WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.385 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.385 --> 00:00:02.760 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: "California's Gold" 00:00:02.760 --> 00:00:07.030 align:middle line:84% is produced in association with KCET Los Angeles 00:00:07.030 --> 00:00:11.510 align:middle line:84% and is seen statewide on California Public Television. 00:00:11.510 --> 00:00:14.280 align:middle line:84% This series is endorsed by the California Teachers 00:00:14.280 --> 00:00:17.220 align:middle line:84% Association, the California School Boards 00:00:17.220 --> 00:00:22.578 align:middle line:84% Association, and the California Library Association. 00:00:22.578 --> 00:00:25.980 align:middle line:90% [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:00:25.980 --> 00:00:28.785 align:middle line:90% 00:00:28.785 --> 00:00:32.414 align:middle line:84% (SINGING) When we reach the bird and valley 00:00:32.414 --> 00:00:38.770 align:middle line:84% and the winding mountain stream, see great cliffs and waterfalls 00:00:38.770 --> 00:00:46.380 align:middle line:84% passed in review, find the skies by day all sunny 00:00:46.380 --> 00:00:49.950 align:middle line:84% and at night bedecked with stars, 00:00:49.950 --> 00:00:53.552 align:middle line:84% then we know that we are in Yosemite. 00:00:53.552 --> 00:00:57.525 align:middle line:90% 00:00:57.525 --> 00:01:00.240 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, here we are in Yosemite National Park. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:04.349 align:middle line:84% And this is going to be one of the most exciting days I have 00:01:04.349 --> 00:01:06.930 align:middle line:84% ever spent, because I have just found out 00:01:06.930 --> 00:01:10.950 align:middle line:84% that I'm going to be able to spend some time this morning 00:01:10.950 --> 00:01:13.050 align:middle line:90% with John Muir. 00:01:13.050 --> 00:01:15.720 align:middle line:84% Now, John Muir is one of the most legendary names 00:01:15.720 --> 00:01:18.330 align:middle line:84% in the history of Yosemite National Park. 00:01:18.330 --> 00:01:20.400 align:middle line:84% He's one of the most legendary names 00:01:20.400 --> 00:01:24.810 align:middle line:84% in the whole environmental movement in this country. 00:01:24.810 --> 00:01:28.800 align:middle line:84% But Scott, here in Yosemite, you know 00:01:28.800 --> 00:01:31.260 align:middle line:90% how important John Muir is. 00:01:31.260 --> 00:01:35.280 align:middle line:84% Can you share a little bit of his background, who he is, just 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:37.200 align:middle line:84% to kind of bring everybody up to speed 00:01:37.200 --> 00:01:39.870 align:middle line:84% on why it's going to be such a big deal that I'm 00:01:39.870 --> 00:01:42.960 align:middle line:84% going to get to spend some time with him this morning? 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:45.000 align:middle line:84% SCOTT GEDIMAN: Well, John Muir was a young man 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.820 align:middle line:84% who was originally from Scotland, 00:01:47.820 --> 00:01:50.040 align:middle line:84% immigrated to the United States with his family, 00:01:50.040 --> 00:01:52.560 align:middle line:84% and settled in the Wisconsin area, 00:01:52.560 --> 00:01:56.070 align:middle line:84% came out to Yosemite in the 1860s and fell in love. 00:01:56.070 --> 00:01:58.980 align:middle line:84% He fell in love with the waterfalls, and the mountains, 00:01:58.980 --> 00:02:02.700 align:middle line:84% and the wildlife, and settled for a time here in Yosemite, 00:02:02.700 --> 00:02:05.880 align:middle line:84% and wanted to extol its virtues to the world 00:02:05.880 --> 00:02:09.419 align:middle line:84% and tell everyone how important it was to preserve Yosemite. 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:12.960 align:middle line:84% John Muir hosted visitors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, 00:02:12.960 --> 00:02:16.950 align:middle line:84% Theodore Roosevelt, and was just passionate about Yosemite 00:02:16.950 --> 00:02:20.790 align:middle line:84% and loved to share his passion and his joy 00:02:20.790 --> 00:02:24.630 align:middle line:84% about the park and the importance of preserving it. 00:02:24.630 --> 00:02:27.300 align:middle line:84% And so John Muir was really responsible for not 00:02:27.300 --> 00:02:30.900 align:middle line:84% only forming the Sierra Club, but a lot of people 00:02:30.900 --> 00:02:34.080 align:middle line:84% feel that he was the father of the modern conservation 00:02:34.080 --> 00:02:34.835 align:middle line:90% movement. 00:02:34.835 --> 00:02:36.210 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: He was a writer who 00:02:36.210 --> 00:02:41.910 align:middle line:84% shared his writings of traveling through nature with the world. 00:02:41.910 --> 00:02:46.190 align:middle line:84% He became passionate about preserving the environment. 00:02:46.190 --> 00:02:50.700 align:middle line:84% And he really put this place, and the whole sense 00:02:50.700 --> 00:02:54.770 align:middle line:84% of preserving the environment, on everybody's radar screen, 00:02:54.770 --> 00:02:55.770 align:middle line:90% didn't he? 00:02:55.770 --> 00:02:58.050 align:middle line:84% SCOTT GEDIMAN: John Muir certainly was instrumental 00:02:58.050 --> 00:02:59.700 align:middle line:84% in getting the word out, not only 00:02:59.700 --> 00:03:02.280 align:middle line:84% about Yosemite, but the importance of preserving 00:03:02.280 --> 00:03:03.540 align:middle line:90% wild places. 00:03:03.540 --> 00:03:05.490 align:middle line:84% The whole concept of putting aside 00:03:05.490 --> 00:03:08.220 align:middle line:84% a piece of land just for its beauty 00:03:08.220 --> 00:03:10.710 align:middle line:84% and how remarkable it was wasn't really 00:03:10.710 --> 00:03:12.270 align:middle line:90% part of the American idea. 00:03:12.270 --> 00:03:15.240 align:middle line:84% So John Muir not only is incredibly important 00:03:15.240 --> 00:03:17.970 align:middle line:84% here in Yosemite, but is important for saving 00:03:17.970 --> 00:03:20.310 align:middle line:84% wild places, not only in America, 00:03:20.310 --> 00:03:21.780 align:middle line:90% but throughout the world-- 00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:22.830 align:middle line:90% a huge figure. 00:03:22.830 --> 00:03:24.960 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So literally, he was 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:29.520 align:middle line:84% responsible for Yosemite National Park being here today. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:34.950 align:middle line:84% He was also largely responsible for convincing Teddy Roosevelt 00:03:34.950 --> 00:03:38.220 align:middle line:84% to create what's today the National Park Service 00:03:38.220 --> 00:03:41.310 align:middle line:84% and set aside large areas of this country 00:03:41.310 --> 00:03:44.280 align:middle line:84% for national parks, and really just for raising 00:03:44.280 --> 00:03:46.350 align:middle line:90% everybody's consciousness. 00:03:46.350 --> 00:03:49.350 align:middle line:84% And this was all done by this guy from Scotland 00:03:49.350 --> 00:03:53.040 align:middle line:84% who came here not really knowing what he was getting into. 00:03:53.040 --> 00:03:55.562 align:middle line:84% This must have all been a surprise to him. 00:03:55.562 --> 00:03:56.520 align:middle line:90% SCOTT GEDIMAN: Exactly. 00:03:56.520 --> 00:03:59.100 align:middle line:84% And again, John Muir is somebody who-- 00:03:59.100 --> 00:04:01.480 align:middle line:84% he had his passion and wanted to tell people. 00:04:01.480 --> 00:04:03.720 align:middle line:84% And it wasn't just enough for him to enjoy it 00:04:03.720 --> 00:04:05.310 align:middle line:90% and to soak in the beauty. 00:04:05.310 --> 00:04:07.380 align:middle line:90% He needed everybody to know. 00:04:07.380 --> 00:04:11.580 align:middle line:84% And as you mentioned, a writer, an illustrator, a botanist-- 00:04:11.580 --> 00:04:15.210 align:middle line:84% John Muir was just incredibly important here in Yosemite. 00:04:15.210 --> 00:04:17.790 align:middle line:90% And we all owe a lot to him. 00:04:17.790 --> 00:04:19.829 align:middle line:84% And we look around a place like Yosemite, 00:04:19.829 --> 00:04:21.000 align:middle line:90% or other wild places-- 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:23.610 align:middle line:84% Sequoia, Kings Canyon-- and a lot of that 00:04:23.610 --> 00:04:26.010 align:middle line:84% can be traced back to the passion 00:04:26.010 --> 00:04:27.540 align:middle line:90% and the hard work of John Muir. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:30.330 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: The conviction and the stubbornness. 00:04:30.330 --> 00:04:33.510 align:middle line:90% He wouldn't let go of this idea. 00:04:33.510 --> 00:04:35.332 align:middle line:90% This became his passion. 00:04:35.332 --> 00:04:36.290 align:middle line:90% SCOTT GEDIMAN: Exactly. 00:04:36.290 --> 00:04:38.880 align:middle line:84% And although John Muir didn't spend his entire life in here, 00:04:38.880 --> 00:04:40.570 align:middle line:90% he continued to come back. 00:04:40.570 --> 00:04:43.740 align:middle line:84% And he considered Yosemite the most beautiful place 00:04:43.740 --> 00:04:44.560 align:middle line:90% in the world. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:48.120 align:middle line:84% And it just was so important to him on every level. 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:51.630 align:middle line:84% And people today owe a great deal of gratitude to John Muir. 00:04:51.630 --> 00:04:55.800 align:middle line:84% And we're certainly thankful that he felt so passionately 00:04:55.800 --> 00:04:56.970 align:middle line:90% about this park. 00:04:56.970 --> 00:04:58.020 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Wow. 00:04:58.020 --> 00:05:00.630 align:middle line:90% I'm so excited to meet this man. 00:05:00.630 --> 00:05:04.080 align:middle line:84% There's so many questions I want to ask him. 00:05:04.080 --> 00:05:05.730 align:middle line:84% This is going to be a real treat. 00:05:05.730 --> 00:05:06.642 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much. 00:05:06.642 --> 00:05:08.100 align:middle line:84% SCOTT GEDIMAN: You're very welcome. 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:11.670 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: We're getting ready to have an absolutely 00:05:11.670 --> 00:05:16.880 align:middle line:84% wonderful day here in Yosemite with the man himself, 00:05:16.880 --> 00:05:19.720 align:middle line:90% John Muir. 00:05:19.720 --> 00:05:24.420 align:middle line:84% On this beautiful morning here in Yosemite National Park, 00:05:24.420 --> 00:05:27.880 align:middle line:84% I have this amazing opportunity to spend the morning 00:05:27.880 --> 00:05:28.930 align:middle line:90% with John Muir. 00:05:28.930 --> 00:05:31.720 align:middle line:84% And Mr. Muir, there are so many questions 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:34.420 align:middle line:84% that I'm just itching to ask you, 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:37.420 align:middle line:84% so many questions that I think anyone 00:05:37.420 --> 00:05:39.550 align:middle line:84% would have if they had the opportunity 00:05:39.550 --> 00:05:41.320 align:middle line:90% to spend time with you. 00:05:41.320 --> 00:05:44.500 align:middle line:90% This place is so special to you. 00:05:44.500 --> 00:05:48.822 align:middle line:84% But really, you kind of got here by accident, didn't you? 00:05:48.822 --> 00:05:50.280 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I did, in a sense. 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:53.860 align:middle line:84% And in fact, a specific accident really impelled my interest 00:05:53.860 --> 00:05:57.370 align:middle line:84% in things other than what I was living at the time, when 00:05:57.370 --> 00:06:00.850 align:middle line:84% I became temporarily blinded in an industrial accident 00:06:00.850 --> 00:06:02.450 align:middle line:90% in Indianapolis. 00:06:02.450 --> 00:06:07.990 align:middle line:84% I was happy, then, in the world of invention and industry. 00:06:07.990 --> 00:06:11.320 align:middle line:84% But I decided that after this temporary blindness, 00:06:11.320 --> 00:06:13.240 align:middle line:84% that the inventions of a creation 00:06:13.240 --> 00:06:15.400 align:middle line:84% were infinitely more interesting to me. 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:20.920 align:middle line:84% And so I headed off on what was then called my 1,000-mile walk 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:24.070 align:middle line:84% from Louisville, Kentucky to Tennessee, 00:06:24.070 --> 00:06:27.777 align:middle line:84% and all the way down to the Cedar Key in Florida. 00:06:27.777 --> 00:06:29.860 align:middle line:84% My intention, really, was to walk all the way down 00:06:29.860 --> 00:06:33.010 align:middle line:84% to South America and to find a place 00:06:33.010 --> 00:06:36.550 align:middle line:84% to build a raft, put it into the Amazon River, 00:06:36.550 --> 00:06:38.440 align:middle line:84% and to float the entire length of the Amazon. 00:06:38.440 --> 00:06:39.481 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Oh, my god. 00:06:39.481 --> 00:06:43.120 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: But fortunately, perhaps, for Yosemite, 00:06:43.120 --> 00:06:47.520 align:middle line:84% in Florida, I was stricken down with a fever, probably malaria, 00:06:47.520 --> 00:06:49.600 align:middle line:84% that would so weaken me that going 00:06:49.600 --> 00:06:52.530 align:middle line:84% further south to the tropics seemed a poor idea. 00:06:52.530 --> 00:06:55.720 align:middle line:84% And so I popped on a ship to Panama, 00:06:55.720 --> 00:06:57.380 align:middle line:84% walked across the isthmus-- of course, 00:06:57.380 --> 00:06:59.350 align:middle line:84% we didn't have the canal in those days-- 00:06:59.350 --> 00:07:01.810 align:middle line:84% and slipped up to San Francisco, where 00:07:01.810 --> 00:07:05.470 align:middle line:84% I asked the first person I met the wildest place he knew of. 00:07:05.470 --> 00:07:07.180 align:middle line:84% He pointed in this general direction. 