John Muir

https://www.nps.gov/jomu/index.htm https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir_National_Historic_Site The John Muir National Historic Site is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California. John Muir played many roles in his life, all of which helped him succeed in his role as an advocate for Nature. As America’s most famous naturalist and conservationist, Muir fought to protect the wild places he loved, places we can still visit today. Muir’s writings convinced the U.S. government to protect Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier as national parks. Please visit our main website for specific directions to our park. You may call the John Muir Visitor Center for additional information. John Muir National Historic Site Visitor Center Main visitor center for the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California. Directions to the John Muir National Historic Site can be found on our website. John Muir Home at the John Muir National Historic Site John Muir Home at the John Muir National Historic Site John Muir Home at the John Muir National Historic Site John Muir National Historic Site A old copper sprayer sits against a tree-line background. Historic Copper Sprayer. Mount Wanda A natural foot path winds its way through hills and trees. Mount Wanda walking trail. John Muir National Historic Site A tall wooden windmill and a small white shed surrounded by trees. The old windmill. John Muir National Historic Site Old books, a writing pen and inkwell, and paper sit on John Muir's original desk. John Muir's desk in the "Scribble Den". John Muir and his efforts to preserve Mount Rainier John Muir and his efforts to preserve Mount Rainier As president of the newly formed Sierra Club, John Muir gave numerous lectures and wrote various articles advocating for the preservation of Mount Rainier from the years 1893 to 1899. Muir also made efforts to unite other organizations across the nation who were pursuing the same cause. Image of John Muir NPS Geodiversity Atlas—John Muir National Historic Site, California Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park. [Site Under Development] historic home Bat Inventory of Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, John Muir National Historic Site and Point Reyes National Seashore Bats are economically and ecologically important animals, providing ecosystem services such as pollination and predation of insects. In general, bat populations are believed to be declining. Researchers used acoustic sampling to inventory bat populations at Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, John Muir National Historic Site, and Point Reyes National Seashore. All of these parks are on the wildland-urban interface. Photo of a hoary bat. Designing the Parks: Learning in Action The Designing the Parks program is not your typical internship. Each year since 2013, this program at the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation has introduced a cohort of college students and recent graduates to NPS design and planning professions through projects related to cultural landscape stewardship. In the internships, made possible by partner organizations, participants focus on an in-depth project that directly engages with a national park unit. A group of young people stand on forest trail and listen to two maintenance employees National Parks Pitch In to Help Save Monarch Butterflies As scientists and citizen scientists have noted, insect populations are plummeting across the globe. Monarch butterfly populations are no exception. Recent counts show that the western population has experienced a precipitous drop. As of 2018, the population of monarchs overwintering along the California coast stands at just 0.6% of what it was in the 1980s. Monarch butterflies among eucalyptus leaves, viewed through a scope Early Detection News – Spring 2018 Invasive Species Early Detection (ISED) team surveys began in April. They will be concentrated at Point Reyes National Seashore this year, with some additional work at Pinnacles National Park and John Muir National Historic Site. Barbed goatgrass How will Climate Change Affect Bay Area National Park Birds? The National Audubon Society has created research summaries for 274 national park units that describe how projected changes in climate under different emissions scenarios are likely to affect local bird populations. Hummingbird and house finch on the same branch Early Detection News, July 2017 A new edition of Early Detection News for July 2017 is now available. Brought to you by the Invasive Species Early Detection Program and Weed Watchers, this newsletter has the latest on invasive plants in the Bay Area. Everlasting pea History through Architecture and Agriculture John Muir National Historic Site is one of the landscapes intimately associated with the life of John Muir, the conservationist and national park advocate who lived at this farm for decades until his death in 1914. The property contains a large Italianate house, orchards, and an adobe house. Muir became business partners with settler John Strentzel in the 1880s and helped to manage and develop the already-successful farm. Today, the park is actively restoring the orchards. A wagon stands in a sunny field of peach trees, packed by tall palms. 