Highlights Archives
John Muir and Earth Day
The life and legacies of two Wisconsin greats are celebrated this week: the birth of famed naturalist John Muir on April 21 and the founding of Earth Day, April 22, by Senator Gaylord Nelson. It is a fitting convergence of events for two men who did so much to protect the environment, each exerting a powerful influence on American attitudes toward the natural world.
Born in Dunbar, Scotland on April 21, 1838, John Muir and his family immigrated to the United States in 1849 and settled on a farm near Portage, Wisconsin. Though Muir would go onto achieve his greatest fame for his work in California, it was his childhood here in Wisconsin that sparked his scientific curiosity and reverence for nature — much of which he captured in his book The Story of My Boyhood and Youth. Muir published more than 300 articles and books in his lifetime. His book, Our National Parks, inspired President Theodore Roosevelt to begin promoting a series of innovative conservation programs, including the creation of the national park system, earning Muir the moniker "Father of Our National Park System." Muir also founded the Sierra Club in 1892 and served as its first president until his death in 1914.
Muir's passion inspired generations of environmentalists, including Wisconsin native Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day. As Wisconsin's governor in the 1960s, Nelson established a national reputation for his leadership in environmental protection, including Wisconsin's pioneering Outdoor Recreation Acquisition Program, which expanded state-protected parks and wetlands. In the Senate, Nelson introduced the first legislation to ban DDT and co-sponsored the Wilderness Act and the Alaska Lands Act, among other conservation bills.
Nelson came up with what would become his lasting legacy — Earth Day — in 1969. He believed that if people only knew more about the environment, they would take better care of it and demand better protection. His efforts led to the first Earth Day celebration on April 22, 1970. Earth Day has been celebrated every April 22 since then, both here and around the world.
John Muir and Gaylord Nelson are two of many Wisconsin voices (Aldo Leopold, Sigurd Olson, Increase Lapham) that have spoken out on behalf of the environment. Happy Earth Day and happy birthday, John Muir!
:: Posted April 21, 2006
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