Elmhurst in DuPage County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Wildlife

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 15, 2025

1. Wildlife Marker

Inscription. Welcome to our neighborhood. No longer the large herds of grazing buffalo, elk or deer, but smaller animals have adapted to the grassland environment. These animals feed on grass or seeds or prey on those that do; they live underground or in grass nests, and are often camouflaged for grassland hiding. These animals are just as important to the natural ecosystem as the plants. They play roles such as pollinator, recycler and provide food for larger creatures.

Erected by Elmhurst Park District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment.

Location. 41° 53.142′ N, 87° 57.248′ W. Marker is in Elmhurst, Illinois, in DuPage County. It is on Prairie Path Lane near Berkley Avenue. The marker is alongside the Illinois Prairie Path. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Elmhurst IL 60126, 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 territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Think Globally. Act Locally. (within shouting distance of this marker); The Elmhurst Great Western Prairie (within shouting distance of this marker); The American Prairie (approx. 0.2 miles away); Elmhurst and Salt Creek: History at a Glance (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bicentennial Fountain

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(approx. ¾ mile away); Villa Park Historical Museum (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Great Western Trail (approx. 0.8 miles away); Chicago Great Western Railway Depot (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Elmhurst.

More about this marker. Two other environment-related markers, about the prairie, can be found a short walk away in either direction. This stretch of the Illinois Prairie Path goes through a six-acre Elmhurst Park District property called the Keith A. Olson Prairie. It was called the Great Western Prairie until being renamed in 2024 after a preservation advocate. The rare original prairie was left intact along the old right-of-way of the Great Western and Chicago, Aurora & Elgin railroads, parallel train lines that ran through this location until the 1960s.

Also see . . .
1. Elmhurst Park District: Keith A. Olson Prairie.

Excerpt: "Once, most of the northern two-thirds of Illinois was prairie. Now far less than one percent of that original grassland remains. Elmhurst has a rare and unique opportunity to maintain and display a prairie in otherwise developed surroundings, thereby
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, January 15, 2025

2. Keith A. Olson Prairie
The Wildlife Marker is the second of three in this east-northeast-facing photograph. The other two markers describe the environment of the park. This prairie park, originally known as the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie (after one of the train lines that ran through this location until the 1960s) was renamed after longtime preservation advocate Keith Olson in 2024.
preserving a living time capsule of Illinois in its original state."

(Submitted on January 15, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

2. Illinois Prairie Path official site. (Submitted on January 15, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,035 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 15, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.