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Born in Scotland where learning was beaten into him and Saturdays spent in the wildness of the moors were his greatest delight, John Muir emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of 11. Upon arrival in Wisconsin, he and his brother worked hard with their father to build a dwelling and establish a farm, but with the little free time they had, they explored the wildlife of prairies and lakes. Working from dawn to dusk gave Muir no time to study, so when his father granted him permission to get up early, he started rising at 1 A.M. to study and work on inventions. Learn more about his adventurous boyhood by reading this stirring account of his life and times in both Scotland and America.
About the author
John Muir (April 21, 1838 - December 24, 1914) was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is a prominent American conservation organization. The 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail, a hiking trail in the Sierra Nevada, was named in his honor.[2] Other such places include Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College, Mount Muir, Camp Muir and Muir Glacier. In Scotland, the John Muir Way, a 130 mile long distance route, was named in honor of him. In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite National Park. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.
