John Muir National Historic Site, Martinez, CA

National Park Service

Long-Range Interpretive Plan (excerpt)

Since 1964, when the historic Alhambra Valley estate and orchards once operated by John Muir came under the protection of the National Park Service, this small, moderately attended site has had notable success in preserving historic structures and re-assembling important parcels of land, including the Muir family cemetery and the undeveloped 326-acre expanse of Mt. Wanda.

But the site has also suffered some disappointments. A busy freeway bisects the property, separating the Victorian mansion from the pastoral heights of Mt. Wanda. The property entrance and parking lot on Alhambra Avenue remain inadequate. An ambitious plan to fund an environmental education and interpretive center has been unsuccessful. Perhaps most significantly, interpretation and visitor experiences have been adversely impacted over the years by inadequate space for visitors, limited staff , and the inherent contradictions of using a Victorian house with period furnishings as the primary vehicle for interpreting the extraordinary life and accomplishments of John Muir.

This Long-Range Interpretive Plan offers guidance for enriching interpretive programming and improving visitor experiences with John Muir National Historic Site over the next ten years. The plan proposes short-, mid- and long-term strategies, including rethinking the current historic house approach and refurbishing the existing visitor center, to revitalize the site’s interpretive program in support of three primary interpretive themes.

In a series of workshops with stakeholders, including volunteers, donors, educators, community leaders, and members of the Muir family, the planning team identified the following themes as central to the visitor experience at John Muir National Historic Site.