Happy Birthday John Muir

Today I celebrate the accomplishments of John Muir.

John Muir lived from 1838-1914 and is known for advocating for the idea of National Parks. Born in Scotland he moved his family to a farm in Wisconsin in 1849. He studied Botany and Geology and the University of Wisconsin and he loved to invent things. He had a promising career in industry until a factory accident left him temporarily blind. After recovering his eyesight he walked from Indiana to Florida making botanical sketches as he went. He also walked from San Francisco to the Sierra Nevada. This is supposedly the event that turned him into a nature lover.

Since that life changing walk he worked as a sheepherder, then he took a job in the Yosemite Valley, and he married. Life’s obligations left him longing to be with nature and his wife urged him to travel to Alaska and Washington state. After moving to Oakland, California in 1873 he began to write articles for popular magazines. His writings brought national attention to places he had visited and convinced people why it was important to set aside land for conservation. He even went on a three-night camping trip with President Theodore Roosevelt. He was able to convince President Roosevelt to return land to federal protection as part of Yosemite National Park. It is said that the trip had a lasting impression on the president.

Muir believed God is revealed through nature. He has many inspirational quotes and I picked my favorite tonight.

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Source - http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/people/historical/muir/