Tallgrass Prairie Center

The Tallgrass Prairie Center includes demonstration plantings and educational exhibits telling the story of America's lost landscape and native seed production plots provide a glimpse of future prairie restoration in Iowa. The center is located on the University of Northern Iowa campus and is a part of the University of Northern Iowa Biological Preserves System, an 88-acre complex of prairie, riparian woodlands and upland forest, open to the public year round. This system includes 5.8 miles of regularly maintained trails, connecting the Preserves with other naturalized areas on the south side of the UNI campus, along Dry Run Creek. UNI students use the Preserves in a variety of courses, especially Biology and Environmental Resource Management majors. Visitors may enjoy a variety of activities on the trails including walking or running, snowshoeing or cross country skiing, bird watching, identifying plants, and photographing wildlife. In 2023 the center is celebrating 50 years of Daryl Smith Prairie.