Introduction: Who we are on the Yelm Prairie is part the result of what has happened along the Nisqually River and on the land bordering it over thousands of years The following selections will provide a picture of the natural forces at work shaping the environment that Native Americans and Euro-American settlers discovered.
The Nisqually River: [...]

An Early Environmental Debate Over the Destruction of Prairie in Pierce County

Introduction: Today the Prairie around Yelm is different in it’s plant life than it was in the mid 19th century. There are a variety of reasons for this change. One factor was the grazing of cattle, horses, and sheep on the prairie. The impact [...]

Fauna
 The south Puget Sound is a natural sanctuary for wild life, from the salty coastal waters, up the great rivers, into the rolling lowlands, and finally the richly forested mountain areas. It is no wonder the Nisquallies found such a place to call home, populated with aquatic, terrestrial, and aviary fauna, it’s a historically vibrant [...]

 
Introduction: The town of Yelm annually celebrates “Prairie Days.” “Pride of the Prairie” is a term used to boost the fortunes of many an activity in the community. The school system contains “Prairie Elementary.” As late as the 1870 census the area was referred to as “Yelm Prairie”. This section will examine the reasons for [...]