. When we last crossed the country by car, we stopped there so my husband could play golf, and it was the longest grass ever. I bet there could have been a million golf balls in that grass! Thanks as usual for bringing back fun memories as you always do!
I have lived in Kansas nearly 20 years and I am ashamed to say that I have never visited this lovely landmark. I will definitely have to put it on the list of summer weekend trip getaways.
This place looks wonderful. I love the prairie. Although I didn’t as a child growing up in Minnesota.
We are trading spots today for our “visit someday” lists! We found interesting things about Kansas, but somehow missed visiting this preserve. I love the pictures.
I’ve been spending some time in Kansas this week while reading In Cold Blood. This looks like a happier place! I love that they are reintroducing the bison.
Only 4%…how sad. This sounds like a great place to visit!!! I love this feature Margot!!
I am personally just thrilled to see a picture of something so pretty and that is not WET. The rain has just overwhelmed me. I miss Kansas and Missouri. I loved those grases…kinda remindes me of Little House on the Prarie.
what a fun place to visit–and live.
Yes, I agree with all the above comments! There is a kind of deep, special love I have for the “grasslands” of Missouri & Kansas, and the dry green-golden grass, wide-open blue skies with a hint of humidity in the air… it simply takes me away somewhere wonderful! Thank you! Only 4% is a true crime. Power to the grasses (not the mowing kind)!
This is one of our favorite places, too. I (Tami) grew up about 100 miles northwest of there, so these pics look like home to me. We are shooting for retirement in this area, so hopefully it will be home again someday. Thanks for sharing your pictures.
I’ve never been to Kansas. Thanks so much for sharing this favorite place.