John Muir Historic Site, California
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Martinez, CA 94553
John Muir Historic Site Photos
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Description
John Muir may have been many things, botanist, glaciologist, writer, co-founder of the Sierra Club, fruit rancher, etc. But it was John Muir's love of nature, and the preservation of it, that we can thank him for today. Muir convinced President Teddy Roosevelt to protect Yosemite (including Yosemite Valley), Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as National Parks. For this he is known as the "Father of the National Park Service".
The John Muir National Historic Site includes John Muir's home for the last 24 years of his life, Mt. Wanda, the Martinez Adobe, and Muir's orchards. His home was a 14 room Victoriam mansion which is open to the public for self-guided walking tours. Be sure to climb all the way up to the attic and ring the bell.
The house is an impressive museum celebrating Muir's life and work. There are many personal belongings, photographs and specimens that he collected on display in the house. For the kids it's interesting to see the children's room and compare themselves to children of 100 years ago.