Existing comment:
1890: The founding of the Sierra Club and naming of John Muir as the first President-for-life signifies the growing conservationist movement and represents to this day the power that John Muir had to sway people with his words and writings. Around this time, Muir begins turning his old travel journals into books to further encourage conservation.
1901-1913: Muir leads the Sierra Club in an extended struggle against the campaign to dam the Hetch Hetchy Valley located within the fledgling Yosemite National Park. The eventual loss of this battle takes a toll on the mature conservationist who writes, "The destruction of the charming groves and gardens, the finest in all California, goes to my heart."
1903: President Theodore Roosevelt visits Yosemite with Muir and the two split away from the President's entourage to camp together for a few days. After the trip, Roosevelt, influenced greatly by Muir, uses his power as President to preserve over two hundred million acres as public land.
1914: Muir dies from pneumonia in a Los Angeles hospital while visiting his daughter, Malaria that he had acquired years before had damaged his lungs, leaving the great naturalist more susceptible. His body is brought back to Martinez where he is buried. |