Before pioneer settlement, the western prairies were the largest ecosystem in what would become the United States. Much has been converted into farms, cities and highways, but much also remains. We will examine the natural history of the region, the plethora of plants, not just grasses, including remarkable wildflowers, the startling assortment of interesting animals and the early human inhabitants. Happily, there is growing interest in restoring and conserving prairie ecosystems. It is a landscape of hope and spiritual power.