Tall Grasses and Open Skies

Tall Grasses and Open Skies. Herbert Hoover National Historic Site. , This landscape offers a glimpse of the tallgrass prairie that once covered 85 percent of Iowa. By the time of Herbert Hoover's birth in 1874, farmers were converting much of the state's prairie to cropland. When Hoover was a boy, Isaac Miles raise crops here. In 1971 the National Park Service replanted prairie grasses. This complemented the solitude of the president's gravesite and controlled erosion and runoff. Of crops, big bluestem, Indian grass, and wild ride now dominate the scene. , [Captions:] , Herbert Hoover's love of the outdoors as a boy lead to his geology studies at Stanford, his mining career, and his establishment of national parks and forests as president. , Shrubs are removed so native grasses can flourish. , Prescribed fire suppressed trees and shrubs, discourage non-native plants, return nutrients to the soil, and encourage native plants., Colorful native coneflowers Dr. prairie during the summer. Grasses grow as tall as 10 feet. Tallgrass prairie plants have extremely deep roots, reaching as much as 12 feet below the surface. , Prarie Trails Two miles of trails loop through the prairie for you to enjoy hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Get a trail map at the park visitor center or visit www.nps.gov/heho