Born in Dunbar, Scotland in 1838, John Muir's family emigrated to the United States when he was 11. His earliest memories were taking nature walks with his grandfather in Scotland, and he always kept a stong Scottish identity. Mr. Muir became the founding father of the American environmental movement, with his books and essays having been read by millions, including myself. Look at his eyes in the photo above, and you can see the energy and genius on full view. He walked the mountains of the West, recording their magnificence and becoming an early advocate of their preservation. John Muir's personal advocacy resulted in the establishment of Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks in the 1890s. I took the photo below on a visit to Muir Woods in 1983:
Great series on bearded men of accomplishment in the arts, philanthropy and history. Your photograph of the Muir Woods is excellent, Ansel Adams would be proud :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the kind words!
DeleteIsn't that where they filmed a great scene in Hitchcock's Vertigo, where, tracing the circle on a section of a redwood, Kim Novak tells James Stewart, "Just here I was born. And here I died. It was only a moment for you. You took no notice."? Thanks for the memory.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I had forgotten about that scene being filmed there.
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