While you might be aware of the John Muir and his great contributions toward environmental conservation in places like Yosemite, Denali, or his namesake, Muir Woods, what you might not be aware of from the information provided on Yosemite tours or even Muir Woods tours, is how John Muir came to dedicate himself in that direction. John Muir immigrated to America from Scotland in 1849 with an interest in… well, he wasn’t entirely sure. He was mostly focused on leaving Scotland at that point, largely to be free of a domineering father figure. He took odd jobs once in America, but one of those would have a profound impact on the rest of his life. While working at a carriage repair shop in Indianapolis he found himself faced with an eye injury that left him blind with plenty of time for introspection over the course of a month. While he was convalescing for that month in a state of blindness which he was afraid might be permanent, he promised himself that if he were to ever regain his sight that he would not squander his days, nor take lightly any longer, the wonders of the physical world and the great outdoors which he loved.
He did regain his sight and quickly set out on new journeys. One of his first was to walk the thousand miles down to the Gulf of Mexico. Then he set sail to Cuba and Panama and up to the San Francisco Bay Area. While he remained a world traveler, the San Francisco Bay Area and the natural wonders which surrounded it to the north, south and east, made it his choice for a home base for the rest his days. He was especially captivated by the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and specifically within it, Yosemite Valley. As you may have heard during your Yosemite tours or Muir Woods tours, John Muir would go on to become the “Father of our National Parks.” He was instrumental in creating the Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier, Sequoia, Petrified Forest National Parks, and also established the Sierra Club. Accordingly, we as Americans can be thankful for the vision of John Muir.
