Illinois State Museum

prairie exhibit
Prairie diorama
Illinois State Museum

Central Prairie - Rise of the Prairie

Thousands of years ago, a dryer climate favored the growth of prairie grasses in Illinois. Trees, which need more moisture than grass, died out except along rivers, wetlands, and hills. As the climate became wetter, natural fires and burning by Native Americans maintained the prairie. Unless controlled by fire, shrubs and trees would have taken over the prairie when conditions became wetter.