John Muir

An item at American Writers Museum

An immigrant from Scotland, John Muir transformed the way America perceived nature. As a young man he walked across much of his adopted nation, seeking adventure and "the heart of the wilderness." He later lived as a shepherd in California's rugged Yosemite Valley. Throughout, Muir kept a detailed journal that expressed his profound love of nature and meditated on humankind's place in the universe.

Muir's writing is lyrical and energetic, with a hunger for authenticity. It alternates between personal, spiritual, and scientific perspectives. His insights on glaciers altered our understanding of geology, while his advocacy for conservation helped create the National Park Service.

AMERICAN VOICES

An exhibit at American Writers Museum

American writing is distinctive, diverse, and comes in many forms from across the nation. The 100 authors featured here represent the evolution of American writing. Learn more about each writer on the timeline by turning the panels below their portraits. Explore centuries of writing by pulling, turning, and touching the interactive elements on the counter.

This is not meant to be a list of the greatest or most influential writers. Instead, we present authors and works as part of the American story as it grows and changes. Taken together, this rich literary heritage reflects America in all of its complexity: its energy, hope, conflict, disillusionment, and creativity.

American Writers Museum