John Muir National Historic Site facts for kids
|
John Muir National Historic Site
|
|
 |
|
 Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Location in California
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, California |
|---|---|
| Area | 345 acres (140 ha) |
| Built | 1883 |
| Architect | Wolfe & Son; Martinez, Vicente |
| Architectural style | Italianate-Victorian |
| Visitation | 49,376 (2016) |
| Website | John Muir National Historic Site |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000083 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 29, 1962 |
| Designated NHS | August 31, 1964 |
The John Muir National Historic Site is a special place in Martinez, California, near the San Francisco Bay Area. It protects the beautiful 14-room Victorian mansion where the famous naturalist and writer John Muir lived. The site also includes 325 acres (132 ha) of native oak woodlands and grasslands. These lands were once owned by the Muir family. The main house sits on the edge of town, close to State Route 4, also known as the "John Muir Parkway."
Contents
Discover John Muir's Historic Home
A Home for a Nature Hero
The grand mansion was built in 1883 by Dr. John Strentzel. He was John Muir's father-in-law. Muir and Dr. Strentzel worked together, managing a large 2,600-acre fruit ranch. John Muir and his wife, Louisa, moved into the house in 1890. Muir lived there until he passed away in 1914. This home was where he did much of his important work.
John Muir: A Champion for Nature
While living in this house, John Muir achieved many great things. He helped start the Sierra Club and was its first president. He fought hard to protect places like Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley. Muir played a big part in creating several national parks. He wrote many articles and books about protecting nature. His ideas helped create the National Park Service in 1916.
The house has Muir's study, which he called his "scribble den." His original desk is still there. From this desk, he wrote about the ideas that started the modern conservation movement. This movement encourages us to protect our natural world.
A Special Place Preserved
The Muir house became a National Historic Site in 1964. It is also a California Historical Landmark and a National Historic Landmark. This means it is a very important place in American history. In 1988, the nearby Mount Wanda Nature Preserve was added to the site. Mount Wanda is named after one of John Muir's daughters.
Today, the John Muir National Historic Site offers a film about Muir's life. You can also take tours of the house and enjoy nature walks on Mount Wanda. The site also includes the Vicente Martínez Adobe, another historic building.
Explore More
Gallery of the Historic Site
-
John Muir home windmill
-
John Muir home, Martinez, CA
-
Farm wagon at the John Muir home, Martinez
-
A hiking trail along Mount Wanda within the Historic Site
-
The John Muir house in Martinez
-
The 1,680-foot-long, 80-foot-high steel "Muir Trestle" in Martinez, used by the BNSF Railroad.
Related Topics
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Contra Costa County, California
- History of the Yosemite area
See also
In Spanish: Sitio Histórico Nacional John Muir para niños
