John Muir
Renowned conservationist and naturalist John Muir once described Grandfather Mountain as “the face of all Heaven come to Earth.”
Mr. Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, celebrated Grandfather’s natural splendor during his Sept. 25, 1898, visit. Now, Grandfather Mountain is returning the favor.
John Muir Day will take place Friday, Sept. 25, offering free admission to Sierra Club members, along with special programing to celebrate the naturalist’s lasting legacy.
For instance, the 11:30 a.m. Junior Ranger program will focus on Muir, as will a 1 p.m. history walk for visitors of all ages, titled “A Walk in John Muir’s Boots.”
“We’ll talk about his visit here in September 1898 and also about his life,” chief naturalist Mickey Shortt said. “I think he put Grandfather Mountain on the map, as far as natural areas go. That someone as renowned as John Muir would make a trip here — I believe he lived in California at that time — is just amazing.”
The visit also came during a considerably active period in Muir’s career.
“The time he was at Grandfather Mountain was actually pretty significant in his career, because it was just after he founded the Sierra Club, and the creation of the National Parks was just getting off the ground,” said Jesse Pope, executive director of the Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation, the nonprofit organization that oversees the popular North Carolina attraction.
“For him to come to Grandfather Mountain and recognize its significance, compared to all the national treasures and wonders of the western United States, I think that says a lot of about the diversity and landscape of Grandfather Mountain.”
Mr. Muir’s endorsement, as it were, isn’t something that Grandfather’s naturalist staff takes lightly.
“Our mission is to inspire conservation, and I think that’s what John Muir was all about,” Mr. Shortt said.
“He wanted to protect places so future generations could enjoy them. That’s the intent with our programs — to leave visitors with something that moves them to care about the resources across the country and also in their backyard.”
Mr. Muir’s legacy is shared among the Sierra Club’s approximately 2.4 million members and supporters. As a way of honoring their commitment to conservation, on Sept. 25, Grandfather Mountain will grant free admission to Sierra Club members with valid proof of membership.
For more information on Grandfather Mountain and John Muir Day, as well as additional events and programming, visit www.grandfather.com, or call (828) 733-2013. For more information on the Sierra Club, visit www.sierraclub.org.
The not-for-profit Grandfather Mountain Stewardship Foundation strives to inspire conservation of the natural world by helping guests explore, understand and value the wonders of Grandfather Mountain. For more information, call (800) 468-7325, or visit www.grandfather.com to plan a trip.