Park Purpose
The John Muir National Historic Site, located in Martinez, California, preserves and interprets the house and grounds where John Muir lived from 1890 until his death in 1914. It serves as a public national memorial in recognition of his legacy as a conservationist and a crusader for national parks and reservations.
Park Significance
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Preservation of Muir's Home: The site preserves the home where John Muir, one of America's most prominent naturalists and conservationists, lived for 24 years. It is here that he wrote many of his most persuasive and important literary works to encourage U.S. policies protecting wilderness and creating a national park system.
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Acknowledgement of Muir's Leadership: The site acknowledges John Muir's leadership and accomplishments, including his founding of the Sierra Club and his influence in protecting Yosemite and other national parks. His work continues to influence public perception and political action on wilderness areas and other environmental issues today.
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Expression of California's Land Use Continuum: The site expresses the continuum of California land use and settlement from Native American times to the present. This is reflected in the contrasting landscapes of the 19th-century adobe, the high-style Victorian home, the managed agricultural lands, and the manipulated mosaic of Mount Wanda.
