John Muir's Birthplace

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Content updated Mon, 01 Feb 1999 00:23:47 GMT

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Birthplace Appeal Leaflet

Local Traders' Appeal Letter

Business Sponsors

Dear

You may have read in the Press recently, of the Appeal Campaign which has been set up to purchase the birthplace of John Muir at 128 High Street, Dunbar.

The house is at present in private ownership and the top floor is leased to East Lothian Council who operate it as a small museum and information service about the life and influence of John Muir. The present owner now wishes to sell the house - hence the urgency of the appeal to raise funds to purchase it.

I am writing to seek your support for this exciting project which is aimed at encouraging greater awareness of the environment through the life and message of one of Scotland's greatest sons.

John Muir developed a love of wild places and creatures during his boyhood years in Dunbar in East Lothian on Scotland's east coast. He went out into the world and became the father of the modern day worldwide conservation movement.

His work led to the safeguarding of many of the finest wild areas in North America - where he was recently voted the "Most Famous Californian of All Time". His message to live in harmony with nature and to care for the environment is as important for us today as it was a hundred years ago.

John Muir is one of the world's greatest heroes - yet it is only in recent years that people in this country have discovered him for themselves. We plan to bring home to Scotland Muir's message by buying his birthplace and there telling the story of his life's work and its meaning to us all.

We have formed the John Muir Birthplace Trust and have an option to buy John Muir's birthplace if we can raise the money - £90,000 - by the end of October. We are seeking a further £200,000 to transform the inside of the building and tell Muir's story in an imaginative and sensitive way which will inspire Scots and visitors alike.

The Trust has been formed by the local community in Dunbar - represented by Dunbar's John Muir Association and Dunbar Community Council, East Lothian Council and the John Muir Trust which owns and manages some of the finest wild areas in Scotland.

The Birthplace Trust is bringing together the interest and enthusiasm of local people, the skills and expertise of the local authority and the commitment and experience of the John Muir Trust.

But we need your support to make all this happen. We are inviting you to consider becoming a Local Business Founding Sponsor of the John Muir Birthplace Trust by giving a donation of £50 or more. All Local Business Founding Sponsors will be fully recognised and will appear on a Roll of Honour which will be displayed in John Muir's Birthplace. In addition the Trust will acknowledge sponsors in all appropriate literature and will co-operate in any local publicity you might like to consider.

A steady flow of visitors, mainly Americans, already visit Dunbar to see John Muir's Birthplace and it is envisaged that the house, once secured and developed, will attract many more tourists to Dunbar. Local businesses will naturally benefit economically from such an increase in visitor numbers to the town.

The Birthplace Trust has also set up its own Web Page on the Internet. This will provide an additional source of information for potential visitors to John Muir's house. Local Business Founding Sponsors will be offered the opportunity to advertise free of charge on the Web site and reach a wider audience through this ever increasing network.

If your business would like to become a Local Business Founding Sponsor please complete the attached form and return it to us at John Muir's birthplace at 128 High Street, Dunbar.

I enclose a leaflet giving further information about the trust and the Appeal and would be very pleased to talk to you further about it.

I do hope that you will help us to bring home the message of one of Scotland's greatest sons to present and future generations and to put Dunbar firmly on the national and international map as his place of birth and inspiration.

Yours sincerely,

Dan Cairney
for the John Muir Birthplace Trust