00:07:07.180 --> 00:07:08.590 align:middle line:90% And I walked up here. 00:07:08.590 --> 00:07:10.660 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Not knowing what in the world 00:07:10.660 --> 00:07:12.100 align:middle line:90% you were getting into. 00:07:12.100 --> 00:07:17.770 align:middle line:84% Can you remember when you first saw this place? 00:07:17.770 --> 00:07:21.217 align:middle line:84% And did you know at that moment that you were on to something? 00:07:21.217 --> 00:07:23.050 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I was pretty much impressed 00:07:23.050 --> 00:07:25.210 align:middle line:84% by my first view of the Sierra Nevada, 00:07:25.210 --> 00:07:28.310 align:middle line:84% which I saw from down in the Bay Area. 00:07:28.310 --> 00:07:32.710 align:middle line:84% And in those days, the Sierra Nevada 00:07:32.710 --> 00:07:35.140 align:middle line:84% struck me as what it should have been called, perhaps, 00:07:35.140 --> 00:07:36.340 align:middle line:90% the range of light. 00:07:36.340 --> 00:07:39.244 align:middle line:84% And I first coined that when I first viewed it. 00:07:39.244 --> 00:07:41.410 align:middle line:84% And walking through the Central Valley in those days 00:07:41.410 --> 00:07:43.570 align:middle line:84% up to Yosemite was a great pleasure. 00:07:43.570 --> 00:07:45.970 align:middle line:84% Of course, it was still very much wild country 00:07:45.970 --> 00:07:50.290 align:middle line:84% and teeming with wildlife, and rich 00:07:50.290 --> 00:07:53.680 align:middle line:90% in vital farms and the like. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.210 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Lots of animals, too. 00:07:55.210 --> 00:07:56.126 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Absolutely. 00:07:56.126 --> 00:07:58.000 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: I mean, grizzly bears and-- 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:03.040 align:middle line:84% I mean, this was no easy feat to get here. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.290 align:middle line:90% But when you walked in-- 00:08:05.290 --> 00:08:10.720 align:middle line:84% for example, did you just see something like this 00:08:10.720 --> 00:08:15.250 align:middle line:84% and just stand in total awe of what you were seeing? 00:08:15.250 --> 00:08:17.080 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Of course. 00:08:17.080 --> 00:08:19.330 align:middle line:84% No one can do otherwise, I think. 00:08:19.330 --> 00:08:21.340 align:middle line:84% And even in this day and age, one 00:08:21.340 --> 00:08:24.880 align:middle line:84% is very likely to be struck by the same wonderful attributes 00:08:24.880 --> 00:08:27.040 align:middle line:84% of this valley that I was struck by-- 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:29.230 align:middle line:84% not only the splendid land features 00:08:29.230 --> 00:08:34.480 align:middle line:84% here about, but of course, the wildlife and the plant people-- 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:36.220 align:middle line:84% all of that excited me very much. 00:08:36.220 --> 00:08:39.200 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And what was your plan once you got here? 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:44.080 align:middle line:84% Did you have any sort of plan of how 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.380 align:middle line:84% you were going to explore this place, 00:08:47.380 --> 00:08:50.920 align:middle line:84% and what you were going to see, and what 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:54.070 align:middle line:90% purpose your being here had? 00:08:54.070 --> 00:08:55.750 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, at first, I was simply 00:08:55.750 --> 00:08:59.230 align:middle line:84% delighted to be engaged in this incredible wilderness. 00:08:59.230 --> 00:09:02.870 align:middle line:84% And when I first came to the Yosemite, I had no employment. 00:09:02.870 --> 00:09:05.230 align:middle line:84% So I went back down to the Central Valley 00:09:05.230 --> 00:09:07.090 align:middle line:84% and managed to find someone who allowed 00:09:07.090 --> 00:09:11.370 align:middle line:84% me to bring 2,050 sheep up into the High Country. 00:09:11.370 --> 00:09:14.014 align:middle line:84% Well, I was soon disappointed with the activities 00:09:14.014 --> 00:09:15.430 align:middle line:84% of the sheep in that High Country. 00:09:15.430 --> 00:09:17.620 align:middle line:84% And among other things, it caused 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:19.930 align:middle line:84% me to think of what we needed to do to preserve 00:09:19.930 --> 00:09:21.100 align:middle line:90% this incredible country. 00:09:21.100 --> 00:09:23.740 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So you saw the environmental damage 00:09:23.740 --> 00:09:24.670 align:middle line:90% done by the sheep? 00:09:24.670 --> 00:09:26.170 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Oh, I helped participate, 00:09:26.170 --> 00:09:27.160 align:middle line:90% to tell you the truth. 00:09:27.160 --> 00:09:31.780 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, is that when the click came in your mind, 00:09:31.780 --> 00:09:34.210 align:middle line:84% that this whole environmental thing, that we 00:09:34.210 --> 00:09:39.852 align:middle line:84% had a responsibility to help preserve places like this? 00:09:39.852 --> 00:09:42.310 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I think that even from the very beginning, 00:09:42.310 --> 00:09:45.100 align:middle line:84% I remember, after I moved from Scotland, 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:48.370 align:middle line:84% from Dunbar up in the North Sea to the wilderness of Wisconsin 00:09:48.370 --> 00:09:50.590 align:middle line:84% as a young boy, I remember, when I finally 00:09:50.590 --> 00:09:53.770 align:middle line:84% left that wilderness, that I was very much 00:09:53.770 --> 00:09:56.620 align:middle line:84% interested in preserving a meadow that 00:09:56.620 --> 00:09:58.510 align:middle line:84% was part of my boyhood, and which I thought 00:09:58.510 --> 00:09:59.830 align:middle line:90% should be preserved. 00:09:59.830 --> 00:10:01.480 align:middle line:90% Unfortunately, it was not. 00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:03.310 align:middle line:84% And that was one of my first lessons, 00:10:03.310 --> 00:10:08.380 align:middle line:84% I think, in how fragile and how precious our environment is. 00:10:08.380 --> 00:10:11.110 align:middle line:84% And when I came here and observed not only 00:10:11.110 --> 00:10:14.290 align:middle line:84% the activities of the sheep, which ate every blade of grass, 00:10:14.290 --> 00:10:16.870 align:middle line:84% every flower, every shrub, not sparing 00:10:16.870 --> 00:10:20.730 align:middle line:84% even the young conifers, and then they would rake and dibble 00:10:20.730 --> 00:10:22.570 align:middle line:84% the loose mountain soil to let the spring 00:10:22.570 --> 00:10:24.670 align:middle line:90% floods wash it all the way. 00:10:24.670 --> 00:10:28.200 align:middle line:84% Indeed, in the springtime here-- the Yosemite Fall's 00:10:28.200 --> 00:10:29.870 align:middle line:90% not flowing at the moment. 00:10:29.870 --> 00:10:31.900 align:middle line:84% But when it was flowing in the spring, 00:10:31.900 --> 00:10:36.130 align:middle line:84% with thousands of sheep going across the Yosemite creek 00:10:36.130 --> 00:10:40.750 align:middle line:84% to Tuolumne, the meadows up in the High Country, 00:10:40.750 --> 00:10:42.400 align:middle line:84% the creek was essentially a mud bath 00:10:42.400 --> 00:10:44.760 align:middle line:84% from the hooves generating all of that. 00:10:44.760 --> 00:10:48.750 align:middle line:84% The damage in the meadow with the early settlers, 00:10:48.750 --> 00:10:52.780 align:middle line:84% the cultivation of this land, the animals 00:10:52.780 --> 00:10:56.110 align:middle line:84% brought in to help support the early settlers-- all of that 00:10:56.110 --> 00:10:58.480 align:middle line:84% was causing incredible damage, along with lumber 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:00.340 align:middle line:84% people, and mining people, and the rest. 00:11:00.340 --> 00:11:05.380 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: We're talking about the 1860s, the 1870s. 00:11:05.380 --> 00:11:10.000 align:middle line:84% And settlers coming out west didn't have any sense 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.710 align:middle line:90% of preserving the environment. 00:11:11.710 --> 00:11:17.070 align:middle line:84% They were trying to survive in a harsh environment out here. 00:11:17.070 --> 00:11:19.180 align:middle line:84% They weren't thinking about what the sheep were 00:11:19.180 --> 00:11:21.446 align:middle line:90% going to do to the meadowlands. 00:11:21.446 --> 00:11:22.320 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: It's true. 00:11:22.320 --> 00:11:26.440 align:middle line:84% And I think part of it was the wilderness idea, 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:28.990 align:middle line:84% from the point of view of the settlers in the early days, 00:11:28.990 --> 00:11:30.970 align:middle line:90% that it was a harsh environment. 00:11:30.970 --> 00:11:33.050 align:middle line:90% I never shared that experience. 00:11:33.050 --> 00:11:37.060 align:middle line:84% I always found this a very friendly and non-hostile place, 00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:37.799 align:middle line:90% to say the least. 00:11:37.799 --> 00:11:39.340 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You were approaching it 00:11:39.340 --> 00:11:43.270 align:middle line:84% from your viewpoint, as someone whose eyes, 00:11:43.270 --> 00:11:45.730 align:middle line:90% and heart, and soul was opened. 00:11:45.730 --> 00:11:48.220 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: And many years of sauntering about these meadows 00:11:48.220 --> 00:11:49.114 align:middle line:90% and these canyons. 00:11:49.114 --> 00:11:50.530 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Where have you been? 00:11:50.530 --> 00:11:53.212 align:middle line:84% Where have you not been in Yosemite? 00:11:53.212 --> 00:11:54.670 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I don't believe we 00:11:54.670 --> 00:11:57.220 align:middle line:84% could point to a place in this valley in which I have not 00:11:57.220 --> 00:11:59.470 align:middle line:84% been, or any part of the walls here. 00:11:59.470 --> 00:12:04.090 align:middle line:84% But I explored the Sierra Nevada rather thoroughly from top 00:12:04.090 --> 00:12:09.040 align:middle line:84% to bottom and spent many months sauntering about, looking 00:12:09.040 --> 00:12:10.739 align:middle line:84% for glaciers, and counting big trees, 00:12:10.739 --> 00:12:12.280 align:middle line:84% and doing those things that I thought 00:12:12.280 --> 00:12:17.170 align:middle line:84% would be of interest to us geologically and botanically. 00:12:17.170 --> 00:12:18.820 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And writing them down 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:21.190 align:middle line:84% in these amazing short stories, which 00:12:21.190 --> 00:12:25.480 align:middle line:84% you have shared with readers all over America and literally all 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:27.940 align:middle line:84% over the world, sharing your adventures 00:12:27.940 --> 00:12:33.470 align:middle line:84% and putting a personal face on what you're talking about. 00:12:33.470 --> 00:12:35.230 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, it was a fortunate thing 00:12:35.230 --> 00:12:37.720 align:middle line:84% that my experiences appeared to be 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:40.360 align:middle line:84% very popular among especially the magazine 00:12:40.360 --> 00:12:42.100 align:middle line:90% readers of the day. 00:12:42.100 --> 00:12:45.940 align:middle line:84% It's hard to remember just how popular the magazines were 00:12:45.940 --> 00:12:47.370 align:middle line:90% and how influential they were. 00:12:47.370 --> 00:12:50.440 align:middle line:84% But I happened to write some of the more significant ones 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:51.740 align:middle line:90% of my day. 00:12:51.740 --> 00:12:56.530 align:middle line:84% And as a result, these stories became very popular, and I too, 00:12:56.530 --> 00:12:57.352 align:middle line:90% in many ways. 00:12:57.352 --> 00:12:58.810 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Did you have any idea 00:12:58.810 --> 00:13:01.390 align:middle line:84% you were going to become a celebrity in your own right? 00:13:01.390 --> 00:13:04.660 align:middle line:84% Because you were, back then, a name 00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:06.774 align:middle line:84% that people in this country knew. 00:13:06.774 --> 00:13:08.440 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I was rather astonished 00:13:08.440 --> 00:13:12.850 align:middle line:84% to find my recognition, I suppose, 00:13:12.850 --> 00:13:15.120 align:middle line:90% so widespread over the years. 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.520 align:middle line:84% Partially, it came by meeting some very influential people, 00:13:18.520 --> 00:13:22.140 align:middle line:84% like Ralph Waldo Emerson over at the Yosemite Fall here, 00:13:22.140 --> 00:13:25.420 align:middle line:84% or Teddy Roosevelt up in the High Country, 00:13:25.420 --> 00:13:27.935 align:middle line:84% and spending a few evenings with him. 00:13:27.935 --> 00:13:30.310 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, what did you talk with Teddy Roosevelt 00:13:30.310 --> 00:13:31.270 align:middle line:90% about? 