MUIR WOODS NATIONAL MONUMENT

OUR FAMILY HAS VISITED THIS MONUMENT OF OLD GROWTH REDWOOD TREES WHICH HAS PAVED WALKWAYS AND BRIDGES. IT IS ALWAYS COOL EVEN IN THE SUMMER. I REMEMBER WALKING AROUND THE OLD GROVES AND LOOKING IN THE STREAMS FOR SMALL FISH. IT WAS THE 10TH NATIONAL MONUMENT ESTABLISHED IN 1908 BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT . ONCE JOHN MUIR GOT THE NEWS THAT IT WAS NAMED AFTER HIM, HE SAID THIS IS THE BEST TREE LOVERS MONUMENT THAT COULD BE FOUND IN ALL THE FORESTS OF THE WORLD. THE REDWOOD CREEK HAS COHO SALMON IN IT! THEIR NESTS ARE CALLED REDDS. IN THE RAIN THE PACIFIC WREN SINGS AND THE CREEK IS FULL OF WATERFALLS. IN THE SUMMER WE HAVE OFTEN SEEN THE MAMMALS - DEER, COYOTE, AND RACCOONS. THEY HAVE RIVER OTTERS. AND BARRED OWLS. STELLAR'S JAYS SING USUALLY IN THE SUMMER. THOUSANDS OF LADY BUGS CLUSTER ON ANCIENT HORSETAIL FERNS. LAST FALL REDWOOD CREEK AT MUIR BEECH BEGAN TO GET RESTORED. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP RESTORE WATER FLOW, REMOVE NONNATIVE SPECIES, AND INCREASE PUBLIC ACCESS, AND BENEFIT THE COHO SALMON AND RED-LEGGED FROG.



THE COAST MIWOK USED TO LIVE HERE IN TEMPORARY CAMPS. THERE WAS A MOUNT TAMALPAIS IN MILL VALLEY. A SCENIC RAILROAD IS NEARBY IN HISTORIC TIMES. THIS WAS THE FIRST NATIONAL MONUMENT CREATED IN AN URBAN SETTING ALLOWING PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD TO VISIT HERE. THEY HAD 17 MILLION PARK VISITORS IN 2008. THEY HAVE PARK INTERPRETERS IN THE BUILDING AND ALONG THE TRAILS.

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