John Muir NHS Hosts Strentzel-Muir Gravesite Public Open House

Date: April 13, 2015
Contact: Gretchen Stromberg, [phone]

John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) is conducting a public open house to review the Environmental Assessment for the Strentzel-Muir Gravesite in Martinez, California on Wednesday evening, April 29. The workshop will be held from 5 to 7pm in the multipurpose room at John Swett Elementary School, located at 4955 Alhambra Valley Road, Martinez.

John Muir NHS staff initiated public scoping for the Strentzel-Muir Gravesite in spring 2013, and developed a range of alternatives following a public alternatives development workshop in 2014. An environmental impact analysis for each of the alternatives was conducted, and a preferred alternative was identified based on this analysis. These alternatives and analysis, which comprise the Environmental Assessment, will be available for public review and comment beginning April 20, 2015. The public workshop is being held to facilitate review and input into this plan.

The Strentzel-Muir Gravesite is located approximately one mile from John Muir's former home. The 1.27-acre parcel contains a historic pear orchard and a small family burial area that includes John Muir's final resting place. The site is bounded by Alhambra Creek to the southeast and single-family residences to the north, west and south.

John Muir NHS consisted of the Muir House, the Martinez Adobe, and their surrounding grounds when established in 1964. In 1980, the NPS conducted a feasibility study for adding the Strentzel-Muir Gravesite property to John Muir NHS, which was owned by the Muir-Hanna Family Trust. In 1988, Congress passed legislation to include the gravesite within the boundary of John Muir NHS. In 1991, the NPS completed a General Management Plan that included a proposed strategy for managing the gravesite. In 1993, the American Land Conservancy purchased the property with the intent of transferring it to the NPS when funds became available, which occurred in 2000.

According to its founding legislation, John Muir NHS was established as a public memorial honoring John Muir for his contributions to the nation in land conservation and for his crusading efforts in advancing the cause of the national parks. In addition to enhancing the realization of the legislated mission of John Muir NHS, the purpose of this plan is to fulfill the broader NPS mission related to the management of natural and cultural resources under its care, and to plan for all of the aforementioned in a manner that respects surrounding landowners who live in close proximity to the gravesite, in consideration of the Muir family and the public.