Grand Prairie

Illinois was at the easternmost reach of the tallgrass prairie regions, an area known as the "Prairie Peninsula", named because it was bounded on the North, East, and South by a sea of forest. The lush tallgrass prairie that covered Central Illinois was called the Grand Prairie. At its peak, it sustained more than 300 species of plants, 60 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, and well over 1000 kinds of insects. Among swaying grasses grew wildflowers that bloomed from spring until fall in a succession of brilliant colors.

The Grand Prairie thrived for 8000 years and adapted to survive steaming summers, bitter winters, severe drought, and raging fire. In the process of growing, the plants and animals helped to create some of the most fertile soils in the world. With the advent of settlers and the invention of the steel plow, the grasslands were plowed under and transformed into farm fields.

As recently as the 1820s, prairie covered about 22 million acres in Illinois. Today, less than 2500 acres of high-quality prairie remain, over 99% having been lost to plowing and paving. Our once vast prairie exists now mainly in scattered remnants, often found in pioneer cemeteries, along railroad rights-of-way, and on steep bluffs high above rivers.

GPF preserves these remnants as a way of maintaining a link with Illinois' natural heritage. Within each parcel are the resources that gave Illinois its natural beauty and strength. We hope to assure that these gifts will be available for future generations. May we all continue to enjoy the call of an upland sandpiper and the beauty of a white-fringed orchid.

updated: December 19, 2007
www: www.prairienet.org/gpf
email: gpf@prairienet.org