Like the Dakotah, pioneers used the prairie plants for medicine. The trees also provided good building materials for the log cabin and sod houses.  Just like the Dakotah, every spring the pioneers would tap maple trees and boil the sap into sweet syrup.

Some common plants seen in the museum’s prairie include the big and little blue steam grass. These grasses would wave in the wind causing settlers to report on the “sea of grasses” on the plains.

There are patches of flowers including the fiery red prairie smoke and the  bright black-eyed susan are common. The patchwork of flowers changes throughout the season. Prairie smoke gives way to the yellow ox-eyes and cone flowers, that later give way to the blue and purple cone flowers and blazing stars. White yarrow and sage can be seen all season long.

Along with the reconstructed prairie, there is a small oak savannah where the shade provides a welcome relief from the summer sun and the plum trees provide a sweet treat at the end of the season.