00:13:31.270 --> 00:13:33.490 align:middle line:90% Were you lobbying him? 00:13:33.490 --> 00:13:35.080 align:middle line:90% Or were you soft selling him? 00:13:35.080 --> 00:13:35.830 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Oh, no. 00:13:35.830 --> 00:13:37.288 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Did you take the time 00:13:37.288 --> 00:13:40.360 align:middle line:84% that you had with him to really push your agenda? 00:13:40.360 --> 00:13:41.450 align:middle line:90% How did you do it? 00:13:41.450 --> 00:13:45.100 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: No soft selling whatsoever, and no need to. 00:13:45.100 --> 00:13:49.270 align:middle line:84% Roosevelt himself was a very keen outdoorsman, as you know. 00:13:49.270 --> 00:13:54.070 align:middle line:84% And he had an abiding faith that the American wilderness 00:13:54.070 --> 00:13:55.030 align:middle line:90% should be preserved. 00:13:55.030 --> 00:13:56.590 align:middle line:84% And the reason that he contacted me 00:13:56.590 --> 00:13:58.780 align:middle line:84% when he became president and asked me to join him 00:13:58.780 --> 00:14:01.660 align:middle line:84% for four days and three nights, wandering around, 00:14:01.660 --> 00:14:05.290 align:middle line:84% alone, in this wilderness was because he 00:14:05.290 --> 00:14:11.620 align:middle line:84% had read many of my appeals to the American public 00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:14.260 align:middle line:84% to help preserve not only this environment, but indeed, 00:14:14.260 --> 00:14:15.700 align:middle line:90% much of our wilderness. 00:14:15.700 --> 00:14:18.400 align:middle line:84% And he was very eager to come out. 00:14:18.400 --> 00:14:24.450 align:middle line:84% We spent three days alone in the wilderness, wandering about, 00:14:24.450 --> 00:14:28.130 align:middle line:84% and wound up at Yosemite Point in the middle of a snowstorm. 00:14:28.130 --> 00:14:31.330 align:middle line:84% We discussed, among other things, the pending 00:14:31.330 --> 00:14:34.510 align:middle line:84% legislation, then, of what is called the Hetch Hetchy 00:14:34.510 --> 00:14:38.030 align:middle line:84% Valley, a sister valley to this one in the Yosemite National 00:14:38.030 --> 00:14:42.190 align:middle line:84% Park, which was threatened them by the city of San Francisco's 00:14:42.190 --> 00:14:44.680 align:middle line:84% need for water, and to store it there, 00:14:44.680 --> 00:14:46.930 align:middle line:90% and to create electricity there. 00:14:46.930 --> 00:14:50.240 align:middle line:84% Well, I managed to extract from Roosevelt 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:52.090 align:middle line:84% the promise that in his presidency, that 00:14:52.090 --> 00:14:53.920 align:middle line:90% would not be lost to us. 00:14:53.920 --> 00:14:56.380 align:middle line:84% And that was a temporary victory, but nonetheless, 00:14:56.380 --> 00:14:58.240 align:middle line:90% an important one to me. 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:00.490 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: From those days you spent here 00:15:00.490 --> 00:15:02.380 align:middle line:84% in the park with President Roosevelt, 00:15:02.380 --> 00:15:07.210 align:middle line:84% did he go back to Washington invigorated, a soldier 00:15:07.210 --> 00:15:11.200 align:middle line:84% in your cause, and start causing things 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:14.290 align:middle line:84% to happen that would create national parks 00:15:14.290 --> 00:15:15.980 align:middle line:90% all across this country? 00:15:15.980 --> 00:15:16.980 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Well, he did. 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:20.100 align:middle line:84% Happily for the country, Roosevelt 00:15:20.100 --> 00:15:22.350 align:middle line:84% was a man who already was a firm believer 00:15:22.350 --> 00:15:26.205 align:middle line:84% in the value of the outdoors and its preciousness 00:15:26.205 --> 00:15:28.150 align:middle line:90% to the American people. 00:15:28.150 --> 00:15:31.290 align:middle line:84% And during our conversations around the campfires, 00:15:31.290 --> 00:15:33.660 align:middle line:84% I promoted very heavily the idea of what 00:15:33.660 --> 00:15:36.430 align:middle line:84% we should do with our western lands, in particular. 00:15:36.430 --> 00:15:39.000 align:middle line:84% And he was very receptive to all of that. 00:15:39.000 --> 00:15:42.690 align:middle line:84% By the end of his presidency, he had 00:15:42.690 --> 00:15:45.180 align:middle line:84% created five additional national parks, 00:15:45.180 --> 00:15:46.710 align:middle line:84% doubling the number of parks that we 00:15:46.710 --> 00:15:52.080 align:middle line:84% had in the country at the time, and had also 00:15:52.080 --> 00:15:56.870 align:middle line:84% put nearly 200 million acres of forest land into protection. 00:15:56.870 --> 00:16:00.210 align:middle line:84% And he created 51 wildlife refuges. 00:16:00.210 --> 00:16:02.550 align:middle line:84% And given the number of animals that Roosevelt 00:16:02.550 --> 00:16:05.730 align:middle line:84% managed to destroy in his lifetime, I think a fair swap. 00:16:05.730 --> 00:16:07.920 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And this all happened at a time 00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:09.360 align:middle line:90% where it was critical. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:14.100 align:middle line:84% These lands, if he hadn't done this at the time he did it, 00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:17.430 align:middle line:84% these lands were right on the verge 00:16:17.430 --> 00:16:22.380 align:middle line:84% of being snapped up and used, and mined, and forested, 00:16:22.380 --> 00:16:23.930 align:middle line:90% and all of this sort of thing. 00:16:23.930 --> 00:16:24.480 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: It's true. 00:16:24.480 --> 00:16:25.650 align:middle line:90% They would have been abused. 00:16:25.650 --> 00:16:28.440 align:middle line:84% And many have been since, of course. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:31.290 align:middle line:84% And no doubt, the future many of them 00:16:31.290 --> 00:16:34.760 align:middle line:84% are still in doubt of our wild lands. 00:16:34.760 --> 00:16:39.640 align:middle line:84% And with the current problems of the day, then, of course, 00:16:39.640 --> 00:16:43.590 align:middle line:84% there are threats that I had not imagined in those old days. 00:16:43.590 --> 00:16:49.050 align:middle line:84% But as a result of Roosevelt's good work, and especially 00:16:49.050 --> 00:16:51.290 align:middle line:84% the last minutes of his presidency, 00:16:51.290 --> 00:16:54.390 align:middle line:84% in which he declared a great deal of forest land 00:16:54.390 --> 00:16:58.560 align:middle line:84% to be set aside for the common good, 00:16:58.560 --> 00:17:01.530 align:middle line:84% it was truly a legacy that no president will ever 00:17:01.530 --> 00:17:02.760 align:middle line:90% be able to duplicate. 00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:05.880 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Where did the Sierra Club connection with you 00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.540 align:middle line:90% come in? 00:17:06.540 --> 00:17:08.524 align:middle line:90% Did you found the Sierra Club? 00:17:08.524 --> 00:17:10.440 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I did, with a group of people 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:14.430 align:middle line:84% down in San Francisco, and was its first president 00:17:14.430 --> 00:17:16.829 align:middle line:90% until my death in 1914. 00:17:16.829 --> 00:17:20.460 align:middle line:84% But the reason that the Sierra Club was created more 00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.960 align:middle line:90% than any other was-- 00:17:21.960 --> 00:17:23.369 align:middle line:90% it had its social reasons. 00:17:23.369 --> 00:17:25.589 align:middle line:84% But most of the people that were attached to it 00:17:25.589 --> 00:17:28.079 align:middle line:84% were very much concerned about the fate of Yosemite 00:17:28.079 --> 00:17:30.470 align:middle line:84% and the Sierra Nevada in general. 00:17:30.470 --> 00:17:33.630 align:middle line:84% We had already created Yosemite National Park. 00:17:33.630 --> 00:17:35.900 align:middle line:84% But there was no defense for the park. 00:17:35.900 --> 00:17:37.970 align:middle line:84% It was still being abused by sheep people, who 00:17:37.970 --> 00:17:40.470 align:middle line:84% were driving their sheep into the High Country. 00:17:40.470 --> 00:17:42.480 align:middle line:84% Lumber people were nibbling at its edges. 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:45.430 align:middle line:84% And we had no National Park Service. 00:17:45.430 --> 00:17:48.510 align:middle line:84% At the time and the cavalry was doing the best 00:17:48.510 --> 00:17:52.200 align:middle line:84% that they could to take care of the problems 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.240 align:middle line:84% that the park was being abused by. 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:58.740 align:middle line:84% And so the Sierra Club was created largely 00:17:58.740 --> 00:18:03.495 align:middle line:84% to create a voice for the people who can't speak around us, 00:18:03.495 --> 00:18:05.310 align:middle line:84% the plant people and the fellow mortals 00:18:05.310 --> 00:18:06.690 align:middle line:90% that we share this place with. 00:18:06.690 --> 00:18:09.023 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And what role do you think your writings-- 00:18:09.023 --> 00:18:12.600 align:middle line:84% I mean, I've read so many of your short stories 00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:18.510 align:middle line:84% of encounters with bears, being here when an earthquake hit, 00:18:18.510 --> 00:18:22.170 align:middle line:84% an avalanche of snow, climbing an ice cone, 00:18:22.170 --> 00:18:25.350 align:middle line:84% all these wonderful things that you've written about. 00:18:25.350 --> 00:18:27.900 align:middle line:84% What role did those writings have 00:18:27.900 --> 00:18:32.360 align:middle line:84% in getting people sensitized to what this was all about? 00:18:32.360 --> 00:18:34.140 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I think a great deal. 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:37.470 align:middle line:84% When I first began writing, I tended 00:18:37.470 --> 00:18:41.310 align:middle line:84% to write in, well, in ways that did not 00:18:41.310 --> 00:18:42.930 align:middle line:90% embrace myself very much. 00:18:42.930 --> 00:18:46.950 align:middle line:84% I wanted to be a prism through which the light flows, 00:18:46.950 --> 00:18:50.140 align:middle line:84% if you will, rather than being a focus myself. 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:53.400 align:middle line:84% And so I wrote-- in fact, if you look over the 10 books, 00:18:53.400 --> 00:18:57.870 align:middle line:84% 300 articles, and numerous journals that I kept-- 00:18:57.870 --> 00:19:00.210 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Which are still available and are still 00:19:00.210 --> 00:19:03.106 align:middle line:84% being read by millions of people today. 00:19:03.106 --> 00:19:04.230 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: They are indeed. 00:19:04.230 --> 00:19:05.940 align:middle line:84% Well, if you look them all over, you'll 00:19:05.940 --> 00:19:12.720 align:middle line:84% find that there's very little of the episodes 00:19:12.720 --> 00:19:14.260 align:middle line:90% that you're describing. 00:19:14.260 --> 00:19:16.650 align:middle line:84% I did write some of those for the more popular magazines 00:19:16.650 --> 00:19:17.520 align:middle line:90% of the day. 00:19:17.520 --> 00:19:21.410 align:middle line:84% And they became very popular writings in later years. 00:19:21.410 --> 00:19:26.840 align:middle line:84% They became more so as they were collected into various books 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:29.100 align:middle line:90% that I managed to assemble. 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:32.610 align:middle line:84% But yeah, I look over these mountains. 00:19:32.610 --> 00:19:36.780 align:middle line:84% And everywhere I look, I see the adventures of my life. 00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:39.300 align:middle line:84% Right here, for example, is Sentinel Dome, 00:19:39.300 --> 00:19:43.552 align:middle line:84% was where the earthquake you are describing in 1872 occurred, 00:19:43.552 --> 00:19:45.010 align:middle line:84% perhaps the largest earthquake that 00:19:45.010 --> 00:19:46.470 align:middle line:90% ever struck here in California. 00:19:46.470 --> 00:19:47.550 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: And you were here. 00:19:47.550 --> 00:19:48.484 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: I was here. 00:19:48.484 --> 00:19:50.400 align:middle line:84% In fact, I was thrown out of bed in the middle 00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:53.790 align:middle line:84% of the night, about 2 o'clock in the morning, moonlit night. 00:19:53.790 --> 00:19:57.030 align:middle line:84% And I ran out of my cabin, both glad and frightened, 00:19:57.030 --> 00:20:00.480 align:middle line:84% and shouting, a noble earthquake, a noble earthquake, 00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:03.440 align:middle line:84% feeling sure that I was going to learn something. 00:20:03.440 --> 00:20:06.690 align:middle line:84% And oh, the shocks were so violent and varied, 00:20:06.690 --> 00:20:09.180 align:middle line:84% and succeeded one another so closely 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:12.090 align:middle line:84% that I had to balance in walking as if on the deck 00:20:12.090 --> 00:20:13.690 align:middle line:90% of a ship among the waves. 