Fountain Lake Farm facts for kids
|
Fountain Lake Farm (Wisconsin Farm Home of John Muir)
|
|
Entrance into Fountain Lake Farm
|
|
 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
|
|
| Nearest city | Montello, Wisconsin United States |
|---|---|
| Area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Built | 1864 |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000471 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | 1990-06-21 |
| Designated NHL | 1990-06-21 |
Fountain Lake Farm, also known as the Wisconsin Farm Home of John Muir, is a special historic farm located near Montello, Wisconsin. This place is a National Historic Landmark because it was the home of John Muir, a famous conservationist. He lived here from 1849 to 1856 and again from 1860 to 1862. The landmark covers about 80 acres (32 hectares) of land. Part of it is private property, and another part is a public park called John Muir Memorial County Park.
John Muir's Childhood Home
John Muir came to the United States in 1849 when he was eleven years old. He moved with his father, who started a farm in Marquette County, Wisconsin. The farm was originally 160 acres (65 hectares) and later grew to 320 acres (129 hectares). This area was mostly wild and undeveloped back then.
This wild farm played a huge role in how young John Muir learned to love nature. It also helped him develop his strong belief in protecting the environment. He spent a lot of time exploring Fountain Lake, which was partly on the farm. He also studied the plants and animals around the lake. The family's farmhouse was on a small hill in the northeastern part of the land.
Discovering Nature at Fountain Lake
The 80 acres (32 hectares) that are now a landmark are the southern part of Muir's original property. This area is bordered on the north by Gillette Drive. It includes a piece of private land in its northeast corner. It also covers the northeastern part of the county's John Muir Memorial Park.
The private land is about 18 acres (7 hectares). This is where the Muir family's farmhouse used to be. The southern and western parts of the landmark area are open to visitors. You can reach them by a trail that goes around Fountain Lake. There is also a parking area on County Road F.
What You Can See Today
Sadly, there are no buildings left from when the Muir family lived here. However, some trees that were alive during Muir's time might still be standing. This landmark helps us remember John Muir's early life and how this wild place shaped his future work as a conservationist.