2019 Early Detection Newsletter Now Available The 2019 issue of Early Detection News is now available. Brought to you by the Invasive Species Early Detection (ISED) Program, this newsletter has the latest on invasive plants in the Bay Area. In 2019, surveys took place between March and October at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore, John Muir National Historic Site, and Pinnacles National Park. Patch of tall grass next to a bear bin and fire pit at a campground. Find Your Park 2019 ad campaign starts with parks in NYC and San Francisco In the fall of 2019, the National Park Foundation rolled out new ads in San Francisco and New York for the Find Your Park campaign. From September 23 through October 28, a series of digital and static outdoor ads appeared in bus shelters, billboards, and other spaces in the city of New York and San Francisco. display ads featuring John Muir National Historic Site Southwest National Parks Climate Roundtable Webinar Recording Now Available Following the publication of the Fourth National Climate Assessment Volume II: Impacts, Risks, and Adaptation in the United States (NCA4), the National Park Service began hosting a series of roundtable webinars to convey relevant findings to national parks. Each roundtable covers one of the 10 geographic regions defined in the report. This month, they hosted their seventh regional installment, the Southwest Parks NCA4 Roundtable. Fourth National Climate Assessment: What Does it Mean for National Parks in the Southwest Region? Water Quality Monitoring in the San Francisco Bay Area Freshwater quality affects people’s enjoyment of San Francisco Bay Area national park resources, and plays a direct role in the health of aquatic habitats. In 2006, the National Park Service began monitoring freshwater quality under a long-term monitoring plan developed for Golden Gate National Recreation Area, John Muir National Historic Site, Muir Woods National Monument, Pinnacles National Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore. Rocky creek with flowing water. New Project Underway to Study Threatened Snake at John Muir National Historic Site This fall, the Natural Resources Management Team at John Muir National Historic Site initiated a survey of the Alameda whipsnake. Alameda whipsnakes are a sub-species of the California whipsnake that is only found in the eastern San Francisco Bay Area. Two funnel traps arranged at the end of a plywood Check Out the New San Francisco Bay Area Inventory and Monitoring Network Website The San Francisco Bay Area Inventory and Monitoring Network website is now fully updated! The new website features a modern look and feel, is fully accessible, mobile friendly, and makes it easier to find and share information. Partial screenshot of a new webpage on the new San Francisco Bay Area Network website Invasive Plant Species Priority Lists Read about how the Early Detection Team prioritizes removal of different invasive plants. Malfurada. Alameda Whipsnake: A Slithery Tail Continues… The Natural Resource Management team at John Muir National Historic Site has been working with The Wildlife Project to conduct a survey of the threatened Alameda whipsnake. Their goal is to help determine the occurrence and relative abundance of the snakes within the park. Survey efforts thus far show that there are surprisingly large populations of Alameda whipsnakes on Mt. Wanda. Adult Alameda whipsnake with a blue mark behind its head, about to slither away July 2018 Early Detection Newsletter Available The July 2018 issue of Early Detection News is now available. Brought to you by the Invasive Species Early Detection (ISED) Program, this newsletter has the latest on invasive plants in the Bay Area. Get the highlights here. Deeply lobed leaves of poroporo branching off from a dark purplish stem Early Detection News - August 2017 The Invasive Plant Species Early Detection Monitoring team completed surveys for the 2017 field season in the San Francisco Bay Area. Several noteworthy species were detected this month including the spiny plumeless thistle, poroporo, black locust, common cocklebur, and stinkwort. Red flower of the red amaranth Plant Community Monitoring in the San Francisco Bay Area Plant communities create essential habitat for plants and animals. While several National Park Service projects have included limited forms of vegetation sampling for some time, a recently updated protocol guides comprehensive, long-term plant