Mound Township near Hardwick in Rock County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Restoring the Prairie

February 16, 2026

1. Restoring the Prairie Marker

Inscription. In 2001, Touch the Sky Prairie became the first unit purchased as part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. At that time, the Windom Wetland Management District started using a variety of prairie management tools to help restore this upland bird habitat.

The protection and restoration of this prairie included building partnerships with landowners, communities, foundations, and local agencies. Educating people about the importance and value of prairies will keep the biological heritage of the tallgrass prairie intact.

Invasive Species Control

Prairie Management Tools
• Mowing
• Haying
• Grazing
• Controlled Burning
• Tree and Brush Removal
• Invasive Species Control
• Seeding Native Prairie

USFWS

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Charity & Public Work • Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 2001.

Location. 43° 43.955′ N, 96° 17.225′ W. Marker is near Hardwick, Minnesota, in Rock County. It is in Mound Township. It is on 171st Street ¼ mile east of 90th Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Located at the trailhead

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of the Prairie Waterfall Trail at the Touch the Sky Prairie Unit, which is part of the Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Luverne MN 56156, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Minnesota. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and on the Great Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Home of the Blue Goose (approx. 1.4 miles away); Preserving the Prairie (approx. 1.4 miles away); Prairie Passage / Tallgrass Prairie / Prairie Passage Route (approx. 4.6 miles away); a different marker also named Prairie Passage / Tallgrass Prairie / Prairie Passage Route (approx. 5.2 miles away); Blue Mounds State Park Interpretive Center (approx. 5.4 miles away); Rock County Veterans Memorial (approx.

Restoring the Prairie and other Markers image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2026

2. Restoring the Prairie and other Markers

6.6 miles away); Shella Building (approx. 9.8 miles away); Jasper Military Service Memorial (approx. 10.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hardwick.

Restoring the Prairie and surrounding Markers image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2026

3. Restoring the Prairie and surrounding Markers

Neighboring Markers image. Click for full size.

February 16, 2026

4. Neighboring Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on April 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 6, 2026. This page has been viewed 20 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 6, 2026.