John Muir is noted for daring adventures in the wilderness, but he was was also a devoted family man. He lived with his wife and two daughters on a large fruit ranch in Martinez California, east of San Francisco.

This April we visited John Muir National Historic Site, toured his Victorian-style home, had a picnic lunch in the grounds, and hiked on Mt. Wanda, where Muir took his daughters Wanda and Helen for nature walks.

In the 1880’s after Muir married, he took over management of his father-in-law’s ranch, 2,600 acres of fertile land. Muir planted a variety of crops – grapes, walnuts, peaches, pears, plums, oranges, lemons, cherries, apricots.

John Muir and his family lived in a large three story house, with two spacious parlors, a formal dining room, kitchen, upstairs were bedrooms and study where Muir wrote books, articles, and many letters.

After his daughters were grown, he traveled widely, but Muir was rooted to this house, his home, and spent the last years of his life here.

The day of our visit, it was a glorious warm spring day, hills covered with tall green grass, oak trees with new green leaves, fruit trees and wildflowers in bloom.

On the hike to the top of Mt. Wanda, John Muir came along too.

 

Tips for visiting John Muir National Historic Site

• Where is it located?
• John Muir NHS is located in Martinez California, east of San Francisco. You’ll need a car to visit, it’s about an hour from downtown San Francisco.
• The site includes Muir house and surrounding orchards, nearby is Mt. Wanda hiking area.
• Best time to visit –
• Muir house is open year round. To hike Mt. Wanda, spring is the best time, with green hills and wildflowers blooming. In summer, grasses on the hillsides are golden, but it can be hot.
• Parking
• In front of Muir house is a parking lot on Alhambra Ave. If the parking lot is full, go across to Walnut Ave. and try city street parking.
• Parking for Mt. Wanda is corner of Franklin Canyon Rd. and Alhambra Ave.
• Hiking Mt. Wanda area
• Trail to top of Mt. Wanda is about 1 mile (2 miles round trip), on a wide sloping trail. In the John Muir NHS visitor center are maps of the trails.
• Bring a picnic lunch, water and snacks.
• Picnic tables and benches are available, there are no restrooms.

 

Books about John Muir

Read about the life and adventures of John Muir – one of the most famous people in California’s history, and his vision of nature transformed the American wilderness.

• The Camping Trip That Changed America by Barb Rosenstock, Mordicai Gerstein .
• Ride with President Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir through Yosemite in May 1903. Hiking on their own and sleeping outdoors, even when it snowed in May, it was simply glorious. After the camping trip, Roosevelt used his presidency to create federal protection for wilderness. (Picture book)
• The Adventures of John Muir by Kate Coombs, Seth Lucas.
• John Muir walked to see
  Big, big trees.
  “Come see what I see!” John Muir said
  And people did.
• (Board book)
• Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir by by Julie Bertagna, William Goldsmith.
• Biography of John Muir, growing up in Scotland and the Midwest, coming to California. After John Muir first saw Yosemite Valley, he was so enchanted he spent years exploring the mountains, observing glaciers, wildlife, plants and trees in the Sierra Nevada. From his experiences in Yosemite, John Muir began his life’s work to preserve the wilderness.
• He is an inspiration to enjoy the wonders of nature, and be caretakers of the earth for future generations. (Graphic novel)