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Contact: Jim MacDonald, 925-228-8860 Ext. 6431 Contact: Ralph Bell, 925-228-8860 Ext. 6411
Join the National Park Service (NPS) to celebrate John Muir's 177th birthday during the annual Birthday –Earth Day event on Saturday, April 18, 2015 from 10 AM to 4 PM at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez, CA. Participate in fun activities for all ages to commemorate Muir's legacy. Special guest speaker Beth Pratt-Bergstrom, California Director of the National Wildlife Federation, will give the keynote address. The celebration, held rain or shine, features family-oriented activities, food for sale, live music including a bagpipe band, song performances by original cast members of the play Mountain Days, and displays by national parks and local environmental organizations. Parking and admission are free. NPS Ranger Frank Helling will portray John Muir and recount some of Muir's many wilderness adventures. Visitors can enjoy self-guided tours of Muir's historic Italianate Victorian home where he wrote about protecting nature, as well as bid in two silent auctions. Proceeds benefit the John Muir Association, the nonprofit organization hosting the event in partnership with the NPS. The Association will also present the 37th annual John Muir Conservation Awards. The John Muir NHS Visitor Center parking lot will be reserved for vehicles with a state-issued disabled person placard or plate; free general parking will be available at Alhambra High School located at 150 E Street at Alhambra Avenue. While free shuttle transportation will be provided from the parking area, the NPS encourages travel on public transportation. For directions, please visit www.nps.gov/jomu/planyourvisit/directions.htm. For additional information, please visit www.johnmuirassociation.org or www.MuirEarthDay.org. Created in 1964, John Muir NHS preserves the home, landscapes, and gravesite of conservationist and national park advocate John Muir. John Muir NHS, located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553, is open seven days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission to the site is free of charge. For more information, please visit the park website at www.nps.gov/jomu, like us on Facebook, or call (925) 228-8860. |
Last updated: March 24, 2015