Near Beatrice in Gage County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
A Prairie Reborn
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
1. A Prairie Reborn Marker
These rambling acres of grass and greenery might not look like a carefully planned landscape. Yet they are part of an ongoing restoration effort begun in 1939 to undo the effects of 76 years of farming, restoring agricultural fields to a diverse collection of native plant species that represent the vegetation the first homesteaders encountered.
Prairie ecosystems once spanned 140,000,000 acres. Today, less than one percent remains. Restoration and research at Homestead National Monument of America help us to understand and manage these vanishing environments.
…it would seem desirable to make an effort early in the program to restore some of the more prominent spring, summer and fall flowers to show a part of nature which no doubt gave some cheer to the first settlers.
Adolph Murie
Restoration of Native Grassland at Homestead National Monument, 1938
Erected by National Park Service.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Environment • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 40° 17.13′ N, 96° 49.614′ W. Marker is near Beatrice, Nebraska, in Gage County. Marker is on the Homestead Heritage Center patio. Touch for map
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Homesteading's Legacy is Written on the Land (here, next to this marker); Is All Barbed Wire the Same? (within shouting distance of this marker); The Homestead Heritage Center (within shouting distance of this marker); Walk in Their Shoes (within shouting distance of this marker); Do You Live Near a Homestead? (within shouting distance of this marker); Boundaries of Freedom (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Close Quarters (about 300 feet away); Daniel and Agnes Freeman (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Beatrice.
Also see . . . Homestead National Monument of America. (Submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By National Park Service, Undated
2. Map on A Prairie Reborn Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
3. A Prairie Reborn Marker
Overlooking the prairie restoration
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 30, 2011
4. A Prairie Reborn Marker
On patio
Credits. This page was last revised on August 13, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 24, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 440 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 25, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
