Muir Woods National Monument

by John Hart

Muir Woods, with its giant red-barked trees, soothing filtered light, and birdsong, is a haven of calm in a complicated modern world. It is also one of the nation's few intact old-growth coastal redwood forests - the only sizeable redwood stand near San Francisco Bay that, as author John Hart notes, "has literally never felt the hand of the logger."

Though it has neither the oldest nor the largest redwoods, its completeness - mature trees, young trees, fallen trees; a verdant understory dense with plants that were around when dinosaurs walked the earth; and a riparian corridor that is both nursery and lifeline for untold generations of fish, insects, and other animals - gives it an enduring appeal. All of this beauty and vitality was almost lost in the opening years of the twentieth century, however, when a campaign was launched to dam its creek to create a reservoir that would've flooded the upper reaches of the forest.

In this book, you will enter the world of Muir Woods National Monument, a rich and complex environment saved by people who saw its value and worked to preserve it, and protected today by the National Park Service. A place of "green and lively light, shady yet somehow never dim, that the dusty eye takes in as a thirsty throat takes in water," Muir Woods offers timeless testimony to both the power of nature and the human need for the peace it offers.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

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Reviews

[Katie Keeshen]

so psyched for my new job :)

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading about the process of national parks, monuments and refuges being set aside and the people who fought for their preservation. I bought this book at John Muir Woods and it was helpful to read and learn about the coastal redwoods as we walked along them. All of the beautiful photography was a bonus!

[Melina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous full page photos of the magical Muir Woods Monument. It truly is one of nature's wonders that must be preserved after being reduced so drastically in size.

[Hoyt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always buy a book when I visit a national park/monument, and this was the one for Muir Woods. It was full of lovely photos of the redwoods, as well as other plants and wildlife of the area, which was good, since my own photos were less than perfect ;) It presents a nice overview of the biology and ecology of redwoods, and goes into the history of the monument and the challenges the stewards of this area have faced.

I nice little read, and a very nice place to visit as well!

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning monument, definitely worth visiting. The book makes a good companion for the experience. It adds context, history, and an in depth look at the flora and fauna that makes this one of the most memorable places I've visited.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful photography of one of the most beautiful spots in the world -- text gives an all-sided (botanical, ecological, historical) sense of this rare untouched stand of ancient redwood trees.