Nine Mile Prairie, Protected tallgrass prairie in Lancaster County, Nebraska
Nine Mile Prairie is a 230-acre natural area in Lancaster County that supports more than 390 plant species and around 80 bird species within its undisturbed grassland. The site displays what the region's original prairie landscape looked like before farming and settlement transformed it.
The University of Nebraska started ecological research here in the 1920s under Professor John Ernest Weaver, who studied prairie plant communities and their patterns. This early work became foundational to understanding how grassland ecosystems develop and maintain themselves.
The site serves as a working classroom where students from the University of Nebraska study plant life and learn how ecosystems function in real conditions. Walking through the grassland shows visitors how this landscape shaped the region's natural heritage.
The prairie is open from sunrise to sunset with parking available at the West Fletcher Avenue entrance for hiking and wildlife viewing. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and bring insect protection during warmer months.
The land has remained mostly unplowed since the early days, with only a small section disturbed in the 1950s, and has been maintained through controlled burns ever since. This careful stewardship allows the prairie to keep its original character despite the passage of decades.
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