John Muir was the co-founder of the Sierra Club. In 1903, he and Theodore Roosevelt camped for three days in the Yosemite Valley, sparking speculation that Muir was the first to ignite T.R.’s passion for preserving open spaces. The excursion was called, “the most significant camping trip in conservation history.” Afterward, Roosevelt became famous for his conservation efforts. But did Muir initiate Roosevelt’s pursuit of land preservation? Not quite.
In the late 1880s, T.R and fellow avid sportsmen co-founded the Boone and Crockett Club. Historian, John F. Reiger stated, “… it, and not the Sierra Club, was the first private organization to deal effectively with conservation issues on a national scope.”
While Muir may not have introduced conservation to Roosevelt, he may have inspired him. During his presidency, T.R. protected about 230 million acres of land. He signed legislation establishing five new national parks, and enacted the 1906 Antiquities Act, allowing U.S. Presidents to declare national monuments.
Roosevelt’s legacy is commemorated at six locations, among them Sagamore Hill National Historic Site in Oyster Bay, New York, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota, and who’s one of the familiar faces on South Dakota’s Mount Rushmore? Yes. Theodore Roosevelt.
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About the Author
Native New Yorker, Darlene Cah is a writer, actor/improvisor, and digital content specialist based in North Carolina. Her short stories have appeared in Smokelong Quarterly, Red Earth Review, Have a NYC (Anthology), Referential Magazine, and other journals. Fiction awards include Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, Emrys Fiction Prize, Semifinalist ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Contest, and more. Advertising awards include Finalist Media Post Awards for email, Honorable Mention Clios, One Shows, and Andys (print). When not writing for INSP, you’ll find her on stage, backstage, or coaching improv for Shakespeare & Friends Theater Company. And, of course, playing fetch with her dog.
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