Plains Conservation Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plains Conservation Center |
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View of Cheyenne Camp looking east at the Plains Conservation Center
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| Type | History museum and nature preserve |
| Location | 21901 E Hampden Av Aurora, Colorado |
| Area | 1,100 acres (450 ha) in Aurora |
| Created | 1949 |
| Website | AuroraGov.org |
The Plains Conservation Center is a special outdoor place in Aurora, Colorado. It is a state-recognized natural area. Its main goals are to protect Colorado's prairies. It also teaches kids about Colorado's natural history. The center helps people learn about conservation, which means protecting nature.
The center has two main areas. Together, they cover about 8,894 acres (35.99 km2) of land. The main area is in Aurora and is about 1,100 acres (4.5 km2). The second area is south of Strasburg. It covers about 7,960 acres (32.2 km2) and has a creek called West Bijou Creek running through it. The city of Aurora owns the land in Aurora.
History of the Center
The land where the Aurora site is now used to be part of the railroad. In 1933, the city of Denver bought this land. Later, it became federal land, managed by the U.S. government.
An education center was started here in 1949. In 1969, some buildings made of sod were built. These are called sod structures. In 1997, a group called the West Arapahoe Conservation District sold about 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) to the City of Aurora. About 500 acres (2.0 km2) of this land was sold for building homes. The money from that sale was used to buy the West Bijou Creek site in Strasburg.
The West Bijou Site
The West Bijou site is very important for scientists. They study the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event here. This was a huge event that led to the extinction of the dinosaurs. Some experts say it's the most complete site of its kind. It shows what happened on land during that time.
In 2012, more land was added to the site. This was done with help from the Trust for Public Land. A special agreement called a conservation easement was also added. This agreement helps protect the land from being built on. It keeps the entire property natural. Nearby ranch land also has a conservation easement. This helps keep the West Bijou site safe. In 2016, the West Bijou Site was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very special natural place in the United States.
One cool thing about this site is a herd of wild pronghorn. These animals are like deer, but they are very fast.
Fun Activities at the Center
The Aurora site has many interesting things to see and do. You can visit a historic schoolhouse. There is also a blacksmith shop and a barn. You can see an old-fashioned garden with special plants. There is even a chicken coop!
A recreated Cheyenne camp is also at the center. It has traditional tipis. These are cone-shaped tents used by Native American tribes. The Learning Center and library are open for schools and other groups. They offer special events and education programs throughout the year. These programs are often run with the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Gallery
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Entrance sign
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Cheyenne camp looking west
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Students observe prairie dog colony
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Students view farm equipment
