The United States was the first country in the world to set aside land for everyone to enjoy, and to keep in its natural state. The National Park Service was created in 1916 to “protect the wild and wonderful landscapes” that already included 35 National Parks. John Muir’s impassioned writings inspired Americans to fight for the preservation of large tracts of Western forests including Yosemite. Muir and his writings were instrumental in the creation of our National Parks system. The arts have been part of the history of national parks since the 1870’s and were used as a powerful tool to help create the National Parks and the Park Service.
The Pacific Grove Public Library is hosting a fine art exhibition with special events celebrating John Muir and the centennial of the National Park Service from October 2016 to January 2017.