Sister Cities celebrate Muir Legacy | The Martinez News-Gazette
This week two cities on opposite sides of the pond celebrated the twinning of John Muir’s sauntering grounds – Dunbar and Martinez – and the famous conservationist who brought them together.
On April 18th the Board of Directors of the John Muir Association in Martinez sent the following, beautifully worded, message to us all in Dunbar.
The John Muir Association, in association with the National Park Service at the John Muir National Historic Site, extends hearty greetings to the Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace, the Dunbar Community Council, the John Muir Birthplace Trust, and the citizens of Dunbar in acknowledgment on this 30th anniversary of the Sister City alliance between Martinez, California and Dunbar, Scotland.
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Celebrate John Muir’s birthday with a guided walk around the places that were important to the young John growing up in Dunbar in the 1840s. What games did he play? Find out about ‘sookin in goats’ and Dandy Doctors’. That helped keep him out of trouble! Tean and cake at the Birthplace after the walk. Booking is essential. Contact John Muir’s Birthplace on 01368 865899. Cost is £3. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Venue: Start and finish at John Muir’s Birthplace
Monday 18th April to Saturday 7th May
Celebrating John Muir’s written legacy. As well as his campaigns to protect wildness and travel journals, Muir explored poetry and wrote many letters to family and friends.
Venue: Gibb Room, Dunbar Library
Yet another major Muir-related event. This event is organised and hosted by the American equivalent of Friends – the John Muir Association – at the John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez, California.
Earth Day Celebration
John Muir inspired people all over the world to “keep close to nature’s heart.” In this spirit, we celebrate John Muir’s April 21st birthday at his former home, along with Earth Day, which brings us closer to knowing our planet and practical ways to help it thrive.
John Muir National Historic Site – John Muir Earth Day Celebration 2011 (U.S. National Park Service)
Join us on Saturday April 16, 2011 from 10 AM to 4 PM for the John Muir Earth Day Celebration 2011. The John Muir Association is proud to present this event along with the National Park Service. This free event will have 50 exhibitors of the green or community kind. There will also be music, food and kids activities! Muir Power to You!
Although the following documentary film is only showing in the US on the PBS channel – so the time stated is for a US timezone – Friends… thought this news to be worthy of wider publicity. Perhaps we could arrange a showing of the video in conjunction with Dunbar Film?
National Broadcast on PBS
April 18, 9:00 PM
Preservationist, naturalist, author, explorer, activist, scientist, farmer, John Muir (4/21/1838 – 12/24/1914) was all these things and more. Nearly a century after his death, this Scottish American is remembered and revered as the father of the environmental movement and the founder of the Sierra Club, the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. This 90 minute documentary John Muir in the New World delves into Muir’s life and influences with reenactments filmed in high definition throughout the majestic landscapes he visited: Wisconsin, Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada, the Alhambra Valley of California, and the glaciers of Alaska.
There’s also a trailer – YouTube – AMERICAN MASTERS | John Muir in the New World – Trailer | PBS and a Facebook page – with almost 12000 fans – dedicated to this documentary: Continue reading
Photos by Steven Boyle and Duncan Scott
Dunbar and District History Society and Martinez Historical Society photos
Commemorative plaque presented by the Mayor and City Council of Martinez
Commemorative objects include this throw presented by Martinez Historical Society
Commemorative plaque presented by the Mayor and City Council of Martinez
…to the new and improved Friends of John Muir’s Birthplace website. Friends… would like to thank OurLocality.Org in general, and Philip in particular, for the help and support provided in making this new web presence possible.
In the run up to the 173rd anniversary of Muir’s birth there are many Muir-related things happening and we’ll bring you news of these so stay tuned…
A longstanding member of Friends, Steve Tossell, is organising a series of events under the heading of Dunbar Conversations. The first of these ‘conversations’ will be titled John Muir’s Way of Thinking and the panel and audience will discuss Muir’s words and deeds with a view to gaining a deeper insight into the man. This event will take place on Wednesday 20th April at 19:30 in the Gibb Room, Dunbar Library. Tickets (free) from Dunbar Library.
