Hodgkins in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Betz & Swink
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024
1. Betz & Swink Marker
A moment of discovery
Robert Betz and Floyd Swink have collaborated for decades to save and restore the remnants of Illinois' once vast prairies. It all began here in 1959 when Swink, a leading authority on prairie plants, introduced Betz to the Santa Fe Prairie. Their dynamic leadership has inspired hundreds of volunteers and conservationists to preserve our remaining prairies.
[East-facing sign:]
Robert Betz
As a child in Chicago, Betz imagined that vacant lots were prairies. At Santa Fe Prairie he learned what constituted a true prairie. Amazed by the variety of plants found here, Betz dedicated his work to the study of native prairies.
Floyd Swink
A dedicated educator, Swink also co-authored Plants of the Chicago Region, which catalogs native prairie plants in the area. His work has formed the basis for preserving Northeastern Illinois' natural ecosystems.
Erected by Canal Corridor Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included
this page online
Location. 41° 45.458′ N, 87° 51.491′ W. Marker is in Hodgkins, Illinois, in Cook County. It is on Leon Cook Road 0.4 miles south of Santa Fe Drive, on the right when traveling south. The marker is in Santa Fe Prairie Reserve, to the left of the caboose and immediately next to a metal statue depicting the two men. 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: The Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. (a few steps from this marker); Santa Fe Prairie (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Santa Fe Prairie
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024
2. Betz & Swink Marker (east-facing side)
More about this marker. A similar style of marker can be found on a bollard to the right of the caboose; to the right of those is a large sign from the I&M Canal National Heritage Area as well as a sign from the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission.
Also see . . .
1. Fermilab: The prairie professor who liked to mix his pop. Biochemist Bob Betz, who is one of the two subjects of this marker, oversaw the prairie planting project at Fermilab, the national accelerator laboratory about 30 miles (by car) west of this reserve. The prairie at Fermilab is named after Betz. Betz, a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, died in 2007. (Submitted on December 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Wikipedia: Floyd Swink.
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024
3. Betz & Swink: marker and statue
Excerpt: "Few and out-of-date botanical resources were available to Chicago area botanists in the 1960s. At the request of Northern Illinois University's Dr. Herbert Lamp, in 1965 Swink typed up a list of plants from M. L. Fernald's 8th edition of Gray's Manual that included only those species found in the Chicago area. It became known by naturalists as the "Lamp List." After several years fervently collecting plant specimens and county records throughout the region, Swink published Plants of the Chicago Region in 1969. Only 250 copies were printed and it quickly sold out. This regional flora compiled wild plant occurrences from counties in northeastern Illinois, southeastern Wisconsin, northern Indiana, and southwestern Michiganan area delimited by what was considered a reasonable a day trip from Chicago."(Submitted on December 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, December 5, 2024
4. Betz & Swink Marker and the Santa Fe caboose
The prairie preserve can be seen in the background. The Santa Fe railway and an industrial site are behind the preserve.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 6, 2024, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
