Ledges History Series: Louis Pammel
Often at the Ledges, visitors encounter historical remnants of days gone by. These relics all
represent a little bit of history still alive in the park. The Ledges History Series focuses on these
remnants and provides insight into the people, places, and land that help tell the story of this
unique state park.
Louis Hermann Pammel is commonly referred to as the “Father of State Parks” in Iowa. He is
probably the single most influential figure in history for the creation of the Iowa state parks
system. Pammel came to Iowa as the second head of the Botany department of Iowa State
College in Ames and quickly became involved in public land preservation because of his position
and background. Pammel was the first president of the Board of Conservation in Iowa as well.
Pammel maintained a deep connection with Ledges State Park based on his proximity living in
Ames for much of his adult life. He brought his Botany students out for field trips and even
would pay for horse and buggy rides from Ames to Ledges so his family could do their own
private botanizing. On behalf of the Board of Conservation, Pammel gave a speech at the
Ledges dedication in 1924 where he “presented” the park to the state and promoted a sense of
ownership and pride of the park to those in attendance.
In 1928 Pammel compiled a park booklet titled “Ledges State Park (Second Edition)”. In the
booklet dedicated to Carl Fritz Henning, Pammel provides a description of the park, its resource
amenities, and some local history. The booklet also contains articles by guest columnists on
geology, wildlife, and local legends.
As you trek along Reindeer Ridge to and from this cache, please stay on the trails. Note that this
hillside is one of the most botanically diverse areas in the entire state of Iowa with unique
species such as Reindeer Lichen, Juniper Moss, and Roundleaf Dogwood all growing in
abundance.
