Hodgkins in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Santa Fe Prairie

An Illinois Nature Preserve

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024

1. Santa Fe Prairie Marker

Inscription. Santa Fe Prairie Nature Preserve has been formally dedicated as a sanctuary for native plants and animals. It is maintained in its natural condition so that present and future generations can see the Illinois landscape as it appeared in the past. This living example of our natural heritage is valuable for scientific studies and may provide habitat for rare plants and animals.

A high-quality feature of this preserve is the mesic gravel prairie, which is rated by The Nature Conservancy as globally rare and threatened throughout its range. Surrounding lands have been managed to support natural forest, prairie, and wetlands, all to the benefit of Santa Fe Prairie.

This preserve is owned by the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor Civic Center Authority. Entrance is by permission only. Remain in the mowed areas. Domestic animals prohibited. Please protect and perpetuate the nature preserve by not disturbing or removing anything. All features are protected by law.

Erected by Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment

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• Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and the Illinois & Michigan Canal series lists.

Location. 41° 45.469′ N, 87° 51.478′ W. Marker is in Hodgkins, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from Leon Cook Drive 0.4 miles south of Santa Fe Drive, on the right. The marker is affixed to a deck that overlooks the prairie, a short distance east of the Santa Fe caboose. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: La Grange IL 60525, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Chicago.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Welcome to Santa Fe Prairie (here, next to this marker); The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co.

Welcome to Santa Fe Prairie Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024

2. Welcome to Santa Fe Prairie Marker

The marker on the right is related to the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area.

(a few steps from this marker); Betz & Swink (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Santa Fe Prairie (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hodgkins Veterans Memorial (approx. one mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Płk Antoni Skarbek-Szacki (approx. 1.2 miles away); Lithuanian National Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hodgkins.

More about this marker. An identical marker can be found near the entrance to the park, about 225 yards east of here. Several other markers are in the immediate vicinity as well, erected as part of the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area.

Regarding Santa Fe Prairie. The Santa Fe Railroad donated this land to the Civic Center Authority in 1997. The rare prairie remnant has survived even as it had been completely enveloped by change on all sides, including nearby manmade features within a mile of the site such as railways, the I&M Canal, Interstates 55 and 294, and numerous industrial sites.

Also see . . . Civic Center Authority: Santa Fe Prairie.

Excerpt: "The
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024

3. Santa Fe Prairie and caboose
The marker is on the right side of this photo. The nearby caboose was donated by Santa Fe Railroad in 1998.
Prairie Restoration movement began at Santa Fe Prairie when Floyd Swink, chief taxonomist at the Morton Arboretum, brought Dr. Robert Betz to the site in 1959. Dr. Betz, a biologist at Northeastern Illinois University, was so fascinated by seeing a real prairie, he promptly resolved to pursue prairie restoration. The first major success in the effort to save Santa Fe Prairie came in 1988 when Stan Johnson, Chairman of the Civic Center Authority, convinced the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway to let the Authority manage the site. He then recruited Karen Stasky and Gregg Starr as site stewards. After decades of persuasion, the Railway donated the Prairie (1997) along with a caboose (1998) to the Civic Center Authority."

(Submitted on December 5, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Des Plaines River image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024

4. Des Plaines River

The Des Plaines River (frozen on this cold December day) is across the road from this marker and the nearby caboose.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 5, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 183 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 5, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.