"It is official," announced Steve Miller, National Park Service superintendent of the preserve, at the ceremony last week. "The deed has been completed. The American people now own part of this unique park unit, one purchased and donated by a private charity for others to enjoy. On behalf of all Americans, and all visitors for this and future generations, we want to thank the National Park Trust."

"This is the completion of a dream," said Paul Pritchard, founder and president of the National Park Trust. "We purchased this pristine tallgrass prairie with its incredible historic buildings in 1994. We have cared for it and done everything that a private owner should do. Now our plan to give this initial land to the National Park Service is fulfilled. No other conservation organization has this special honor. We are humbled by the privilege."

The donated property consists of approximately 32 [core] acres of the nearly 11,000-acre Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve designated by Congress in 1996. It includes the nationally significant main house, one of America's largest historic barns, and other related structures which date from the late 1800s. The ceremonial transfer occurred on September 20 at the property during a public event attended by officials of the NPS, hundreds of local citizens and visitors. The official transfer of the property is to occur on September 25, 2002.

For over fifty years, park advocates have hoped to create a national park unit dedicated to the great tallgrass prairie that once dominated the nation's heartland. William Least Heat-Moon dedicated a full chapter in his book Prairie Erth to the prospect. In 1994, National Park Trust purchased the ranch, comprising seventeen square miles of open prairie. In 1996, Congress enacted the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve Act officially making the ranch into a unit of the National Park System.

"This is our finest hour," said Paul Duffendack, vice chair of the National Park Trust and chairman of the private citizen group that oversees the property. "Thanks to the  commitment of people across the nation who donated millions of dollars for this day, this national park unit can now be enjoyed by all the visitors. This parcel and the others already dedicated to the plan for the park will be a living gift for our people."

The National Park Trust was established to accept private donations to purchase parklands. Since its inception in 1983, it has purchased or assisted in the protection of more than 100 park properties. Through its efforts, five national park units have been completed and thousands of acres protected. The National Park Trust is located at Suite 210, 415 Second Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone 202-548-0500 Ext 11, for more information.