00:20:13.690 --> 00:20:15.900 align:middle line:84% And I feared that the high cliffs about me 00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:16.942 align:middle line:90% might come tumbling down. 00:20:16.942 --> 00:20:18.608 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Could you hear the echoes, 00:20:18.608 --> 00:20:19.930 align:middle line:90% with the rocks moving and the-- 00:20:19.930 --> 00:20:23.550 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Oh, it was as if all the thunder I had ever heard 00:20:23.550 --> 00:20:27.390 align:middle line:84% had been condensed into one roar. 00:20:27.390 --> 00:20:29.520 align:middle line:84% It knocked off a chunk of rock up here that we 00:20:29.520 --> 00:20:31.500 align:middle line:90% used to call the Eagle Rock. 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:34.650 align:middle line:84% And it came down in great piles of the boulders 00:20:34.650 --> 00:20:38.955 align:middle line:84% that you see leaning up against the valley walls here. 00:20:38.955 --> 00:20:43.650 align:middle line:84% It came down in an arc of fire, 1500 feet in span, 00:20:43.650 --> 00:20:48.330 align:middle line:84% from the friction of the rocks, and as clear and as smooth 00:20:48.330 --> 00:20:50.010 align:middle line:90% as a rainbow. 00:20:50.010 --> 00:20:55.720 align:middle line:84% And so after it had landed and crushed 00:20:55.720 --> 00:20:58.960 align:middle line:84% a grove of pine trees filling the air 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:03.330 align:middle line:84% with its odor, and a great cloud of dust come up 00:21:03.330 --> 00:21:06.410 align:middle line:84% over the valley that lasted until after sunrise-- 00:21:06.410 --> 00:21:09.330 align:middle line:90% a significant earthquake. 00:21:09.330 --> 00:21:11.970 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And you were one of the few people 00:21:11.970 --> 00:21:14.760 align:middle line:90% to witness that in this place. 00:21:14.760 --> 00:21:16.110 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: I was. 00:21:16.110 --> 00:21:18.750 align:middle line:84% There were very few people living in the valley in 1872, 00:21:18.750 --> 00:21:21.360 align:middle line:84% in the wintertime, when this happened, in March. 00:21:21.360 --> 00:21:23.940 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And thank you for writing that down and sharing 00:21:23.940 --> 00:21:24.660 align:middle line:90% it with all us. 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:25.630 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Delighted. 00:21:25.630 --> 00:21:28.440 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: That must have been an amazing experience. 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:30.240 align:middle line:84% Did you write it down right away, 00:21:30.240 --> 00:21:31.950 align:middle line:84% while it was still fresh in your mind? 00:21:31.950 --> 00:21:33.540 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: I usually did that. 00:21:33.540 --> 00:21:36.570 align:middle line:84% Exactly when I wrote down that material escapes me 00:21:36.570 --> 00:21:37.260 align:middle line:90% at the moment. 00:21:37.260 --> 00:21:42.090 align:middle line:84% But yes, I tended to write it down immediately in my journals 00:21:42.090 --> 00:21:46.130 align:middle line:84% and then rewrite for various books and articles. 00:21:46.130 --> 00:21:49.380 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, we have left the valley floor of Yosemite 00:21:49.380 --> 00:21:55.470 align:middle line:84% and traveled several miles up to see another aspect of Yosemite 00:21:55.470 --> 00:21:56.580 align:middle line:90% National Park. 00:21:56.580 --> 00:21:59.340 align:middle line:84% We're at Glacier Point, which provides 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:04.650 align:middle line:84% one of the true panoramic views of the park that literally 00:22:04.650 --> 00:22:06.240 align:middle line:90% take your breath away. 00:22:06.240 --> 00:22:09.280 align:middle line:84% Mr. Muir, you would have come up here. 00:22:09.280 --> 00:22:12.090 align:middle line:84% You've spent many a day, you told me, 00:22:12.090 --> 00:22:15.150 align:middle line:84% just sitting here, looking out at all of this 00:22:15.150 --> 00:22:16.600 align:middle line:90% that you have discovered. 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:20.190 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, wherever you find yourself in the Yosemite, 00:22:20.190 --> 00:22:21.960 align:middle line:90% it always tends to be the best-- 00:22:21.960 --> 00:22:24.690 align:middle line:84% a fine place to forget weariness, and wrongs, 00:22:24.690 --> 00:22:25.680 align:middle line:90% and bad business. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:28.740 align:middle line:84% And Glacier Point was one of those places for me. 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:31.590 align:middle line:84% I used to dash up from the valley on what is now 00:22:31.590 --> 00:22:34.970 align:middle line:84% called the four-mile trail and sit and ponder 00:22:34.970 --> 00:22:39.660 align:middle line:84% the studies of glaciology in this very spot. 00:22:39.660 --> 00:22:42.870 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You became fascinated by the fact 00:22:42.870 --> 00:22:46.355 align:middle line:84% that this was all formed by glaciers. 00:22:46.355 --> 00:22:46.980 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Yes. 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:49.590 align:middle line:84% The theory at the time was that much of this 00:22:49.590 --> 00:22:53.880 align:middle line:84% was formed by a cataclysmic process, where 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:56.590 align:middle line:84% the roof of the world simply fell in or was split aside 00:22:56.590 --> 00:22:57.420 align:middle line:90% in great cracks. 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:59.820 align:middle line:84% But I had studied a bit of glaciology. 00:22:59.820 --> 00:23:04.560 align:middle line:84% And I can see here, immediately, such evidence 00:23:04.560 --> 00:23:08.700 align:middle line:84% of glacial activity that I quickly challenged that theory 00:23:08.700 --> 00:23:12.450 align:middle line:84% and was eventually able to provide 00:23:12.450 --> 00:23:15.120 align:middle line:84% a more clear focus of what actually had happened here. 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:17.490 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And when you talk about glacial activity, 00:23:17.490 --> 00:23:20.790 align:middle line:84% you're talking about the fact that at one point, 00:23:20.790 --> 00:23:27.360 align:middle line:84% this whole valley here, all of this, was filled with ice. 00:23:27.360 --> 00:23:28.380 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Very nearly. 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:30.360 align:middle line:84% The very top of the Half Dome was not 00:23:30.360 --> 00:23:32.370 align:middle line:90% subjected to the glacier. 00:23:32.370 --> 00:23:35.820 align:middle line:84% But very nearly all of this would have been filled in. 00:23:35.820 --> 00:23:39.270 align:middle line:84% And think on it, an ice sheet clasping a thousand 00:23:39.270 --> 00:23:43.620 align:middle line:84% of these mountains in their crystal embrace, 00:23:43.620 --> 00:23:46.920 align:middle line:84% carving out these mountain waves and scooping up 00:23:46.920 --> 00:23:49.300 align:middle line:84% the lake cups, the crystal waters, 00:23:49.300 --> 00:23:53.430 align:middle line:84% and weaving myriads of these maze-y canyons, 00:23:53.430 --> 00:23:55.440 align:middle line:84% and then dancing down the mountains, 00:23:55.440 --> 00:24:00.780 align:middle line:84% and at last, creating fields, and plants, and happy people. 00:24:00.780 --> 00:24:03.150 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You have such a way with words. 00:24:03.150 --> 00:24:09.120 align:middle line:84% You make your thoughts so interesting, and so colorful, 00:24:09.120 --> 00:24:11.190 align:middle line:90% and so intriguing. 00:24:11.190 --> 00:24:13.830 align:middle line:90% This is a gift you have. 00:24:13.830 --> 00:24:15.960 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I was fortunate, 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.900 align:middle line:84% I guess, in my early childhood, to have 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:23.370 align:middle line:84% a family that valued a clear understanding of how 00:24:23.370 --> 00:24:25.230 align:middle line:90% to present oneself. 00:24:25.230 --> 00:24:27.254 align:middle line:90% And here we are today. 00:24:27.254 --> 00:24:28.920 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: I'm just looking out here. 00:24:28.920 --> 00:24:32.970 align:middle line:84% You would have covered all of this territory 00:24:32.970 --> 00:24:36.460 align:middle line:84% just by foot, just kind of hiking around on your own? 00:24:36.460 --> 00:24:37.710 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Oh, you could, too. 00:24:37.710 --> 00:24:41.880 align:middle line:84% It's one of the friendliest, most hospitable 00:24:41.880 --> 00:24:43.840 align:middle line:90% environments on the planet. 00:24:43.840 --> 00:24:47.790 align:middle line:90% It's a very friendly place. 00:24:47.790 --> 00:24:50.370 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: But you never knew where you were going. 00:24:50.370 --> 00:24:55.670 align:middle line:84% You were, many times, creating your own path, your own trail. 00:24:55.670 --> 00:24:58.352 align:middle line:84% You were just roaming all through this country. 00:24:58.352 --> 00:24:59.310 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: That's true. 00:24:59.310 --> 00:25:03.150 align:middle line:84% But again, a friendly country is easy to travel through. 00:25:03.150 --> 00:25:04.770 align:middle line:90% And there were many a landmark. 00:25:04.770 --> 00:25:06.720 align:middle line:84% Well, the Half Dome here, of course, 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:09.630 align:middle line:84% was something that I could observe from many miles 00:25:09.630 --> 00:25:12.390 align:middle line:84% away in all directions, and always use it as a focus, 00:25:12.390 --> 00:25:16.260 align:middle line:84% and eventually map in my own mind exactly where I was. 00:25:16.260 --> 00:25:17.770 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You call it friendly 00:25:17.770 --> 00:25:21.800 align:middle line:84% as if it's an animate object, as if it's alive. 00:25:21.800 --> 00:25:24.550 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Oh, I believe even the very granite here 00:25:24.550 --> 00:25:26.680 align:middle line:90% is alive, in many ways. 00:25:26.680 --> 00:25:31.150 align:middle line:84% And it speaks to me very eloquently of the process 00:25:31.150 --> 00:25:32.950 align:middle line:90% of life in general. 00:25:32.950 --> 00:25:35.440 align:middle line:84% But sure, the plant people, the fellow 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:40.150 align:middle line:84% mortals we share it with, and ourselves, humans, everywhere. 00:25:40.150 --> 00:25:42.490 align:middle line:90% And it is a live spot. 00:25:42.490 --> 00:25:45.730 align:middle line:84% And this is particularly a live spot. 00:25:45.730 --> 00:25:49.210 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And when you were sitting here for those days, 00:25:49.210 --> 00:25:54.760 align:middle line:84% just contemplating what was in front of you, this site 00:25:54.760 --> 00:26:00.310 align:middle line:84% that we're looking at right now hasn't changed in how many 00:26:00.310 --> 00:26:03.670 align:middle line:84% thousands, hundreds of thousands of years? 00:26:03.670 --> 00:26:05.619 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, it's been a while. 00:26:05.619 --> 00:26:06.660 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Do we know? 00:26:06.660 --> 00:26:08.290 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Oh, well, geologists now 00:26:08.290 --> 00:26:11.290 align:middle line:84% have a pretty good view of what kind of changes 00:26:11.290 --> 00:26:14.080 align:middle line:84% occurred here, and over what process. 00:26:14.080 --> 00:26:15.880 align:middle line:90% So yes, we do know. 00:26:15.880 --> 00:26:19.240 align:middle line:84% But it's still awfully hard to take our little lifetime 00:26:19.240 --> 00:26:21.850 align:middle line:84% and measure it against the many thousands of years that 00:26:21.850 --> 00:26:24.070 align:middle line:90% have created this landscape. 00:26:24.070 --> 00:26:26.030 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: If you can't be inspired, 00:26:26.030 --> 00:26:29.140 align:middle line:84% if you can't become introspective here, 00:26:29.140 --> 00:26:30.610 align:middle line:90% I don't know where you'd go. 00:26:30.610 --> 00:26:31.660 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Aye. 00:26:31.660 --> 00:26:34.810 align:middle line:84% In fact, I've said very much the same thing many times. 00:26:34.810 --> 00:26:38.390 align:middle line:84% If you cannot find happiness in the Yosemite, 00:26:38.390 --> 00:26:41.164 align:middle line:84% then you're unlikely to find it anywhere else. 00:26:41.164 --> 00:26:43.330 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Did you hate to leave here and go back 00:26:43.330 --> 00:26:46.990 align:middle line:84% into town, into San Francisco, into the cities of the east, 00:26:46.990 --> 00:26:48.227 align:middle line:90% where you traveled? 00:26:48.227 --> 00:26:49.810 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, I did do a great deal 00:26:49.810 --> 00:26:53.140 align:middle line:84% of traveling after my earliest explorations 00:26:53.140 --> 00:26:54.890 align:middle line:84% here-- all over the world, in fact. 00:26:54.890 --> 00:26:57.370 align:middle line:84% But I always enjoyed the Sierra most. 00:26:57.370 --> 00:26:59.410 align:middle line:90% And this was my cathedral. 