Muir Woods National Monument, California

Until the 1800's, many northern California coastal valleys were covered with coast redwood trees similar to those now found in Muir Woods National Monument. The forest along Redwood Creek in today's Muir Woods was spared from logging because it was hard to get to. Noting that Redwood Creek contained one of the San Francisco Bay Area's last uncut stands of old-growth redwood, Congressman William Kent and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent, bought 295 acres here for $45,000 in 1905. To protect the redwoods the Kents donated the land to the United States Federal Government and, in 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt declared it a national monument. Roosevelt suggested naming the area after Kent, but Kent wanted it named for conservationist John Muir.

muir woods national monument marin county california muwo nps staff kents redwood creek redwood coast redwood trees congressman william kent elizabeth thacher kent today s muir woods conservationist john muir san francisco bay area s president theodore roosevelt national parks gallery high resolution national monuments tourist attraction national parks united states history historic landmarks

1905

National Parks Gallery

https://npgallery.nps.gov/

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