John Muir's Birthplace

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Content updated Tue, 20 Jul 1999 01:21:02 GMT

An Infinite Storm of Beauty... [home]

Father and Farmer

Standard Bearer of the World Conservation Movement

A Scottish Voice for the Millennium

John Muir as campaigner and lobbyist

"Any fool can destroy trees. They cannot run away, and if they could they would still be destroyed - chased and hunted as long as fun or a dollar could be got out of their bark hides.. God has cared for these trees... but he cannot save them from fools - only Uncle Sam can do that."

John Muir, The American Forests

The desecration of the High Sierra forced Muir to take up the battle for its protection. His passionate plea on behalf of America's forests led President Cleveland to establish the country's first Forest Reserves. In 1892, a group of lawyers, academics and naturalists gathere around Muir to form the Sierra Club with the ex-patriate Scot as its first President. Their legacy is the survival of national parks like Yosemite, Glacier, Olympic, Rocky Mountain and Redwood. In total more than 360 million acres of American wilderness and wildlife are protected to varying degrees thanks to the movement for which John Muir carried the standard. Americans have no doubt of the debt they owe to John Muir. Presidnet Theodore Roosevelt was among those who had travelled alone with Muir, on a three day camping trip in Yosemite in 1903.

As a result of his experiences, and Muir's influence, the President subsequently established 148 million acres of National Forest, five National Parks and 23 national monments. Shortly after Muir's death, the President described the pioneering conservationist as:

" a man able to influence contemporary thought and action on the subjects toi which he had devoted his life... wonderful canyons, giant trees, slopes of flower-spangled hillsides. Our generation owes much to John Muir."

John Muir, The American Forests

Today there are over 200 sites in America named after Muir, and the United States Postal Service has issued two commemorative stamps issues, the first in 1964, the second in 1998. The founder of the Canadian national park system was a Muir protege, while today the Sierra Club has 650,000 members with local chapters in every state and most towns. In 1969 the then Director of the Sierra Club, David Brower, deeply influenced by Muir's legacy, resigned to found Friends of the Earth in the USA, France and the United Kingdom. Friends of the Earth International is now established in 53 countries and has arguably been among the most influential environmental bodies over recent decades. In 1983 the John Muir Trust was founded in Scotland with the aim of purchasing and conserving wilderness areas for the future. To date it has bought five major properties in the Highlands, and has become one of the most respected conservation bodies in Britain. Most recently the Trust played a a crucial role in securing community ownership of the Knoydart Estate.

The exhibition will highlight the recognition that Muir has received as the pioneer of the international conservation movement.