With the weather turning downright balmy,why not take your kids to see conservation in action at a national park? The nice thing about Muir Woods is that, frankly, it’s not much of a hike. The kids can’t complain, because it’s flatter than the mall – and so much nicer.
The land for Muir Woods was donated by Congressman William Kent, a businessman and philanthropist. In 1905, he and his wife bought 611 acres of old-growth redwood for $45,000. (These days, that might buy you a parking spot in a San Francisco garage.) They donated 295 of those acres to the Federal Government so that President Theodore Roosevelt could have it declared a national monument. People thought he’d have that park named after himself (wouldn’t you?), but he said it should be named after John Muir.
John Muir was kind of a kooky character: a Scottish-born explorer with a serious love of plants and nature who spent years living in a cabin in Yellowstone Canyon – which eventually became Yellowstone National Park, mostly due to his efforts. You can read more about him in the Explorers edition of our blog.
Why are the redwoods so important? Before the 1800s, there were loads of redwood trees all through the valleys of Northern California. People rushed to the area during the Gold Rush, but when they didn’t strike it rich, they looked around at the trees and thought, Hmm. These trees were amazing: The tallest trees in the world, they can stretch 30 stories high and 25 feet wide – the length of two cars. Some people have walked into redwood forests and said the experience is like walking into a cathedral. Seeing all that majestic nature, what else would you do but… cut them all down to make buildings?!
Actually, the wood of these trees is pretty amazing. It has a lovely color, is extremely sturdy yet lightweight, and because redwoods have less resin than other trees, it’s resistant to fire. It was houses built with redwood that stopped the Great Fire of San Francisco in 1906. It was also used for railroad ties and trestles. But enough is enough: For decades, loggers mowed down these amazing trees until just a fraction were left. That’s when people like Kent, Muir, and Roosevelt got involved to conserve these forests and make sure everyone would have a chance to stand, tiny as an ant, at the base of a mighty sequoia.
Take A Hike Tee
Learn more about redwoods and get totally inspired for a hike through Muir Woods with the Save the Redwoods League. (Have your kids enter their art contest through April 30!) Make sure you suit ‘em up in John Muir t-shirts – you can get them just a stone’s throw from Muir Woods, at our Corte Madera and Roseville stores.
Also, don’t forget to bring your kids to a local Peek store to participate in our Conservation Event on Saturday & Sunday April 17th and April 18th. They’ll make some cute crafts out of recycled goods, and you can enter for a chance to win a $50 Curious Coin to be used in-store! We look forward to seeing you, and your kids will love seeing their artwork displayed in our store!
