Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Scots Corner - John Muir

We are currently watching a PBS 6 part series called The National Parks - America's Best Idea. http://www.pbs.org/nationalparks/ They are breathtaking and I have to say the scenery leaves Scotland's majesty in the dust !!!!!!
Sorry folks.
Any hoo the brain and and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the parks was a Scotsman, John Muir, who hailed from Dunbar, East Lothian. His parents moved the family to Wisconsin in 1849. An accident in 1867 became the catalyst for what was to become a life long worship, and dedication to the preservation of nature. He greatly influenced President Roosevelt in his conservation pursuits.

Yosemite was one of Muir's stomping ground and he was the first to suggest that the area had been shaped by glaciers. He co-founded The Sierra Club in 1892 and it is considered one of the leading conservation groups of present day USA. John Muir Day is April 21.
We all owe this Scotsman a great debt for his dedication to help preserve such wonderful natural beauties - Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Mount Rainier and other areas like The Petrified Forest.
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/yosemite.html

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

The series is wonderfully put together, isn't it? Amazing to think how long it took for these parks to become "official" and only because of the determination of such legends as John Muir.
There is a gorgeous coffee table book available also. Have you seen the recent Nat Geo magazine? There is an article with stunning images of Scotland. The beauty of that land is breathtaking & I must add a trip there to my growing "bucket list. "

Micki said...

I have been to Yosemite and Yellowstone National Parks...They are quite beautiful!
Micki