00:26:59.410 --> 00:27:02.530 align:middle line:90% This was my worshipful home. 00:27:02.530 --> 00:27:04.540 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You always came back home. 00:27:04.540 --> 00:27:07.840 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: I did, and still do. 00:27:07.840 --> 00:27:09.340 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, I can't tell you 00:27:09.340 --> 00:27:14.050 align:middle line:84% how much this visit this morning has meant, to hear 00:27:14.050 --> 00:27:17.240 align:middle line:90% these stories in your words. 00:27:17.240 --> 00:27:18.752 align:middle line:90% Thank you so much for sharing-- 00:27:18.752 --> 00:27:19.960 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Well, my pleasure. 00:27:19.960 --> 00:27:21.850 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: --your time with us. 00:27:21.850 --> 00:27:23.830 align:middle line:90% We're ending up here with-- 00:27:23.830 --> 00:27:25.590 align:middle line:90% here are all the people. 00:27:25.590 --> 00:27:30.280 align:middle line:84% Millions come here every year to enjoy this park. 00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:33.439 align:middle line:90% This park is really your legacy. 00:27:33.439 --> 00:27:34.730 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Well, it is in part. 00:27:34.730 --> 00:27:38.380 align:middle line:84% A good many people participated in creating Yosemite National 00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:40.040 align:middle line:90% Park, and still do. 00:27:40.040 --> 00:27:43.840 align:middle line:84% But I did spend a great deal of my life urging people 00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:47.890 align:middle line:84% to come to these mountains and get their good tidings. 00:27:47.890 --> 00:27:52.420 align:middle line:84% A nature's peace, I said, would flow into you as sunshine flows 00:27:52.420 --> 00:27:53.830 align:middle line:90% into the trees. 00:27:53.830 --> 00:27:56.810 align:middle line:84% The winds would blow their own freshness into you. 00:27:56.810 --> 00:27:59.870 align:middle line:84% And the storms-- oh, their energy. 00:27:59.870 --> 00:28:03.700 align:middle line:84% Well, cares will drop off like autumn leaves 00:28:03.700 --> 00:28:07.450 align:middle line:84% and so delight the heart of John Muir. 00:28:07.450 --> 00:28:11.110 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, these people are here, for better or worse. 00:28:11.110 --> 00:28:11.800 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Aye. 00:28:11.800 --> 00:28:15.610 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: How do you feel, seeing all of this activity 00:28:15.610 --> 00:28:16.330 align:middle line:90% here? 00:28:16.330 --> 00:28:18.246 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, it's hard not to be gratified 00:28:18.246 --> 00:28:20.050 align:middle line:84% by the numbers of people who have 00:28:20.050 --> 00:28:25.750 align:middle line:84% responded to wilderness and the messages that it delivers. 00:28:25.750 --> 00:28:28.150 align:middle line:84% But on the other hand, there is the concern 00:28:28.150 --> 00:28:31.270 align:middle line:84% that we love national parks almost too much. 00:28:31.270 --> 00:28:33.670 align:middle line:84% And we must find that careful balance, I think, 00:28:33.670 --> 00:28:37.240 align:middle line:84% between urging people to come to the wilderness 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:39.370 align:middle line:84% and finding ways for them to come 00:28:39.370 --> 00:28:41.650 align:middle line:84% with a great deal of respect and reverence 00:28:41.650 --> 00:28:43.600 align:middle line:84% for the wilderness they encounter. 00:28:43.600 --> 00:28:45.850 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And as we leave you, do you 00:28:45.850 --> 00:28:50.200 align:middle line:90% have a message for us today? 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:51.610 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Climb the mountains. 00:28:51.610 --> 00:28:53.560 align:middle line:90% Get their good tidings. 00:28:53.560 --> 00:28:56.220 align:middle line:84% I think that if you actually go off and engage 00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:59.620 align:middle line:84% our national parks with the spirit that they invite, 00:28:59.620 --> 00:29:01.840 align:middle line:84% we will have done all we could to preserve them, 00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:04.240 align:middle line:84% because what we so learn to love, 00:29:04.240 --> 00:29:07.330 align:middle line:84% we will not allow to be abused in any way. 00:29:07.330 --> 00:29:10.840 align:middle line:84% So I trust that we will encourage 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:13.780 align:middle line:84% people to bring with them that kind of reverence that 00:29:13.780 --> 00:29:15.280 align:middle line:90% protects us. 00:29:15.280 --> 00:29:18.220 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And if they don't have it when they come here, 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:22.250 align:middle line:84% hopefully we will all take it with us as we leave. 00:29:22.250 --> 00:29:24.130 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: I think that will happen, yes. 00:29:24.130 --> 00:29:25.300 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Thank you very much. 00:29:25.300 --> 00:29:26.020 align:middle line:90% JOHN MUIR: Well, my pleasure. 00:29:26.020 --> 00:29:28.360 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: This has been an absolutely wonderful day. 00:29:28.360 --> 00:29:29.735 align:middle line:84% JOHN MUIR: Well, glad to be here. 00:29:29.735 --> 00:29:56.050 align:middle line:90% 00:29:56.050 --> 00:29:58.480 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: John Muir was born in Scotland, 00:29:58.480 --> 00:30:03.170 align:middle line:84% but of course, lived much of his life right here in California. 00:30:03.170 --> 00:30:08.290 align:middle line:84% In fact, his home in Martinez is a National Historic Site, 00:30:08.290 --> 00:30:13.180 align:middle line:84% a beautiful place visited by thousands of people every year. 00:30:13.180 --> 00:30:17.470 align:middle line:84% And ironically enough, this beautiful and historic home 00:30:17.470 --> 00:30:24.010 align:middle line:84% almost didn't survive, which is itself a fascinating story. 00:30:24.010 --> 00:30:27.891 align:middle line:84% I'm standing here with Ranger Tad Shay from the National Park 00:30:27.891 --> 00:30:28.390 align:middle line:90% Service. 00:30:28.390 --> 00:30:31.780 align:middle line:84% We're standing in front of this beautiful Muir 00:30:31.780 --> 00:30:33.410 align:middle line:90% House, which is-- 00:30:33.410 --> 00:30:35.992 align:middle line:90% it's listed as technically as-- 00:30:35.992 --> 00:30:37.450 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: A National Historic Site. 00:30:37.450 --> 00:30:39.380 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: A National Historic Site. 00:30:39.380 --> 00:30:45.475 align:middle line:84% Tell us the story of this beautiful old Muir House. 00:30:45.475 --> 00:30:48.040 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Well, this house was built in 1882. 00:30:48.040 --> 00:30:50.860 align:middle line:84% And it was built by Muir's father-in-law, Dr. John 00:30:50.860 --> 00:30:52.210 align:middle line:90% Strentzel. 00:30:52.210 --> 00:30:55.180 align:middle line:90% Muir did not move in until 1890. 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:57.700 align:middle line:90% His wife was from Martinez here. 00:30:57.700 --> 00:31:00.732 align:middle line:84% So he moved in with his wife, his two daughters. 00:31:00.732 --> 00:31:02.440 align:middle line:84% And he lived here with his mother-in-law. 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.900 align:middle line:84% And he wrote a lot of his books here, 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:07.199 align:middle line:84% as well as running a huge fruit ranch which 00:31:07.199 --> 00:31:08.240 align:middle line:90% surrounded the home here. 00:31:08.240 --> 00:31:09.448 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: All right, now. 00:31:09.448 --> 00:31:11.290 align:middle line:84% So he lived here about how many years? 00:31:11.290 --> 00:31:14.080 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: He lived here for the last 24 years of his life. 00:31:14.080 --> 00:31:15.220 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Really? 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:17.410 align:middle line:84% Now, did he-- because I always thought 00:31:17.410 --> 00:31:19.864 align:middle line:90% he was out in the wilderness. 00:31:19.864 --> 00:31:21.780 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Well, this was really his home base. 00:31:21.780 --> 00:31:23.860 align:middle line:84% So we like to think of it that way. 00:31:23.860 --> 00:31:25.900 align:middle line:84% He did do a lot of world traveling. 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:28.270 align:middle line:84% Muir visited every continent on the planet but one. 00:31:28.270 --> 00:31:30.160 align:middle line:84% He never made it to Antarctica, but boy, 00:31:30.160 --> 00:31:31.420 align:middle line:90% he went everywhere else-- 00:31:31.420 --> 00:31:34.600 align:middle line:84% Alaska, Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, 00:31:34.600 --> 00:31:35.800 align:middle line:90% all these different places. 00:31:35.800 --> 00:31:38.264 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: But this was always his home base. 00:31:38.264 --> 00:31:39.180 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: It sure was. 00:31:39.180 --> 00:31:40.596 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, would this have 00:31:40.596 --> 00:31:41.740 align:middle line:90% been considered a mansion-- 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.270 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Oh, yeah. 00:31:42.270 --> 00:31:42.880 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: --back then? 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.880 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Oh, certainly. 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:46.220 align:middle line:84% Muir's father-in-law, Dr. Strentzel, was very wealthy. 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:49.079 align:middle line:84% He was a well-known and well-respected medical doctor. 00:31:49.079 --> 00:31:51.370 align:middle line:84% So he was able to afford to build such a beautiful home 00:31:51.370 --> 00:31:51.910 align:middle line:90% like this. 00:31:51.910 --> 00:31:53.868 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And when they lived here, though, 00:31:53.868 --> 00:31:56.950 align:middle line:84% this was probably kind of out in the country, wasn't it? 00:31:56.950 --> 00:31:58.500 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Oh, certainly, certainly. 00:31:58.500 --> 00:32:00.340 align:middle line:84% The Muirs had about a thousand acres 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:02.230 align:middle line:84% immediately around the house here, 00:32:02.230 --> 00:32:04.660 align:middle line:84% with nothing but orchards in them. 00:32:04.660 --> 00:32:08.170 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: We're upstairs inside the Muir House, 00:32:08.170 --> 00:32:11.380 align:middle line:84% because Tad has brought us to what 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:16.000 align:middle line:84% has to be the most historic and the most important room 00:32:16.000 --> 00:32:16.834 align:middle line:90% in this whole house. 00:32:16.834 --> 00:32:18.083 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: That's right, Huell. 00:32:18.083 --> 00:32:20.140 align:middle line:84% This is what Muir called his scribble den. 00:32:20.140 --> 00:32:21.760 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: His scribble den. 00:32:21.760 --> 00:32:22.385 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Yeah. 00:32:22.385 --> 00:32:24.200 align:middle line:84% Muir liked to write with a quill pen 00:32:24.200 --> 00:32:25.690 align:middle line:84% when he was out in the wilderness, 00:32:25.690 --> 00:32:27.990 align:middle line:84% and even when he was back here in Martinez. 00:32:27.990 --> 00:32:30.810 align:middle line:90% So Muir wrote 12 books. 00:32:30.810 --> 00:32:35.140 align:middle line:84% He had 10 of them published, and over 300 magazine articles. 00:32:35.140 --> 00:32:37.270 align:middle line:84% And he wrote them right there at that desk. 00:32:37.270 --> 00:32:38.980 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: That exact desk. 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.120 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: That's right. 00:32:40.120 --> 00:32:43.390 align:middle line:84% His daughters had given the desk to Yosemite 00:32:43.390 --> 00:32:46.150 align:middle line:90% after Muir passed away in 1914. 00:32:46.150 --> 00:32:49.060 align:middle line:84% And we got it back in 1964, after we became part 00:32:49.060 --> 00:32:50.290 align:middle line:90% of the National Park Service. 00:32:50.290 --> 00:32:52.960 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Boy, this room really 00:32:52.960 --> 00:32:56.180 align:middle line:84% has a very interesting feel to it. 00:32:56.180 --> 00:33:01.390 align:middle line:84% To think that Muir himself was in here doing 00:33:01.390 --> 00:33:02.770 align:middle line:90% his work-- what would he do? 00:33:02.770 --> 00:33:08.050 align:middle line:84% Go out into nature and take notes, and then 00:33:08.050 --> 00:33:12.130 align:middle line:84% bring them back in here and put them in book form, 00:33:12.130 --> 00:33:12.792 align:middle line:90% in essay form? 00:33:12.792 --> 00:33:13.750 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: That's right. 