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Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
2024 Solar Eclipse
Bring your curiosity, your lunch and a blanket for a picnic on the prairie and eclipse viewing!
April 8th, 2024 at the Ironbridge Trailhead (changed from River Road seedbeds due to flooding) from 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Welcome to Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie
The Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie is the largest island in the archipelago of protected areas that collectively comprise the Chicago Wilderness. It includes full array of species and natural processes typical of tallgrass prairies in the region, including the reintroduction of bison.
Turning back the clock from a landscape dominated by rusting munitions factories and abandoned ammunitions bunkers into a 20,283 acre pristine tallgrass prairie makes the Midewin a compelling vision for landscape scale restoration.
In this video from the National Forest Foundation, Bill Kurtis explains how the surprisingly long roots of prairie plants help the environment.
Visit the Prairie
Know Before You Go
Look for Bison
Features
Visitor Guide: What to Know Before You Go
There is some information that is vital to know before visiting a National Forest or Grassland. Check in here first when planning your visit and receive the latest information you need to know before visiting Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Preserving Prairie Farm History
Keeping the prairie past alive with first-hand family stories, heirloom recipes - four generations share stories of growing up on the "Fairview Farm" in the 1930s. Find out more about the history of Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie and the land through its many past uses.
Spotlights
Brushwood Center's At Ease Nature Platoon at Midewin NTP
An innovative approach to empowering the well-being of U.S. Military Veterans and their families through the great outdoors.
Seasonal Safety
Check-in here first when planning your visit.
B-Roll Videos
Downloadable 2- to 3-minute videos that show life at Midewin throughout the four seasons of the year.
Bill Kurtis Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary Video
Prairie restoration advocate and journalist Bill Kurtis talks about the importance of Illinois prairie plants in this Midewin NTP Silver Anniversary video.
