John Muir

This guy should be bronzed.  The good news is that John Muir (1838 - 1914) is the reason the Environmentalist Movement exists.  I don't like the idea of some rare species of frog or gnat getting in the way of human habitation, however, I (no surprise to you) cherish America's National Parks, reserves, preserves, and monuments.  I like to think that even John Muir would see the balance in that.

On May 17, 1901, Muir brought President Teddy Roosevelt to Yosemite.  They tent-camped in here for three days. Muir allowed Yosemite itself to do the lobbying for the area to be managed by the federal Park Rangers.

As early as 1864 it was "protected" by none other than Abraham Lincoln (at the height of the Civil War!) when he effectively took the Yosemite area out of private hands and granted it to the state of California.  It was the very first time park land would be set aside by the federal government, and thus laid the legislative foundation for Yellowstone in 1872 to become the first National Park.

In 1869, John Muir built himself a cabin out of sugar maple logs at the base of this waterfall.  He lived here for two years, exploring the valley, mapping and researching day in and day out.  It truly was his home. (Lucky, lucky man!)  The plaque quotes him:  Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.  Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.


In 1890, Yosemite, by act of Congress, became a National Park, but it was still under the control of the state of California.  That wasn't working out so well, and it was Roosevelt that signed the legislation bringing Yosemite back under Federal jurisdiction.  (I surely didn't know it had had such a multifaceted past!)