00:33:13.750 --> 00:33:16.240 align:middle line:90% Muir kept journals all the time. 00:33:16.240 --> 00:33:18.760 align:middle line:84% And from those journals, he would transcribe them 00:33:18.760 --> 00:33:21.700 align:middle line:84% into either magazine articles or books, 00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:23.500 align:middle line:84% and would do it right here in this room. 00:33:23.500 --> 00:33:25.450 align:middle line:84% So he felt most comfortable here in this room. 00:33:25.450 --> 00:33:28.420 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So did he think of this house as his home 00:33:28.420 --> 00:33:31.930 align:middle line:90% or as his home slash office? 00:33:31.930 --> 00:33:34.780 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Probably his home slash office. 00:33:34.780 --> 00:33:37.850 align:middle line:84% Most writers have a difficult time writing. 00:33:37.850 --> 00:33:40.990 align:middle line:90% And Muir was that way as well. 00:33:40.990 --> 00:33:43.990 align:middle line:84% It was always difficult to pull the words out and get them 00:33:43.990 --> 00:33:45.040 align:middle line:90% down right. 00:33:45.040 --> 00:33:48.830 align:middle line:84% But after a little bit of relaxing with the family, 00:33:48.830 --> 00:33:51.760 align:middle line:84% he was able to come up here, get some peace and quiet, 00:33:51.760 --> 00:33:56.230 align:middle line:84% and do the writing that he knew would enchant people 00:33:56.230 --> 00:33:58.090 align:middle line:90% with wilderness areas. 00:33:58.090 --> 00:34:01.180 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Right there at that desk. 00:34:01.180 --> 00:34:02.142 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: So true. 00:34:02.142 --> 00:34:03.850 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: There is a lot to see here. 00:34:03.850 --> 00:34:07.450 align:middle line:84% And leaving Muir's scribble den, we've 00:34:07.450 --> 00:34:11.050 align:middle line:84% come down into the back 40 down here, 00:34:11.050 --> 00:34:13.060 align:middle line:84% because there's a lot of neat stuff to see. 00:34:13.060 --> 00:34:16.420 align:middle line:84% Right off the bat, this looks like part of one 00:34:16.420 --> 00:34:18.219 align:middle line:90% of his original orchards. 00:34:18.219 --> 00:34:18.920 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Right. 00:34:18.920 --> 00:34:21.250 align:middle line:84% These aren't the original trees that were planted here. 00:34:21.250 --> 00:34:23.739 align:middle line:84% They would have been long gone by now. 00:34:23.739 --> 00:34:26.949 align:middle line:84% But this is representative of the types of fruits 00:34:26.949 --> 00:34:27.969 align:middle line:90% that they did grow here. 00:34:27.969 --> 00:34:29.385 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, why would he be 00:34:29.385 --> 00:34:32.284 align:middle line:84% into having an orchard on his ranch? 00:34:32.284 --> 00:34:33.909 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Even though his father-in-law 00:34:33.909 --> 00:34:35.534 align:middle line:84% was a medical doctor, his father-in-law 00:34:35.534 --> 00:34:37.120 align:middle line:84% was really interested in horticulture. 00:34:37.120 --> 00:34:40.600 align:middle line:84% Muir, of course, was a botanist, and he loved plants. 00:34:40.600 --> 00:34:43.360 align:middle line:84% So of course, they got along really well on that subject. 00:34:43.360 --> 00:34:45.159 align:middle line:84% And it was something, since Muir loved 00:34:45.159 --> 00:34:48.010 align:middle line:84% plants, hey, what's the next best natural step, 00:34:48.010 --> 00:34:50.546 align:middle line:84% is to move on into taking care of trees for a living. 00:34:50.546 --> 00:34:52.420 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And what did he have down here? 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:53.419 align:middle line:90% What kind of an orchard? 00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:54.219 align:middle line:90% Did he make money? 00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:55.690 align:middle line:84% What did he do with all this fruit? 00:34:55.690 --> 00:34:57.850 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: They made quite a bit of money. 00:34:57.850 --> 00:35:00.309 align:middle line:84% Muir and his wife, Louis, were very astute business people. 00:35:00.309 --> 00:35:02.766 align:middle line:84% They made quite a bit of money from running the fruit ranch 00:35:02.766 --> 00:35:03.430 align:middle line:90% here. 00:35:03.430 --> 00:35:05.980 align:middle line:84% They had many different kinds of fruits and nuts 00:35:05.980 --> 00:35:07.212 align:middle line:90% that they grew here. 00:35:07.212 --> 00:35:09.670 align:middle line:84% They didn't keep all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. 00:35:09.670 --> 00:35:14.110 align:middle line:84% They had many different kinds of apples, pears, plums, peaches, 00:35:14.110 --> 00:35:15.080 align:middle line:90% grapes-- 00:35:15.080 --> 00:35:16.455 align:middle line:84% anything that you could think of. 00:35:16.455 --> 00:35:18.954 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So this was a working ranch. 00:35:18.954 --> 00:35:19.870 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: It sure was. 00:35:19.870 --> 00:35:20.540 align:middle line:90% It sure was. 00:35:20.540 --> 00:35:21.956 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And even though this 00:35:21.956 --> 00:35:25.150 align:middle line:84% isn't the original orchard, you pointed out something over here 00:35:25.150 --> 00:35:25.965 align:middle line:90% that is original. 00:35:25.965 --> 00:35:27.455 align:middle line:90% And boy, it's a beauty, too. 00:35:27.455 --> 00:35:28.080 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Yeah. 00:35:28.080 --> 00:35:32.140 align:middle line:84% This Sequoia tree was brought here to Martinez by Muir. 00:35:32.140 --> 00:35:34.510 align:middle line:84% He wrapped it up as a seedling, and wrapped it 00:35:34.510 --> 00:35:37.420 align:middle line:84% in a wet handkerchief, and carried it here to Martinez. 00:35:37.420 --> 00:35:38.380 align:middle line:90% It's just a baby. 00:35:38.380 --> 00:35:40.827 align:middle line:84% It's only about 90, 95 years old. 00:35:40.827 --> 00:35:42.160 align:middle line:90% It's kind of out of its element. 00:35:42.160 --> 00:35:43.785 align:middle line:84% It really should be in the High Sierra. 00:35:43.785 --> 00:35:45.370 align:middle line:84% So it's a little dry here for it. 00:35:45.370 --> 00:35:47.820 align:middle line:90% But still, it's growing strong. 00:35:47.820 --> 00:35:49.330 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, this is great, 00:35:49.330 --> 00:35:56.320 align:middle line:84% though, because to be able to visit an actual tree that 00:35:56.320 --> 00:36:01.300 align:middle line:84% was planted by John Muir-- do we know for sure-- how do we 00:36:01.300 --> 00:36:03.250 align:middle line:90% know that he planted this tree? 00:36:03.250 --> 00:36:05.100 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Because Muir talked about it. 00:36:05.100 --> 00:36:07.330 align:middle line:84% He did mention that he brought a tree here. 00:36:07.330 --> 00:36:08.440 align:middle line:90% He brought a Sequoia. 00:36:08.440 --> 00:36:11.410 align:middle line:84% He wanted to have something that represented the High Sierra. 00:36:11.410 --> 00:36:13.420 align:middle line:84% And sure enough, this would do it. 00:36:13.420 --> 00:36:15.030 align:middle line:84% And he brought it here and planted it. 00:36:15.030 --> 00:36:15.780 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Wow. 00:36:15.780 --> 00:36:16.700 align:middle line:90% This is beautiful. 00:36:16.700 --> 00:36:18.690 align:middle line:84% And it all fits in with the orchard. 00:36:18.690 --> 00:36:20.770 align:middle line:90% You got the old windmill. 00:36:20.770 --> 00:36:24.535 align:middle line:84% It's very easy to kind of go back in time and imagine-- 00:36:24.535 --> 00:36:25.660 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: It sure is, yeah. 00:36:25.660 --> 00:36:27.118 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: --what this place was 00:36:27.118 --> 00:36:30.850 align:middle line:84% like in the late 1800s, when the Muir family actually 00:36:30.850 --> 00:36:32.614 align:middle line:90% lived and ranged here. 00:36:32.614 --> 00:36:33.280 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Right. 00:36:33.280 --> 00:36:35.595 align:middle line:84% We kind of hope that people get the spirit of John Muir 00:36:35.595 --> 00:36:36.220 align:middle line:90% by coming here. 00:36:36.220 --> 00:36:39.310 align:middle line:84% They realize that Muir was a very complex man. 00:36:39.310 --> 00:36:41.980 align:middle line:84% He wasn't only just a great writer and a preservationist, 00:36:41.980 --> 00:36:43.970 align:middle line:90% but he was also a family man. 00:36:43.970 --> 00:36:45.682 align:middle line:84% And he ran this huge fruit ranch. 00:36:45.682 --> 00:36:46.390 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: OK. 00:36:46.390 --> 00:36:48.670 align:middle line:90% We have toured the Muir home. 00:36:48.670 --> 00:36:51.760 align:middle line:84% We have toured the Muir orchards. 00:36:51.760 --> 00:36:56.020 align:middle line:84% We have a fir understanding, I think, of just how significant 00:36:56.020 --> 00:36:59.230 align:middle line:84% this wonderful old Muir House is, 00:36:59.230 --> 00:37:00.940 align:middle line:90% and a beautiful house it is. 00:37:00.940 --> 00:37:02.890 align:middle line:90% It's been so lovingly restored. 00:37:02.890 --> 00:37:07.330 align:middle line:84% But Tad, this house, this Muir House, 00:37:07.330 --> 00:37:10.660 align:middle line:84% didn't always look this good, did it? 00:37:10.660 --> 00:37:11.989 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: No, it didn't, Huell. 00:37:11.989 --> 00:37:13.780 align:middle line:84% There were a lot of problems with the home. 00:37:13.780 --> 00:37:16.930 align:middle line:84% It was abandoned for a number of years. 00:37:16.930 --> 00:37:21.190 align:middle line:84% Hobos from riding the trains were coming in, setting fires, 00:37:21.190 --> 00:37:22.780 align:middle line:90% ripping things apart. 00:37:22.780 --> 00:37:24.460 align:middle line:84% So it really almost didn't make it. 00:37:24.460 --> 00:37:25.951 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: It was falling down. 00:37:25.951 --> 00:37:26.950 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: It really was. 00:37:26.950 --> 00:37:29.140 align:middle line:84% There were bats in the belfry and all sorts of things. 00:37:29.140 --> 00:37:30.740 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Literally bats in the belfry. 00:37:30.740 --> 00:37:30.890 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Literally. 00:37:30.890 --> 00:37:32.473 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And we're talking, what, 00:37:32.473 --> 00:37:35.980 align:middle line:84% about the 1930s, the 1940s, the early '50s? 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:38.570 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: Correct, yeah, the late 1930s, '40s, 00:37:38.570 --> 00:37:39.730 align:middle line:90% and early '50s. 00:37:39.730 --> 00:37:41.105 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, what was going 00:37:41.105 --> 00:37:42.240 align:middle line:90% to happen to the old house? 00:37:42.240 --> 00:37:44.740 align:middle line:84% TAD SHAY: It's possible that the home could have been razed. 00:37:44.740 --> 00:37:47.260 align:middle line:84% And homes, developments, were coming 00:37:47.260 --> 00:37:49.074 align:middle line:84% through in the early '60s and so forth. 00:37:49.074 --> 00:37:50.740 align:middle line:84% That's how people were living back then. 00:37:50.740 --> 00:37:52.480 align:middle line:84% And so it's possible it could have been razed, 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:54.460 align:middle line:84% and they could have built homes right up to the freeway. 00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:55.918 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So this was literally 00:37:55.918 --> 00:37:58.330 align:middle line:84% in danger of disappearing forever. 00:37:58.330 --> 00:37:59.320 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: True, true. 00:37:59.320 --> 00:38:03.280 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And this story points out just how important 00:38:03.280 --> 00:38:09.100 align:middle line:84% one person can be to history, because now it's 00:38:09.100 --> 00:38:13.070 align:middle line:84% time to meet the real star of our show right here. 00:38:13.070 --> 00:38:16.720 align:middle line:84% Faire Sax, we are delighted to have you here. 00:38:16.720 --> 00:38:21.910 align:middle line:84% And your story, your connection, with this old Muir House 00:38:21.910 --> 00:38:27.100 align:middle line:84% is very interesting, because you and your husband lived here. 00:38:27.100 --> 00:38:31.090 align:middle line:84% You bought this old house and saved it from destruction. 00:38:31.090 --> 00:38:34.420 align:middle line:84% Tell us the story of that first day, when 00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:37.180 align:middle line:84% you walked up here in 1955 and saw 00:38:37.180 --> 00:38:39.850 align:middle line:90% this old house falling down. 00:38:39.850 --> 00:38:42.730 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, I felt sorry for the old house, 00:38:42.730 --> 00:38:47.110 align:middle line:84% because I knew that it should be saved. 00:38:47.110 --> 00:38:50.710 align:middle line:84% And I didn't know who was going to do that. 00:38:50.710 --> 00:38:56.050 align:middle line:84% But I always knew that old, old houses were important 00:38:56.050 --> 00:38:58.660 align:middle line:90% when people lived in them. 00:38:58.660 --> 00:39:04.210 align:middle line:84% And so I remember, I went to the house, through the house, 00:39:04.210 --> 00:39:10.780 align:middle line:84% and I came to the understanding that it had a part of history. 00:39:10.780 --> 00:39:14.730 align:middle line:84% I didn't know just how much or what anybody could do. 00:39:14.730 --> 00:39:17.320 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: But you needed to save it. 00:39:17.320 --> 00:39:18.490 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yes. 00:39:18.490 --> 00:39:20.440 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Can you remember the first day 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:22.990 align:middle line:90% you saw this old house? 