Land Once Owned By Muir Family To Receive Federal Protection

National Heritage Land Trust Orchestrated Purchase Of Central Wisconsin Propoerty

By
Brant Erickson

A dedication ceremony in central Wisconsin on Saturday will mark the protection of more property once owned by the family of conservationist John Muir.

Marquette County already has a Muir Memorial Park, which was established on some former Muir family land. But recently, the Natural Heritage Land Trust brought together federal, state and private dollars to buy and protect an adjacent 200 acres known as the Eggleston-McGwin Farm. The land includes 40 acres owned by John Muir’s father in the mid-1800s.

The Land Trust’s Jim Welsh said it’s important to protect more of Muir’s boyhood home.

Stay informed on the latest news

Sign up for WPR’s email newsletter.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“John is known for his work in California and Yosemite Valley,” said Welsh. “He’s not that known for his role here in Wisconsin, and how formative that was to him. So I think it’s very important we help educate and get people out to enjoy the landscape that John fell in love with.”

Some of the land will become part of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, while the remainder will become part of the Fox River National Wildlife Refuge.