Tridens Prairie

In 1841, when Zacharia Westfall was granted 1280 acres of land in this area, much of the northeastern region of Texas was covered with natural prairies. Over the years most of them have been plowed or destroyed. Tridens Prairie, which covers 97 acres of Westfall's original grant, is an undisturbed remnant of the blackland prairie that now is under preservation management. Tridens Prairie is part of a natural grassland that extends from Texas through the midwestern United States and into southern Canada. Its name is derived from the native, perennial bunch grass known as Long-spiked tridens. Over 150 species of grasses and wildflowers have been identified in Tridens Prairie. Dominant grasses of the prairie include Sporobolus silveanus (Silveanus dropseed), Tridens strictus (Long-spiked tridens), Paspalum floridanum (Florida paspalum), and Tripsacum dactyloides (Eastern gama). One of the few remaining native grasslands in the state and once part of a large hay-producing region, Tridens Prairie is an important part of Texas' natural history. It is being preserved by the Texas Nature Conservancy and Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. (1985)

Tridens Prairie is a historical marker in Brookston, Lamar County, dedicated in 1985. It is one of 46 historical markers documented in Lamar County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 89 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.6417, -95.6976 near Brookston. The nearest cataloged historic site is Smiley-Woodfin Native Prairie Grassland (historical marker), about 0.5 miles away. Others within a short drive include State Highway Bridge 5 at Big Pine Creek (Gone), State Highway 5 Bridge at High Creek (Gone), and Lamar County.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5277008229. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.