00:39:22.990 --> 00:39:25.630 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, yes, because there was a sign up. 00:39:25.630 --> 00:39:27.700 align:middle line:84% And there were-- you couldn't get up 00:39:27.700 --> 00:39:31.930 align:middle line:84% into the house very well, because the steps were all 00:39:31.930 --> 00:39:33.250 align:middle line:90% coming out. 00:39:33.250 --> 00:39:36.460 align:middle line:84% And many of the windows had been shot 00:39:36.460 --> 00:39:40.979 align:middle line:84% by kids with their shooters, just for fun. 00:39:40.979 --> 00:39:42.270 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: So it was a mess. 00:39:42.270 --> 00:39:43.420 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: It was a mess. 00:39:43.420 --> 00:39:46.510 align:middle line:84% And all my friends, and anybody that 00:39:46.510 --> 00:39:50.080 align:middle line:84% had ever seen the whole house, thought, what a shame. 00:39:50.080 --> 00:39:52.240 align:middle line:84% That old house ought to be torn down, 00:39:52.240 --> 00:39:54.800 align:middle line:90% because it's just such a mess. 00:39:54.800 --> 00:39:57.360 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, did you feel a little overwhelmed 00:39:57.360 --> 00:39:58.920 align:middle line:90% at what you had ahead of you? 00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:01.920 align:middle line:84% Did you think you could make it all work? 00:40:01.920 --> 00:40:03.570 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Well, I didn't know. 00:40:03.570 --> 00:40:07.860 align:middle line:84% But it just came to me that this old house had a story. 00:40:07.860 --> 00:40:11.160 align:middle line:84% And I began to read about what John Muir had done, 00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:14.340 align:middle line:84% because you could find a book occasionally. 00:40:14.340 --> 00:40:18.210 align:middle line:84% Maybe not in town, but you could find a book 00:40:18.210 --> 00:40:20.910 align:middle line:90% that mentioned what he'd done. 00:40:20.910 --> 00:40:25.129 align:middle line:84% So I began to read all I could find about John Muir. 00:40:25.129 --> 00:40:27.420 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: But actually, you were doing your reading 00:40:27.420 --> 00:40:31.080 align:middle line:84% in between cleaning up the old house, which 00:40:31.080 --> 00:40:33.439 align:middle line:90% was a full-time job. 00:40:33.439 --> 00:40:34.980 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: It was a hard thing for me 00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:41.250 align:middle line:84% to insist on my husband buying the house, because we got to-- 00:40:41.250 --> 00:40:43.740 align:middle line:84% he said, I just built you a nice house 00:40:43.740 --> 00:40:47.160 align:middle line:90% to live in over on the hill. 00:40:47.160 --> 00:40:48.480 align:middle line:90% And I said, yes. 00:40:48.480 --> 00:40:50.790 align:middle line:84% But this old house needs somebody 00:40:50.790 --> 00:40:53.790 align:middle line:84% to love it, and care for it, and keep it going, 00:40:53.790 --> 00:40:57.170 align:middle line:84% because John Muir was a very important person. 00:40:57.170 --> 00:40:59.940 align:middle line:90% I've been reading all about him. 00:40:59.940 --> 00:41:04.020 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So you set out to fix this old house up. 00:41:04.020 --> 00:41:05.920 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Yeah, and everybody in town 00:41:05.920 --> 00:41:09.780 align:middle line:84% nearly thought we were crazy, except some of our good friends 00:41:09.780 --> 00:41:11.120 align:middle line:90% that knew us. 00:41:11.120 --> 00:41:16.500 align:middle line:84% They just said they would help us any way they could. 00:41:16.500 --> 00:41:18.900 align:middle line:90% So there was one man-- 00:41:18.900 --> 00:41:21.270 align:middle line:84% he's dead now, but he even helped 00:41:21.270 --> 00:41:26.010 align:middle line:84% my husband take the paint off and paint part of the house. 00:41:26.010 --> 00:41:27.930 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So you literally tackled 00:41:27.930 --> 00:41:30.330 align:middle line:90% this project yourselves? 00:41:30.330 --> 00:41:33.550 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Yeah, we did, just the two of us. 00:41:33.550 --> 00:41:36.870 align:middle line:84% And you know, when people say you're crazy, 00:41:36.870 --> 00:41:40.500 align:middle line:84% you just don't have to think about that part of it. 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:45.000 align:middle line:84% Just think ahead about what it could be. 00:41:45.000 --> 00:41:48.130 align:middle line:90% So that's what we did. 00:41:48.130 --> 00:41:51.660 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: We're inside the Muir house. 00:41:51.660 --> 00:41:55.200 align:middle line:84% And Faire, it looks pretty nice in here now. 00:41:55.200 --> 00:41:58.410 align:middle line:84% What did it look like when you all moved in? 00:41:58.410 --> 00:42:00.450 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, I wish you could have seen it. 00:42:00.450 --> 00:42:04.840 align:middle line:84% When we moved in, there was no wallpaper on anything. 00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:06.510 align:middle line:90% There were no rugs. 00:42:06.510 --> 00:42:08.010 align:middle line:90% There was no furniture. 00:42:08.010 --> 00:42:10.925 align:middle line:84% There was absolutely nothing here. 00:42:10.925 --> 00:42:12.550 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: What about the fireplace, 00:42:12.550 --> 00:42:14.230 align:middle line:90% this beautiful fireplace? 00:42:14.230 --> 00:42:16.530 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, these two places were gone. 00:42:16.530 --> 00:42:19.820 align:middle line:90% These two columns were gone. 00:42:19.820 --> 00:42:21.780 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: How'd you get them back? 00:42:21.780 --> 00:42:24.840 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, we found out that there was a lady. 00:42:24.840 --> 00:42:26.550 align:middle line:90% She looked us up. 00:42:26.550 --> 00:42:30.300 align:middle line:84% She wanted to know if we had found 00:42:30.300 --> 00:42:32.130 align:middle line:90% the pieces of the fireplace. 00:42:32.130 --> 00:42:33.030 align:middle line:90% I said, no. 00:42:33.030 --> 00:42:34.470 align:middle line:90% Where should I look? 00:42:34.470 --> 00:42:39.420 align:middle line:84% She said, you look in a box up in the attic, because she said, 00:42:39.420 --> 00:42:43.170 align:middle line:84% I came by there one day when the house was just open. 00:42:43.170 --> 00:42:45.720 align:middle line:84% And I walked in and looked around. 00:42:45.720 --> 00:42:50.010 align:middle line:84% And I could see that there were pieces of the fireplace that 00:42:50.010 --> 00:42:51.720 align:middle line:90% were on the floor. 00:42:51.720 --> 00:42:56.220 align:middle line:84% So she said, I picked them all up, put them in a box, 00:42:56.220 --> 00:42:59.400 align:middle line:84% and took them up to the attic and hid them 00:42:59.400 --> 00:43:01.710 align:middle line:90% under the little stairway. 00:43:01.710 --> 00:43:03.597 align:middle line:84% And she said, they're still up there. 00:43:03.597 --> 00:43:05.430 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So you went up and found them. 00:43:05.430 --> 00:43:07.860 align:middle line:84% And did you and Henry put these back-- 00:43:07.860 --> 00:43:09.130 align:middle line:90% put all this back together? 00:43:09.130 --> 00:43:10.588 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Yeah, we found this one. 00:43:10.588 --> 00:43:12.460 align:middle line:90% That's the original. 00:43:12.460 --> 00:43:15.220 align:middle line:90% But the others had to be made. 00:43:15.220 --> 00:43:17.610 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, what about this wonderful wood 00:43:17.610 --> 00:43:18.330 align:middle line:90% in this room? 00:43:18.330 --> 00:43:21.300 align:middle line:84% Is this redwood back in this room behind us? 00:43:21.300 --> 00:43:23.970 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yes, it is. 00:43:23.970 --> 00:43:28.230 align:middle line:90% This house has been-- 00:43:28.230 --> 00:43:31.800 align:middle line:84% was built so that you could keep it cool. 00:43:31.800 --> 00:43:36.270 align:middle line:84% And that way, there's one outside, 00:43:36.270 --> 00:43:40.440 align:middle line:84% and then there's an inside of the-- 00:43:40.440 --> 00:43:43.320 align:middle line:90% where they put stones and rocks. 00:43:43.320 --> 00:43:45.511 align:middle line:84% And then there's the inside of the house. 00:43:45.511 --> 00:43:47.010 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, the redwood looks 00:43:47.010 --> 00:43:51.840 align:middle line:84% to me like that it has stood up pretty well. 00:43:51.840 --> 00:43:54.150 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yeah, it has in here. 00:43:54.150 --> 00:43:56.700 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: What about the rest of the house? 00:43:56.700 --> 00:43:59.490 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, it all had to be redone, as you could see. 00:43:59.490 --> 00:44:01.890 align:middle line:90% And it had to be very careful. 00:44:01.890 --> 00:44:04.380 align:middle line:84% We didn't let anybody do any work 00:44:04.380 --> 00:44:07.420 align:middle line:90% unless they knew what to do. 00:44:07.420 --> 00:44:10.470 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: We have now moved into another-- 00:44:10.470 --> 00:44:12.510 align:middle line:90% you call these parlors, right? 00:44:12.510 --> 00:44:13.530 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Parlors, yes. 00:44:13.530 --> 00:44:16.530 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, how do you know what these rooms-- 00:44:16.530 --> 00:44:19.950 align:middle line:84% how these rooms were used and what they were called? 00:44:19.950 --> 00:44:21.930 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, we went up to visit 00:44:21.930 --> 00:44:24.720 align:middle line:90% John Muir's daughter, Helen. 00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:28.110 align:middle line:84% And she told us all she could remember. 00:44:28.110 --> 00:44:30.060 align:middle line:90% So I took notes. 00:44:30.060 --> 00:44:32.250 align:middle line:84% And then she was mostly interested 00:44:32.250 --> 00:44:35.700 align:middle line:84% in the trees, and the shrubs, and the flowers. 00:44:35.700 --> 00:44:43.320 align:middle line:84% So with her vast knowledge of what the house had looked like, 00:44:43.320 --> 00:44:45.990 align:middle line:84% that helped us to know what to do. 00:44:45.990 --> 00:44:48.210 align:middle line:90% John Muir liked this one. 00:44:48.210 --> 00:44:53.400 align:middle line:84% And he had it rebuilt so that he could have a big log 00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:54.800 align:middle line:90% and put it in there. 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:58.580 align:middle line:84% And it would last maybe four or five days. 00:44:58.580 --> 00:45:01.750 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: How did you feel living in this house? 00:45:01.750 --> 00:45:05.560 align:middle line:84% Was his spirit kind of in the house? 00:45:05.560 --> 00:45:07.240 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Well, in a way. 00:45:07.240 --> 00:45:11.140 align:middle line:84% I wanted it to be authentic as we could make it. 00:45:11.140 --> 00:45:12.930 align:middle line:90% I wanted to save the house. 00:45:12.930 --> 00:45:14.590 align:middle line:90% We'll put it that way. 00:45:14.590 --> 00:45:18.310 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: But you never did feel any of John Muir's vibes 00:45:18.310 --> 00:45:19.896 align:middle line:90% in here? 00:45:19.896 --> 00:45:23.920 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Well, yes and no. 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:26.620 align:middle line:84% When I was real tired, sometimes, I 00:45:26.620 --> 00:45:29.860 align:middle line:84% used to think, what would John Muir think about this house 00:45:29.860 --> 00:45:32.085 align:middle line:84% if he could come back and see it? 00:45:32.085 --> 00:45:33.460 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, he'd probably 00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:35.230 align:middle line:90% appreciate you saving it. 00:45:35.230 --> 00:45:37.280 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Well, I hope so. 00:45:37.280 --> 00:45:39.140 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now the plot thickens, 00:45:39.140 --> 00:45:42.940 align:middle line:84% because we've added three more to our cast of characters here. 00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:44.740 align:middle line:90% This is Florence Sax. 00:45:44.740 --> 00:45:45.490 align:middle line:90% FLORENCE SAX: Yes. 00:45:45.490 --> 00:45:48.380 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, you married Faire's nephew. 00:45:48.380 --> 00:45:49.130 align:middle line:90% FLORENCE SAX: Yes. 00:45:49.130 --> 00:45:51.670 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And Faire and her husband 00:45:51.670 --> 00:45:54.770 align:middle line:84% put you all to work right away in this house, didn't they? 00:45:54.770 --> 00:45:56.020 align:middle line:90% FLORENCE SAX: They really did. 00:45:56.020 --> 00:45:57.880 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Tell us what they had you doing. 00:45:57.880 --> 00:45:59.504 align:middle line:84% FLORENCE SAX: Well, they had my husband 00:45:59.504 --> 00:46:04.720 align:middle line:84% and Henry were out in the yard with all the weeds, 00:46:04.720 --> 00:46:06.190 align:middle line:90% piling them in big piles. 