John Muir Exhibit

<body> <h2>Welcome to the John Muir Exhibit!</h2> <p> The John Muir Exhibit features the life and legacy of John Muir: naturalist, writer, conservationist, and founder of the <a class=a href="/">Sierra Club</a>. </p> <h2>Who was John Muir?</h2> <p> John Muir (1838-1914) was America's most famous and influential naturalist and conservationist. He has been called "The Father of our National Parks," "Wilderness Prophet," and "Citizen of the Universe." He once described himself more humorously, and perhaps most accurately, as, a "poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist etc. etc. !!!!" </p> <p> As a wilderness explorer, he is renowned for his exciting adventures in California's Sierra Nevada, among Alaska's glaciers, and world wide travels in search of nature's beauty. As a writer, he taught the people of his time and ours the importance of experiencing and protecting our natural heritage. His writings contributed greatly to the creation of Yosemite, Sequoia, Mount Rainier, Petrified Forest, and Grand Canyon National Parks. </p> <p> His words and deeds helped inspire President Theodore Roosevelt's innovative conservation programs, including establishing the first National Monuments by Presidential Proclamation, and Yosemite National Park by congressional action. In 1892, John Muir and other supporters formed the Sierra Club "to make the mountains glad." John Muir was the Club's first president, an office he held until his death in 1914. His last battle to save the second Yosemite, Hetch Hetchy Valley, failed. But that lost battle ultimately resulted in a widespread conviction that our national parks should be held inviolate. Many proposals to dam our national parks since that time have been stopped because of the efforts of citizens inspired by John Muir, and today there are legitimate proposals to restore Hetch Hetchy. John Muir remains today an inspiration for environmental activists everywhere. </p> <p> John Muir is as relevant today as he was 100 years ago. Many of today's Environment headlines have Muir to thank for their inspiration: <ul> <li>On May 11, 2002, <a href="http://boxer.senate.gov/newsroom/200205/20020511_env.html" target="_blank" title="Off-site Link: Senator Boxer Press Release">U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer announced</a> introduction of the proposed "California Wild Heritage Wilderness Act of 2002," which if enacted would protect approximately 2.5 million acres of public lands in 81 different areas across California. Muir said, "In God's wildness lies the hope of the world - the great fresh unblighted, unredeemed wilderness." Muir's call has long been an inspiration for wilderness preservation efforts. <li>On April 21, 2002, the <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/2293162p-2714797c.html" title="Off site Link to: 'Water: Bring back Hetch Hetchy?' By Tom Philp " target="_blank">Sacramento Bee proclaimed</a> that "Today, the idea of <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/ca/hetchhetchy/" title="Off-Site Link: Sierra Club Hetch Hetchy Restoration Website" target="_blank">restoring the Hetch Hetchy Valley</a> doesn't feel so wacky. It conceivably fits into a new era of water plumbing and water policy. It may be feasible to replace the water for the Bay Area -- even make the supply more reliable -- by connecting some plumbing that already exists with some new projects that are already within the comfort zone of California's contentious water politics." <li>In November, 2001, Sierra Magazine noted there seemed to be a contemporary <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/200111/media.asp" target="_blank">"Muir Mania."</a> Author Kit Stolz noted: "What's most impressive about Muir's legacy is its vibrancy so long after his death." <li>On April 15, 2000, John Muir's vision was behind the Presidential Proclamation of <a href="http://california.sierraclub.org/sequoia/Monument/" target="_blank" title="Off-site Link: Sierra Club's Sequoia Task Force page on new National Monument">Giant Sequoia National Monument</a>, a process which John Muir was instrumental in starting nearly 100 years ago by urging President Theodore Roosevelt to protect America's treasures under the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906. Then-President Bill Clinton quoted Muir in proclaiming the new National Monument: "These majestic trees will continue to 'preach God's forestry fresh from heaven.'" </ul> <p> John Muir's vision is still sorely needed. </p> <blockquote> <cite>"Today, as much as when legislation was passed to create Yosemite, we need to remember Muir"s call to protect wild places. He profoundly believed that preserving natural areas nurtured the human spirit as well. I hope you will join me in celebrating the birth and legacy of the American visionary, John Muir."</cite> <br> - U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (April 17, 2002) </blockquote> <p> For more information about Muir's life and legacy, start with our <a href="life/index.html">Life and Contributions of John Muir</a> page. </p> <p> <hr> <p> <h2>What's on this Website</h2> <p align="left"> If you are reading this, your browser does not support frames. You'll still be able to use the John Muir Exhibit, however: </p> <p> Please go to our <a href="index_noframes.html" target="_top">no-frames version</a> of this website for a fairly complete index of the site. There may be some new features that aren't located on this however. If you want to be sure to find everything, go to our <a href="file://localhost/Users/harold/Documents/Websites%20-%20Harold/john_muir_exhibit/alphabetical_list.html">Alphabetical Index</a>. <p> <p> If you are using a Browser that suppports frames, you may need to change your preferences to use them. Then visit our full-featured frame-based website at: <br> <a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/">http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/</a> </p> <p> For more information, contact the Webmaster, Harold Wood at: <a href="mailto:harold.wood@sierraclub.org">harold.wood@sierraclub.org</a> <p> <hr> <p> <address> Last updated: March 14, 2003 </address> </body>