John Muir (1838-1914)
Filed under the name John · August 6, 2026
John Muir loved the outdoors the way some of my former students loved recess — like it was the only part of the day that made sense to them. He walked and wrote his way across this country until people started listening, and because he wouldn't quit hollering about it, we've got Yosemite and a whole system of national parks that regular families can still walk into today. I started keeping bees this past winter, two hives my neighbor gave me, and I confess I think of Muir every time I'm out there in my bonnet and veil, paying closer attention to the created world than I ever did before. He co-founded the Sierra Club and folks still call him the Father of the National Parks, which is a fine thing to be called. My students used to roll their eyes when I made them go outside for science lessons. I tell you what — a person who really looks at creation usually ends up wanting to protect it. Muir sure did.