“I know that our bodies were made to thrive only in pure air, and the scenes in which pure air is found.” – John Muir

John Muir dedicated his life to preserve wilderness. He was born in Dunbar, Scotland, but spent most of his life in the United States. Muir studied botany and geology at the University of Wisconsin.

Muir was a naturalist, author, inventor, and preservationist. He authored many letters, journals, and books focusing on explorations of natural settings. His influential writings inspired many people including presidents and congressmen.

John Muir petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park Bill that was passed in 1899 which helped establish Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. So, he is often referred to as the father of the national parks in the U.S.

John Muir also co-founded the Sierra Club where he served as the President of the club until his death in 1914. Today, the Sierra Club is the leading American grassroots organization for protecting wilderness and the environment.

John Muir is a “Green” hero whose dedication, determination, involvement, and deeds continue to inspire many environmentalists today in protecting the environment.

To learn more about John Muir, visit PBS.org or Sierra Club.

He restricted his possessions to only essential things needed for life. His diet was limited to fruits and vegetables that grew in the wild and beans that he planted himself. He said “to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach”. Mr. Thoreau spent most of his time at the Walden Pond observing the nature, reading and writing.

He was a poet and a philosopher too. One of his quotes at the Walden says, “The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly” (Thoreau Quotes).

Green heroes like Henry David Thoreau who dedicated their life should be recognized and cherished.

Source: The Library of Congress