John Muir – Pioneer
Preservation Pioneer
The 19th century witnessed events and people of great historical significance that were instrumental in changing the course of America’s journey. John Muir’s pioneer efforts of preservation of America’s forests and mountains stands out as an amazing testimony during that time. Muir’s great love for the outdoors and his preservation work paved the way for the national park system.
His love for the Yosemite valley and surrounding areas helped institute the two of the first national parks, Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park. John Muir became known as the “father of the national parks” because of his pioneer efforts to inspire the American people to action with his writings. The Century Magazine published his articles, “The Treasures of the Yosemite,” and “Features of the Proposed Yosemite National Park.” The articles on wilderness preservation helped push Congress to pass a bill establishing Yosemite National Park in 1890.
Inspirational Words
The writings of Muir encompass over 300 magazine articles, 12 books (some posthumously), numerous letters, and journals. He had an unmatched passion for nature and man’s interaction with the wild. Muir would spend weeks at a time wandering the Yosemite valley with a notebook and a plant press, ready to jot down his meanderings and musings. Amazingly enough, Muir’s words are still echoing throughout America over a hundred years after his death in 1914. These words are just as influential today as when they were written. John Muir’s quotes have become increasingly popular within the last few years. More and more people have left the confines of their homes during the pandemic to reconnect with the wilderness. These quotes can be seen on t-shirts, camping mugs, and car decals, for example.
Muir’s words are inspiring. They are a call to this generation to continue to preserve the wilderness. They beckon to make way to the mountains and hillsides, to the lakes and ponds, to the meadows and plains. John Muir lived out his words.
With this in mind, the images and quotes on this post are snippets of a longer writing. Context and source material have been provided for the images posted on this website.
Wilderness Quotes
“Wildness was ever sounding in our ears, and Nature saw to it that besides school lessons some of her own lessons should be learned, perhaps with a view to the time when we should be called to wander in wildness to our heart’s content.” The Life and Letters of John Muir, Chapter 1 (1923).
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life. Our National Parks, (1901), chapter 1, page 1.
As long as I live, I’ll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I’ll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I’ll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can. Quoted from Muir Journals (undated fragment, c. 1871) by Linnie Marsh Wolfe, Son of the Wilderness: The Life of John Muir (1945) page 144.
The mountains are calling and I must go, and I will work on while I can, studying incessantly. Letter to sister Sarah Galloway, September 3, 1873, in Life and Letters of John Muir, Chapter 10 (1923).
