A Tour of the Prairies

work by Irving

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

A Tour of the Prairies is a work by Washington Irving, an American author known for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle." Following a return to New York in 1832 after an extended stay in Europe, Irving embarked on a journey westward. This exploration led to the creation of several books, including A Tour of the Prairies, published in 1835. The book details Irving's experiences and observations during his travels through the prairie regions of North America. Prairies are defined as level or rolling grasslands, primarily found in central North America, characterized by varying amounts of rainfall that influence the types of grasses and flowering plants present.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Washington Irving
…and produced in rapid succession A Tour of the Prairies (1835), Astoria (1836), and The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (1837). Except for four years (1842–46) as minister to Spain, Irving spent the remainder of his life at his home, “Sunnyside,” in Tarrytown, on the Hudson River, where he devoted himself…
Read More
…and produced in rapid succession A Tour of the Prairies (1835), Astoria (1836), and The Adventures of Captain Bonneville (1837). Except for four years (1842–46) as minister to Spain, Irving spent the remainder of his life at his home, “Sunnyside,” in Tarrytown, on the Hudson River, where he devoted himself…
Read More