Existing comment:
Muir's Martinez:
Finding a Focus:
Years of exploring the Sierra Nevada and the Alaskan coast led John Muir to a simple conclusion: God is Nature and Nature is God. The Divine could be found in the smallest dewdrops and the tallest trees. Mountaineering had become his pathway to revelation and worship, and shaped his view of the world. In 1878 Muir left his self-imposed exile and returned to society. He eventually settled in Martinez, California, where he started a domestic life as a fruit rancher, husband, and father.
Making a Difference:
It was in Martinez that Muir developed the financial mobility, political influence, and activist voice that propelled him to champion the turn-of-the-century conservation movement in America. Muir's success on the ranch afforded him the time to write, travel, and put forward his ideas for protecting natural wonders. The books Muir penned in his study helped many Americans understand the utmost importance of preserving and protecting our natural areas. Muir described a spiritual connection to Nature that readers could deeply relate to. Through business and social connections, Muir promoted the idea of a system of National Parks and helped create the Sierra Club, thus setting a standard that would shape the growing conservation movement.
Leaving a Message:
Here in Martinez, we can see John Muir's life in full, from his humble beginnings as a Scottish immigrant to his emergence as the "Wilderness Prophet," and as one of the fathers of the American Conservation movement. We also see the legacy he left behind, reminding us of the sublime beauty of nature and the importance of preserving that beauty for generations to come. |