community monitoring. Coastal dune vegetation on a hillside at Point Reyes National Seashore Invasive Plant Early Detection in the San Francisco Bay Area Invasive plants can dramatically alter ecosystems and reduce the amount of habitat available for native plant and animal species. The San Francisco Bay Area Inventory and Monitoring Network has developed an invasive plant early detection protocol to prioritize, find, and map invasive plants at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pinnacles National Park, and John Muir National Historic Site. The yellow flowers of invasive creeping capeweed in the Marin Headlands Oak Tree Deaths at John Muir NHS Under Investigation Numerous reports of fallen oak trees on Mt. Wanda at the John Muir National Historic Site over the past few years have led park biologists to question if the rate of tree mortality is increasing at the site, and if so why. Person recording data alongside a fallen oak tree National Park Getaway: John Muir National Historic Site This year is the centennial anniversary of the National Park Service - celebrate by visiting the place where the idea for the National Park Service began! Stop by the John Muir National Historic Site and visit the home of prominent naturalist and writer John Muir in Martinez, California. a tall white house Early Detection News – July 2018 The Invasive Species Early Detection Team (ISED) conducted July surveys at Point Reyes National Seashore and John Muir National Historic Site. Noteworthy detections this month included yellow star thistle, small leaf spiderwort, mourningbride, and poroporo. Yellow star thistle. Community Science Update: 2020 San Francisco Bay Area City Nature Challenge Recap 2020 looked a little different for the City Nature Challenge, an annual community science event. The event encourages urban areas around the world to turn out the greatest number of naturalists, make the most nature observations, and find the most species. In previous years, people have traveled to parks to find nature and make observations. But given local shelter-in-place restrictions, organizers decided on a different strategy. Bee visiting a flower. Birds at John Muir National Historic Site As part of national efforts to inventory vertebrates and vascular plants and conduct long-term monitoring of critical natural resources, the National Park Service conducted bird surveys at Mt. Wanda of John Muir National Historic Site. The goal was to develop a comprehensive list of birds present at the park, especially during the peak breeding season, to help inform park management activities. Dark-eyed juncos perch in a tree at John Muir National Historic Site. Scientist Profile: Denise Amador, Biological Science Technician As part of a larger effort to highlight women who do science in national parks, we are featuring Denise Amador, biological science technician for John Muir National Historic Site. How does an anthropology major get to be a biological science technician within two years of graduating, you might ask? Read Denise’s story to find out! Selfie of biological science technician Denise Amador with red plant in her face. Preserving a "Big Tree" On one of John Muir's many journeys to the Sierra Nevada mountains, as the story goes, he wrapped a small giant sequoia in a moistened handkerchief and brought it down from its high mountain grove to his home. When a fungus affected the giant sequoia, the NPS took steps to clone the tree. While logging no longer poses the same threat, the cloned saplings and their high mountain relatives continue to face new challenges in the ever changing conditions of our environment. An Italianate mansion is surrounded by orchards. A wooden enclosure at an intersection is marked John Muir National Historic Site Cultural Landscape The John Muir National Historic Site consists of the remaining 336 acres of the Strentzel-Muir fruit ranch and is comprised of the Muir House, Gravesite, and Mt. Wanda, located near Martinez, CA. The landscape is significant for its association with John Muir, its connection to the Conservation Movement, and the Victorian Italianate architecture of the main house. The fertile soil and climate of the Alhambra Valley supported agricultural pursuits during the historic period. Muir House Alameda Whipsnake: Caught Speeding on Mt. Wanda, Sporting Yellow Racing Stripes The Natural Resource Management team at John Muir National Historic Site is continuing its multi-year effort surveying for populations of the Alameda whipsnake, which occurs within the park on Mt. Wanda. Also known as a striped-racer, the Alameda whipsnake has been a federally listed species since 1997. Black and yellow-striped adult Alameda whipsnake held by a rubber-gloved hand. Alameda Whipsnake: Monitoring Continues for Contra Costa County’s Speedster This spring, the natural resource management team at John Muir National Historic Site