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

The Morton Grove Prairie

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 12, 2025

1. The Morton Grove Prairie Marker

Inscription. This unique site is one of the rare remnants of the surviving 1/100 of one percent of the native prairie that once covered two-thirds of Illinois.

It preserves some of the original biotic diversity of this area for reference and discovery.

Its historical significance became a focus for the Morton Grove celebration of the Bicentennial. The Park District, recognizing its irreplaceable value for study and appreciation, resolved on July 29, 1975, to preserve it as part of the new park which became Prairie View Park.

Because it is a representative portion of a vast ancient ecosystem and contains over 100 species of plant life found only in these surviving prairie remnants, this Morton Grove Prairie was dedicated on 22nd October 1979 as an Illinois State Nature Preserve and shall be held, maintained, and used as provided for Nature Preserves in Illinois law.

"This land belongs to all our people,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

most of whom have not been born yet."

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Horticulture & Forestry • Parks & Recreational Areas. In addition, it is included in the The Spirit of ’76, America’s Bicentennial Celebration series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 29, 1975.

Location. 42° 2.67′ N, 87° 47.795′ W. Marker is in Morton Grove, Illinois, in Cook County. It can be reached from Oak Park Avenue near Hazel Street. The sign is affixed to a wooden deck that overlooks the prairie reserve at Prairie View Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morton Grove IL 60053, 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,

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 12, 2025

2. The Morton Grove Prairie Marker

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 walking distance of this marker: Morton Grove Veterans' Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Vietnam Veterans Memorial Grove (approx. ¼ mile away); Historic Indian Marker Tree (approx. half a mile away); Harrer Park (approx. ¾ mile away); Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution (approx. 0.8 miles away); American Indian - Potawatomi Tribe Eagle Dancer (approx. 0.8 miles away); Indian Trading Post (approx. 0.8 miles away); Harrer Park Flagpole (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morton Grove.

Also see . . . What's Going on at Morton Grove Prairie?. Article from Patch.com

Excerpt: "In 2024, the Morton Grove Park District partnered with Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves to address the
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, March 12, 2025

3. Morton Grove Prairie
Illinois Nature Preserves Division website entry
Click for more information.
human need. In the absence of regular fire, gray dogwood and smooth sumac formed dense, dark shrub thickets that choked out prairie vegetation across much of the preserve. Large planted cottonwood trees cast extensive shade over the prairie, dooming yet more shade-intolerant prairie flora. Invasive species like European lily-of-the-valley escape from home gardens and form thick mats, out-competing native vegetation.

"In March, volunteers supported by Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves set about removing the woody shrubs and addressing the invasive species, while the Morton Grove Park District heroically removed the shade-casting cottonwoods. With favorable prairie conditions reestablished, volunteers now collect seeds and supplement with local seeds donated by the North Branch Restoration Project. One might ask: if so much of the prairie was badly degraded, where do we collect seeds?"

(Submitted on July 2, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 224 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 17, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.