![[John Muir, full length portrait,…seated on rock with lake and trees in background]. c1902. Prints & Photographs Division from Library of Congress](https://dresserpubliclibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/John-Muir.png)
“Watching the daybreak and sunrise. The pale rose and purple sky changing softly to daffodil yellow and white… Everything awakening alert and joyful.” — John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra
On July 19, 1869, naturalist John Muir recorded a spectacular Sierra Nevada sunrise, capturing the awe and beauty that would define his writing. Drawn from journals and field notes, My First Summer in the Sierra illustrates why Muir became one of America’s most influential voices for wilderness preservation.
Born in Scotland and raised in Wisconsin, Muir originally pursued mechanical invention. After an industrial accident nearly cost him his sight in 1867, he devoted his life to studying and protecting the natural world. His vivid descriptions of wild landscapes helped inspire a growing conservation movement and influenced leaders, including President Theodore Roosevelt.
Muir’s articles and books built public support for the creation of Yosemite National Park in 1890 and its expansion in 1906. A keen observer of geology and botany, he also co-founded the Sierra Club in 1892 and served as its first president, helping shape one of the nation’s most enduring environmental organizations.
More than a century later, Muir’s writing continues to inspire readers to look more closely at the natural world. Whether you’re interested in classic nature writing, environmental history, or Wisconsin’s connection to conservation, your library is the perfect place to begin.
Explore Muir’s works and related titles through your local library or the Wisconsin Digital Collection. Don’t have a library card? It’s free—and your gateway to books, digital resources, and discoveries from libraries throughout the MORE consortium.
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” — John Muir