continued their multi-year effort to monitor resident populations of the federally threatened Alameda whipsnake. Due to COVID-19 and shelter-in-place orders, they delayed their trapping efforts between 14-21 days and may have captured fewer whipsnakes as a result. Still, the team still encountered a familiar capture pattern. Slender, black and yellow-striped snake among lichen-covered shrub branches. Celebrating soils across the National Park System First in a series of three "In Focus" articles that share insights into the near-universal and far-reaching effects of soils on the ecology, management, and enjoyment of our national parks. Fossil soils at Cabrillo National Monument reveal marine deposits Early Detection News - 2019 The Invasive Species Early Detection Team (ISED) conducted surveys in 2019 at Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GOGA), Point Reyes National Seashore(PORE), John Muir National Historic Site (JOMU), and Pinnacles National Park (PINN). Noteworthy detections this year included yellow star thistle and purple star thistle at GOGA, poroporo and Jimson weed at PORE, cheat grass and smilo grass at PINN, and stinkwort at JOMU. A clump of green grass (cheat grass) laying on the ground Scientist Profile: Alex Iwaki, Hydrology Monitor "While I was in college, I didn't want to go back home for the summer to work at the local grocery. I applied for a bunch of environmental internships and got a fisheries internship in Colorado. I had no prior experience or any interest in fish, but I thought 'why not?' I went out there, learned a lot, and had an amazing time. After the fisheries internship, I knew I wanted to continue to work in natural sciences." Alex Iwaki Top Ten Tips for a Summer Visit to John Muir National Historic Site The Strentzel/Muir home at the John Muir National Historic Site, in Martinez, California. A two-store home sits on a small hill, surrounded by tree. Two Palm Trees tower above the porch. From Intern to Mentor: A Latino Heritage Internship Program Intern's Conversation with an Alum David Escobar, a Latino Heritage Internship Program (LHIP) intern at John Muir National Historic Site in California, shares his conversation with a park ranger LHIP alum that shaped his experience, perspective, and project. A park ranger and David Escobar standing next to a sign San Francisco Bay Area Network 2019 Long-term Monitoring Updates The San Francisco Bay Area Inventory & Monitoring Network has created a new product for sharing our science with the Bay Area parks community: an immersive, multimedia StoryMap! Discover key highlights from the 2019 monitoring season along with striking photos, interactive maps, annotated graphs, audio recordings, and more. Person sitting among ferns beside an enormous tree, recording owl data. Threatened Alameda Whipsnake More Flexible in Habitat Use Than Previously Thought The threatened Alameda whipsnake is generally thought to prefer habitat with chaparral or scrub plant communities. So when park scientists found Alameda whipsnakes in unexpected places at John Muir National Historic site, they realized that the snake may be using a broader range of habitats than previously thought. Their results could have significant implications for habitat management not only at John Muir, but across the snake's range. Image of snake with vertical black and yellow stripes stretching between branches of Oak trees. Scientist Profile: Lisa Schomaker, Botanist Meet Lisa Schomaker, botanist for the San Francisco Bay Area Inventory & Monitoring Network. Discover how Lisa cultivated an early love of the outdoors into a career studying plant communities in national parks. Plus, get Lisa's perspective on what it's like to monitor the diverse ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay Area! Botanist Lisa Schomaker is pictured smiling. What Are Transects, and Why Are They Important for Monitoring Natural Resources? Ever wondered what those long tape measures botanists and field technicians use, anyway? They're called transects. Join plant community monitoring technician Mackenzie Morris as she breaks down why transects are so important for monitoring natural resources. Field technician uses a long piece of tape to conduct measurements on a vegetation community. Coast Live Oak Woodland Biodiversity Hotspot Under Threat by Sudden Oak Death What impact could prescribed and cultural burnings have on the distribution of Sudden Oak Death? Community plant monitoring bio tech Danielle Parson's reflects on her experiences monitoring oak woodland plant communities that are suffering from Sudden Oak Death. and considers what it would take to collaboratively steward these special places. Photo of sunlit oak tree grove. Trials, Trails, and Tribulations of a Biological Plant Field Technician: Perspectives on Poison Oak Although poison oak can cause uncomfortable skin rashes, it is a vital part of