Welcome to the website of the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site This quote is from a Lakota creation story. Inyan means "rock", and Wakan Tanka means "the Great Mystery".       For literally thousands of years, the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site has been an important place for the people who lived here. Before the pyramids were built, before the first stone was erected at Stonehenge, there were carvings in the rock. Long after those first petroglyphs, this was a holy site to the native people who lived in and around this area -- the Iowa, Oto, Arapaho, Cheyenne, Lakota, Dakota, Nakota, and Ojibwe.       The carvings weren't discovered by European settlers until the 1870s, but since then it has been visited many times by scientists, archeologists, anthropologists, and curious visitors. Several books and articles have been written about the petroglyphs, and in 1966 the Minnesota Historical Society bought the property from W.H. Jeffers to preserve the petroglyphs for future generations.       Far from being a place with all its glory in the past, however, the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site remains a living holy place. Native Americans still come to visit and pray at the site, and visitors are often touched by the peacefulness and power of the place. The staff works closely with Native American elders to make sure that the site is treated with respect and reverence, and we hope you can feel that during your visit. Hours and Contact Information Our location History of the Area The People of the Land History of the Site: 1850 - Present The Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site Physical Characteristics of the Site Geology of the Site The Prairie The Plants The Rock The Petroglyphs The Buffalo Rub . . . an ancient trail Topographical map of the site, including new property. Drawn from TopoZone. 1991 Satellite image of the site, including new property. From Terraserver. Combined satellite/topographical map of the site. Weather and Climate of the Petroglyphs area What We've Added The Walking Trails Visitor's Center Butterfly Garden Native American Garden Weather Center Our Events 2011 Schedule of Events Our daily 2 p.m. programs Our daily 3 p.m. program 2010-11 Homeschool Days Programs We Teach Atlatl Throwing Tipi Flintknapping Homeschool Days Astronomy Geology Meteorology (Weather) Children's Activities Other Survival Skills Events we're part of Petroglyph Pedal - Bicycle route that starts in Springfield. Bird Watching -- The Jeffers Petroglyphs Birdwatching Checklist (PDF format) In The Future Boy Scout/Girl Scout Programs Evening "Community Education" Classes Other Plans Other Information Neighboring Towns, Places to Stay, and Driving Maps Other Related Web Sites Related Educational Places/Programs "In The News" - Articles about the Petroglyphs Upcoming Events July 23 - Bison Discovery Day August 6 - Like'n your Lichens August 20 - Survivor: 1,000 B.P.: When the Corn Ripens September 3 - Survivor: 5,000 B.P.: Fall Bison Hunt Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 - Starry Night, Prairie Night What's In Bloom There are over 230 flowering plants at the Jeffers Petroglyphs site. These are the ones currently blooming. As of June 22, 2011 Ox-eye Sunflower Wild 4 O'clocks Sulphur Cinqfoil Silver Cinqfoil Tall Cinqfoil Yarrow Downy Phlox (everywhere!!) Wild Garlic Panic Grass Porcupine Grass Timothy Wild Roses Sisile-leaved Dogbane Hoary Vervain White Campion Daisy Fleabane Wild Pea Pepper Grass Goatsbeard. A Guided Tour of the Jeffers Petroglyphs Historic Site screensaver! (3.3 mb) A self-extracting screensaver to show you around and show you what we have to offer at the Petroglyphs. Simply save it to your desktop and click on it to install. Latitude/Longitude of the Site: 44° 05' 30"N 95° 03' 15"W Comments about the Website Comments about the Historic Site