The public is cordially invited to attend the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve’s Partnership for the Prairie Celebration on October 11, beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a trailhead kiosk unveiling ceremony for the Bottomland Trail. 
     
Afternoon festivities will begin at 12:00 p.m. with a bison barbeque and live music presented by the Home Rangers of Wichita. A silent auction will begin at 1:00 p.m. and a live auction at 2:00 p.m. Other activities include living history demonstrations, performances by the Wild Women of the Frontier on horseback, rides in a covered wagon by the Flint Hills Overland Wagon Train, and square dancing. Children age 12 and under will receive a free cowboy hat.  The afternoon events will celebrate the dedication of the volunteers, staff and community, who worked to make the Preserve a success.  The fee is $10 per person--$25 per family and proceeds will go to support this precious jewel of Kansas. Please reserve your place by calling (620-273-8139) or email us at louise@parktrust.org by October 8, 2003.  For further information visit our web site at http://www.parktrust.org/zbar.html

The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve provides a rare look into American history and tells the story about who we are and how we arrived here.  This precious Kansas resource was established in 1996 as a unit of the National Park System.  The unique public/private partnership between the National Park Service and the National Park Trust is dedicated to conserving the last publicly accessible remnant of the tallgrass prairie, interpreting the natural and cultural heritage associated with ranching, and offering opportunities for education, artistic inspiration and enjoyment through its geological, ecological, scenic and historical features.  The National Park Trust is a private, non-profit organization and the only land conservancy dedicated to preserving America’s national system of parks, wildlife, and historic monuments.

The Preserve headquarters are located on highway 177 two miles north of the junction of highways 50 & 177 which is one half mile west of Strong City or 17 miles south of Council Grove on Highway 177.   Hours of operations are daily from 9:00 A.M. until 4:30 P.M.

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE PRAIRIE CELEBRATION

10:30 a.m.- Unveiling of trailhead to the interpretive Bottomland Trail
12:00 p.m.-Bison barbeque, music by the Home Rangers & living history demonstrators
1:00 p.m.-Silent auction, Covered Wagon Rides and Square Dancing
2:00 p.m.- Live Auction
1:00 and 3:00- Wild Women on horseback performance

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The entrance to Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve is located two miles north of Strong City, Kansas on State Highway 177.
 

For more information, contact:
Louise Carlin
NPT Project Director (PERC) 
National Park Trust (NPT)
620-273-8139
louise@parktrust.org

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Founded in 1983, National Park Trust is the only land conservancy dedicated to preserving our national system of parks, wildlife and historic monuments.