California native plant communities. Join biological plant technician Mackenzie Morris as she explores the trials and tribulations of being exposed to poison oak as part of her work stewarding the native plant communities of the San Francisco Bay Area National Parks. Close up photo of plant with red and green leaves. Climate Corner: What do Heavy Autumn Rains Mean for California’s Drought Status? ● Reconciling record rainfall in October with continued drought predictions for California<br> ● Predictions for winter 2021, including La Niña<br> ● How La Niña and El Niño cycles may start to shift with the changing climate Map of the USA showing how fall temperatures are departing from previous averages New Geologic Resources Inventory Report Available for John Muir National Historic Site Explore how geology forms the foundation of the landscape at John Muir historic site and discover more connections between the man John Muir and geology with the newly-completed Geologic Resources Inventory report for John Muir National Historic Site. Image of the grassland and oak woodland habitats situated on rolling hills. Event Recap - Stories of Service: Empowering Youth and Young Adults to Be the Future Face of Volunteering in National Parks The National Park Service Youth Programs Division co-hosted a virtual event, “Stories of Service: Empowering Youth and Young Adults to Be the Future Face of Volunteering in National Parks” on November 10, 2021 with the National Park Service Volunteers-In-Parks Program (VIP) in partnership with the National Park Foundation (NPF). A diverse panel shared their stories of volunteering in parks and the impacts these experiences have had on them. Screenshot of speakers and panelists from Nov. 10 Volunteers Event Changing Patterns of Water Availability May Change Vegetation Composition in US National Parks Across the US, changes in water availability are altering which plants grow where. These changes are evident at a broad scale. But not all areas experience the same climate in the same way, even within the boundaries of a single national park. A new dataset gives park managers a valuable tool for understanding why vegetation has changed and how it might change in the future under different climate-change scenarios. Green, orange, and dead grey junipers in red soil, mountains in background Wanda Muir-Hanna Wanda Muir-Hanna was one of the longest residents of the land that is now the John Muir Historic Site. She was the oldest child of Louisa “Louie” Strentzel and John Muir. Family poses on steps of Victorian home. 3 Women, seated, bearded man stands. Dog in foreground Keith Park: Horticulturist, Arborist in the Pacific West Region Keith Park is as a horticulturalist and certified arborist and maintains the historic landscapes at John Muir National Historic Site, Eugene O’Neil National Historic Site, Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, and Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial. He received the 2021 regional Cultural Resource Award for Facility Maintenance Specialist for his outreach work with community partners and National Park Service sites across the Pacific West. Man stands in tree Botany News – July 2022 This July, the Invasive Species Early Detection team mapped invasive plants at John Muir National Historic Site and at Rancho Corral de Tierra and the Presidio of San Francisco in Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Yellow star thistle, Algerian sea lavendar, and Oppositeleaf Russian thistle emerged as noteworthy early detections. Meanwhile, the Plant Community Monitoring team surveyed freshwater marsh plots and shine a spotlight on the ecological benefits of poison oak. Two people look down through dense bunches of tall sedges. One holds a tall yellow device. July 2022 Botany Newsletter Now Available Botany News is back with it's second issue of the season! One top takeaway is that the Invasive Species Early Detection (ISED) team is seeking volunteers for year-round invasive species surveys. Field days involve up to five miles of walking on easy to moderate trails, oftentime less. At least a general knowledge of invasive species of the Bay Area is preferred, and data collection training will be provided. Person in hiking gear on a trail, leaning down to take a photo with a cell phone camera. New Monitoring Efforts Track Pollinator Populations at John Muir National Historic Site This summer, the Natural Resources Management team at John Muir National Historic Site began two new exciting wildlife monitoring projects involving beloved native pollinators: monarch butterflies and bumble bees. Interns began milkweed and blooming plant surveys in April and monitoring for monarch eggs and larvae in June. They also began collecting data in June for the California Bumble Bee Atlas, a new community science effort to conserve native bumble bees. Two young people on a rolling grassy