ILLINOIS — In July, National Bison Month, Midewin Interpretive Association volunteers and USDA Forest Service staff members presented communities with a special poster that commemorates 25 years of restoration at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.

Gerald Heinrich, president of the Midewin Interpretive Association, and Prairie Supervisor Wade Spang and staff members presented the poster during tours of the prairie and during city council meetings. U.S. and state of Illinois representatives and staff members who toured Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie included Lawrence Walsh (IL-86) and Anthony DeLuca (IL-80); Jon Scholtes, district director for David Welter (IL-75); and Randy Sikowski, downstate director for U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Posters were also presented to Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen; Symerton Mayor Eli Geiss and Wilmington Mayor Ben Dietz.  

“Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie volunteers, partners and staff members are grateful for shared stewardship and partnership of communities throughout the past quarter-century,” Spang said.

The nonprofit Midewin Interpretative Association sponsored the poster and was instrumental in planning its design, which is reminiscent of iconic 1930s Works Progress Administration artwork. On the poster, artist Lynda Wallis depicts Midewin’s distinctive features. Big bluestem, rosin weed and wild quinine are among Midewin’s more than 275 native Illinois prairie wildflowers and grasses, and the Eastern meadowlark is one of its many grassland birds. Figures of grazing bison highlight the 2015 project that reintroduced them to this landscape. A bunker in the distance represents over 400 bunkers where ammunitions were once stored.

In 1996, the Illinois Land Conservation Act established Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. In increments, land 50 miles southwest of Chicago that was instrumental during World War II as the Joliet Army Ammunitions Plant is being transferred from the U.S. Army to the Forest Service. So far, approximately 18,500 acres have been transferred.    

“As we celebrate the first 25 years, we look ahead to the next 25 years,” Spang said. “As we continue in our journey, it is hoped that this poster will be displayed and enjoyed by future generations to help further understanding about the importance of prairies and grasslands in Illinois — the Prairie State.”