00:46:06.190 --> 00:46:09.880 align:middle line:84% And that was in the days before the control and smog. 00:46:09.880 --> 00:46:12.880 align:middle line:84% And they had bonfires going here, not literally 00:46:12.880 --> 00:46:14.500 align:middle line:90% day and night, but pretty near. 00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:16.612 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Just clearing out all the brush? 00:46:16.612 --> 00:46:18.070 align:middle line:84% FLORENCE SAX: That's what they did. 00:46:18.070 --> 00:46:19.060 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: And what about-- 00:46:19.060 --> 00:46:21.640 align:middle line:84% do you remember coming in here in those early days, what 00:46:21.640 --> 00:46:23.800 align:middle line:84% the house looked like and felt like when 00:46:23.800 --> 00:46:25.310 align:middle line:90% they started working on it? 00:46:25.310 --> 00:46:27.940 align:middle line:84% FLORENCE SAX: The only what I would call livable room 00:46:27.940 --> 00:46:32.680 align:middle line:84% in his house was the library, which the redwood paneling did. 00:46:32.680 --> 00:46:35.770 align:middle line:84% And there were literally bats in the belfry, 00:46:35.770 --> 00:46:39.465 align:middle line:84% because the whole third floor was nothing but bats. 00:46:39.465 --> 00:46:41.215 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: You had bats in your belfry? 00:46:41.215 --> 00:46:43.350 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yeah, that's right. 00:46:43.350 --> 00:46:45.700 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, they were historic bats. 00:46:45.700 --> 00:46:47.560 align:middle line:90% They were John Muir bats. 00:46:47.560 --> 00:46:49.630 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: They were up in the attic. 00:46:49.630 --> 00:46:51.880 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, let's introduce these two ladies, 00:46:51.880 --> 00:46:54.990 align:middle line:84% because you all kind of represent-- 00:46:54.990 --> 00:46:57.700 align:middle line:84% Faire brought you into the fold, too. 00:46:57.700 --> 00:47:01.870 align:middle line:84% And explain to us how the local ladies of Martinez 00:47:01.870 --> 00:47:06.410 align:middle line:84% were involved in the Muir House in those early days. 00:47:06.410 --> 00:47:10.120 align:middle line:84% TRINA HARRIS: Well, Faire was involved with almost 00:47:10.120 --> 00:47:12.350 align:middle line:90% every organization in town. 00:47:12.350 --> 00:47:16.210 align:middle line:84% She was very important in many places in the community 00:47:16.210 --> 00:47:19.840 align:middle line:84% before she became important up here. 00:47:19.840 --> 00:47:22.570 align:middle line:84% So she drafted us, because we were 00:47:22.570 --> 00:47:28.150 align:middle line:84% members of a chapter of PEO to which she belonged. 00:47:28.150 --> 00:47:32.260 align:middle line:84% And she drafted us as hostesses for open houses here. 00:47:32.260 --> 00:47:36.280 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Now, what was the purpose of these open houses? 00:47:36.280 --> 00:47:39.220 align:middle line:84% LORRAINE BRAY: Well, to have people from town 00:47:39.220 --> 00:47:42.952 align:middle line:84% realize that the house was here and was being taken care of. 00:47:42.952 --> 00:47:44.785 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So she would have open houses. 00:47:44.785 --> 00:47:46.076 align:middle line:90% LORRAINE BRAY: Oh, yes she did. 00:47:46.076 --> 00:47:46.901 align:middle line:90% And she'd dress up. 00:47:46.901 --> 00:47:47.900 align:middle line:90% She'd be just wonderful. 00:47:47.900 --> 00:47:51.100 align:middle line:84% She had a bonnet, and she'd have these great clothes on. 00:47:51.100 --> 00:47:54.400 align:middle line:84% And she'd greet them at the door and welcome them. 00:47:54.400 --> 00:47:55.870 align:middle line:90% It was just wonderful. 00:47:55.870 --> 00:47:57.880 align:middle line:84% And she had a lot of people coming. 00:47:57.880 --> 00:47:58.660 align:middle line:90% They would come. 00:47:58.660 --> 00:48:02.970 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And this was a way to introduce the local citizens 00:48:02.970 --> 00:48:06.190 align:middle line:84% of Martinez to this jewel, which, in a way, 00:48:06.190 --> 00:48:07.720 align:middle line:84% they had kind of forgotten about. 00:48:07.720 --> 00:48:08.886 align:middle line:90% LORRAINE BRAY: That's right. 00:48:08.886 --> 00:48:11.740 align:middle line:84% They had kind of ignored it, really. 00:48:11.740 --> 00:48:14.770 align:middle line:84% And she just inspired them to know that it's here 00:48:14.770 --> 00:48:17.667 align:middle line:90% and appreciate it. 00:48:17.667 --> 00:48:19.750 align:middle line:84% I think it was wonderful she did this, because she 00:48:19.750 --> 00:48:21.140 align:middle line:90% wouldn't have had to do it. 00:48:21.140 --> 00:48:22.290 align:middle line:90% But she did it. 00:48:22.290 --> 00:48:24.040 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And everybody in town, then, 00:48:24.040 --> 00:48:27.852 align:middle line:84% began to get on the Muire House restoration bandwagon. 00:48:27.852 --> 00:48:30.310 align:middle line:84% TRINA HARRIS: Well, I don't know that we could say everyone 00:48:30.310 --> 00:48:31.360 align:middle line:90% in town. 00:48:31.360 --> 00:48:35.330 align:middle line:84% But there was still a certain amount of foot dragging. 00:48:35.330 --> 00:48:37.570 align:middle line:90% I think Faire would agree. 00:48:37.570 --> 00:48:40.570 align:middle line:84% But there were some very interested citizens, 00:48:40.570 --> 00:48:42.310 align:middle line:90% who are all now gone. 00:48:42.310 --> 00:48:43.960 align:middle line:84% Would like to have had them here, 00:48:43.960 --> 00:48:48.610 align:middle line:84% because I remember there was one man in particular, Westwood 00:48:48.610 --> 00:48:52.750 align:middle line:84% Wallace, who had been very instrumental in bringing up 00:48:52.750 --> 00:48:57.280 align:middle line:84% the idea of making this a memorial to John Muir. 00:48:57.280 --> 00:49:02.800 align:middle line:84% And he, and others like him, later formed-- 00:49:02.800 --> 00:49:04.630 align:middle line:90% I believe that's true, Faire-- 00:49:04.630 --> 00:49:07.550 align:middle line:84% they later formed the John Muir Association. 00:49:07.550 --> 00:49:09.880 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: So this thing kind of grew and grew. 00:49:09.880 --> 00:49:11.740 align:middle line:84% Tad, come on back in here, because this 00:49:11.740 --> 00:49:15.010 align:middle line:84% is where the National Park Service comes in. 00:49:15.010 --> 00:49:17.950 align:middle line:84% At some point after you and your husband 00:49:17.950 --> 00:49:21.190 align:middle line:84% had lived here for about 12 years, 00:49:21.190 --> 00:49:26.860 align:middle line:84% you decided to donate this or to sell this to the National Park 00:49:26.860 --> 00:49:30.010 align:middle line:84% Service to perpetuate it forever. 00:49:30.010 --> 00:49:32.380 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Well, but before that, 00:49:32.380 --> 00:49:36.800 align:middle line:84% we had something that happened that scared us to do that. 00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:40.030 align:middle line:84% And that was, the newspaper came out 00:49:40.030 --> 00:49:44.710 align:middle line:84% and said that there was going to be a street put right 00:49:44.710 --> 00:49:47.450 align:middle line:84% through the Muir property this way, 00:49:47.450 --> 00:49:51.160 align:middle line:84% and another street right through the Muir property this way. 00:49:51.160 --> 00:49:55.397 align:middle line:84% And it would have torn us into four different particles. 00:49:55.397 --> 00:49:56.480 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Development? 00:49:56.480 --> 00:49:57.500 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Development. 00:49:57.500 --> 00:49:59.780 align:middle line:90% And we couldn't have that. 00:49:59.780 --> 00:50:05.600 align:middle line:84% So that drove us to try to get the National Park 00:50:05.600 --> 00:50:07.117 align:middle line:90% Service interested. 00:50:07.117 --> 00:50:09.200 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And were they interested right away? 00:50:09.200 --> 00:50:10.490 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: Right away. 00:50:10.490 --> 00:50:13.430 align:middle line:84% The National Park Service was more than happy to finally get 00:50:13.430 --> 00:50:16.095 align:middle line:90% a hold of Muir's home in 1964. 00:50:16.095 --> 00:50:17.720 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: And did you get rich when 00:50:17.720 --> 00:50:20.300 align:middle line:90% you sold it to the government? 00:50:20.300 --> 00:50:21.200 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: No. 00:50:21.200 --> 00:50:26.780 align:middle line:84% We could have turned down $500,000 00:50:26.780 --> 00:50:29.820 align:middle line:90% for this house and the land-- 00:50:29.820 --> 00:50:32.390 align:middle line:84% remember, the land that went with us. 00:50:32.390 --> 00:50:35.690 align:middle line:84% And that didn't include the old adobe and the land 00:50:35.690 --> 00:50:37.100 align:middle line:90% that went with that. 00:50:37.100 --> 00:50:39.650 align:middle line:84% But we sold it for just what we'd paid 00:50:39.650 --> 00:50:42.440 align:middle line:90% for it, plus our improvements. 00:50:42.440 --> 00:50:44.082 align:middle line:84% And everybody thought we were crazy. 00:50:44.082 --> 00:50:46.040 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: People have been thinking you all 00:50:46.040 --> 00:50:48.660 align:middle line:90% were crazy for a long time. 00:50:48.660 --> 00:50:51.890 align:middle line:84% But thank goodness you were crazy, 00:50:51.890 --> 00:50:55.760 align:middle line:84% because today, this is here because, really, of you 00:50:55.760 --> 00:50:56.954 align:middle line:90% and your husband, Henry. 00:50:56.954 --> 00:50:57.620 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yeah. 00:50:57.620 --> 00:50:59.480 align:middle line:90% It would have been torn down. 00:50:59.480 --> 00:51:01.100 align:middle line:90% It really would have been. 00:51:01.100 --> 00:51:03.890 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well this is a story, isn't it? 00:51:03.890 --> 00:51:08.270 align:middle line:84% This is a real success story about the difference 00:51:08.270 --> 00:51:11.540 align:middle line:84% one person or a small group of people 00:51:11.540 --> 00:51:14.317 align:middle line:84% can make if they have it in their heart-- 00:51:14.317 --> 00:51:15.400 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: And my husband. 00:51:15.400 --> 00:51:17.066 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: --to make that difference. 00:51:17.066 --> 00:51:19.580 align:middle line:84% FAIRE SAX: Don't forget my husband. 00:51:19.580 --> 00:51:22.310 align:middle line:84% He's dead now, but he was the one that 00:51:22.310 --> 00:51:24.230 align:middle line:90% had to do all the hard work. 00:51:24.230 --> 00:51:25.610 align:middle line:90% HEULL HOWSER: Yeah. 00:51:25.610 --> 00:51:27.980 align:middle line:84% Well, we won't forget you or your husband, 00:51:27.980 --> 00:51:31.520 align:middle line:84% because you are part of the legacy of the Muir House, 00:51:31.520 --> 00:51:33.410 align:middle line:84% as much as the Muir family itself, 00:51:33.410 --> 00:51:36.830 align:middle line:84% because if it hadn't been for the Saxes, 00:51:36.830 --> 00:51:38.660 align:middle line:84% this house might not even be here today. 00:51:38.660 --> 00:51:39.440 align:middle line:90% TAD SHAY: So true. 00:51:39.440 --> 00:51:40.290 align:middle line:90% That is so true. 00:51:40.290 --> 00:51:43.610 align:middle line:84% We really appreciate all that Henry and Faire did for us. 00:51:43.610 --> 00:51:45.960 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, this has been a wonderful day. 00:51:45.960 --> 00:51:47.240 align:middle line:90% I feel like I'm meeting-- 00:51:47.240 --> 00:51:49.580 align:middle line:84% I can't meet John Muir in person. 00:51:49.580 --> 00:51:52.580 align:middle line:90% But you're the next best thing. 00:51:52.580 --> 00:51:54.530 align:middle line:84% And this had been a wonderful day spent 00:51:54.530 --> 00:51:58.800 align:middle line:84% in this wonderful historic place here in northern California, 00:51:58.800 --> 00:52:02.960 align:middle line:84% this John Muir home, which now belongs to all of us, 00:52:02.960 --> 00:52:05.060 align:middle line:84% thanks to this lady, and her husband, 00:52:05.060 --> 00:52:08.750 align:middle line:84% and all of her friends and supporters over the years. 00:52:08.750 --> 00:52:11.660 align:middle line:84% This place, which is very much one 00:52:11.660 --> 00:52:14.610 align:middle line:90% of California's golden parks. 00:52:14.610 --> 00:52:15.710 align:middle line:90% FAIRE SAX: Yes, it is. 00:52:15.710 --> 00:52:19.196 align:middle line:90% [MUSIC PLAYING] 00:52:19.196 --> 00:54:08.919 align:middle line:90% 00:54:08.919 --> 00:54:10.460 align:middle line:84% HEULL HOWSER: Well, hello, everybody. 00:54:10.460 --> 00:54:11.440 align:middle line:90% I'm Huell Howser. 00:54:11.440 --> 00:54:14.780 align:middle line:84% And you know, there's absolutely no doubt about it. 00:54:14.780 --> 00:54:19.680 align:middle line:84% John Muir is a true California icon. 00:54:19.680 --> 00:54:22.340 align:middle line:84% And if you'd like to go on this John Muir adventure 00:54:22.340 --> 00:54:25.070 align:middle line:84% again, share it with family or friends, 00:54:25.070 --> 00:54:27.530 align:middle line:84% or more importantly, donate a copy 00:54:27.530 --> 00:54:32.960 align:middle line:84% to your local school or library, well, it's available on DVD. 00:54:32.960 --> 00:54:38.030 align:middle line:84% All you have to do is call 1-800-266-5727. 00:54:38.030 --> 00:54:41.500 align:middle line:84% And we'll be glad to send it to you right away. 00:54:41.500 --> 00:54:42.500 align:middle line:90%