Near Johnson Creek in Jefferson County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Wisconsin Prairies
Photographed By Devon Polzar, 2019
1. Wisconsin Prairies Marker
Inscription.
Wisconsin Prairies. . These are a few of the twenty-five species of grasses and over 250 species of wildflowers that might be found in a native prairie plant community. Imagine what miles and miles of uninterrupted prairie would look like. Early explorers in Wisconsin described immense prairies stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see, grasses so tall that "a man is lost amongst it," and elk in herds of four or five hundred animals. These vast prairies were compared to oceans, with the topographic undulations and the tall grasses blowing in the breeze likened to rolling waves "stretching away until sky and meadow mingle in the distant horizon."
Prairies originally covered about 2 million of Wisconsin's 35.7 million acres. Over 7 million more acres were covered by savanna, a prairie-like community with widely scattered trees, most likely oaks. Today, less than 1/10 of one percent of Wisconsin's original prairie remains. Tallgrass prairie (the type of prairie found in Wisconsin) and oak savanna are now the most decimated and threatened plant communities in the Midwest and among the most decimated in the world. Look for prairie remnants on steep hillsides and along rural roadsides, especially between roadway and railroad tracks.
These are a few of the twenty-five species of grasses and over 250 species of wildflowers that might be found in a native prairie plant community. Imagine what miles and miles of uninterrupted prairie would look like. Early explorers in Wisconsin described immense prairies stretching in every direction as far as the eye could see, grasses so tall that "a man is lost amongst it," and elk in herds of four or five hundred animals. These vast prairies were compared to oceans, with the topographic undulations and the tall grasses blowing in the breeze likened to rolling waves "stretching away until sky and meadow mingle in the distant horizon."
Prairies originally covered about 2 million of Wisconsin's 35.7 million acres. Over 7 million more acres were covered by savanna, a prairie-like community with widely scattered trees, most likely oaks. Today, less than 1/10 of one percent of Wisconsin's original prairie remains. Tallgrass prairie (the type of prairie found in Wisconsin) and oak savanna are now the most decimated and threatened plant communities in the Midwest and among the most decimated in the world. Look for prairie remnants on steep hillsides and along rural roadsides, especially between roadway and railroad tracks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment.
Location.
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43° 5.227′ N, 88° 49.419′ W. Marker is near Johnson Creek, Wisconsin, in Jefferson County. Marker can be reached from Interstate 94, 3.2 miles west of State Route 26 when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Johnson Creek WI 53038, United States of America. Touch for directions.
More about this marker. The marker is near the entrance to the rest area building at Rest Area No. 14, Westbound I-94.
Photographed By Devon Polzar, 2019
2. Wisconsin Prairies Marker
Photographed By Devon Polzar, 2019
3. Wisconsin Prairies Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2020, by Devon Polzar of Port Washington, Wisconsin. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