mountainside recording milkweed data. Series: Women's History in the Pacific West - California-Great Basin Collection Biographies from Northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada Map of northern California, Central Valley, Sierra Nevada Mountains and Nevada Botany News – Winter 2022-2023 Meet GIS Intern Shea Nolan, get a peek at post-field season indoor botany, and test your invasive species ID skills in this fall-winter issue. Also catch invasive species profiles of two grassland troublemakers, <em>Bromus tectorum</em> and <em>Rytidosperma penicillatum</em>, and a native species profile on the charming redwood forest floor groundcover <em>Oxalis oregana</em>. Microscope view of yellowed grass spikelets with long, needle-like awns. Forging the Future: Investing in Youth and Seed Collection The National Park Service's California Invasive Plant Management Team is utilizing Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to ensure parks have the proper seeds available to restore park ecosystems. Two botanists sit in the grass and monitor of plot of vegetation at Golden Gate. Project Profile: Increase Native Seed Production for 14 California Parks The National Park Service is collaborating with a range of partners to increase regional production capacity for appropriate native plant seed to restore native coastal prairies, interior grasslands and wet meadows, habitat for threatened and endangered species, and provide capacity for post-fire recovery. a person stands in a field of tall grass Project Profile: Collect and Curate Native Seed for Fourteen California Parks The National Park Service will collect and curate seeds to support native plant materials development and subsequent restoration at 14 national park units across California. seed crew collects seeds under tree cannopy The Seed Collectors: Harnessing the Power of Native Seeds for a Resilient Future This summer, a team of three apprentice botanists were tasked with collecting tiny seeds for a mighty purpose— restoring central California native plant communities. American Conservation Experience assembled a San Francisco Bay Area Network seed crew to gather several million seeds from 12 different species, making up a diverse native seed bank. A woman wearing a burgundy hat and shirt clips a grass with garden shears. Vital Signs & Climate Change: Tracking the Pulse of San Francisco Bay Area National Park Ecosystems into an Uncertain Climate Future Here, we’ll dive into a collection of stories about how six San Francisco Bay Area Network vital signs—indicators of park ecosystem health—are being impacted by climate change: rocky intertidal zones, western snowy plovers, coho salmon, plant communities, landbirds, and pinnipeds (seals). We’ll look at how network scientists and partners are learning about each sign, and how this long-term research is essential to structuring life-sustaining conservation initiatives. View of a group of tall trees from below, sunlight illuminating their vibrant green leaves. Updated Species Database Will Help Boost Amphibian Conservation Across the National Park System To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation. A toad sits on red sand, looking into the camera. Helen Muir’s Diary John Muir's daughter was in love with trains. Suffering from illness, she was largely confined to home. where she diligently tracked the trains that passed through her family’s fruit ranch, yearning to understand how they worked. Helen proudly embraced her train obsession and understood it was not “proper” for a girl her age. In trains, she found an expansive world that broke free from both the limitations of her health and society’s gender roles. Portrait of young woman with coifed hair, high necked dress with flouncy necktie. Series: Home and Homelands Exhibition: Resistance How have the expectations of others shaped your life? Ideas about home and gender are intimately connected. This has often meant confining women to a particular space – the home – and solely to domestic roles – a wife, a mother, a homemaker. But women have long pushed against this. Some sought to reclaim their Indigenous ideas of home. These stories of resistance conclude the exhibit precisely because they expand what counts as a home and women’s relationship to it. Thick white paper peeled back to reveal collage of women. "Home and Homelands: Resistance." Project Profile: Landscape Stewardship Corps Pre-Apprenticeship Program In collaboration with the Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, the Historic Preservation Training Center is launching the Traditional Trades Advancement Program-Landscape Stewardship Corps, a nationwide internship program aimed at inspiring youth. The program focuses on providing hands-on experiences and training in cultural landscape preservation, preparing the next generation to become stewards of the National Park Service (NPS).