John Muir House National Park, in Martinez, CA, wonderful place to celebrate spring

We went to John Muir House this past week on a field trip.  It is not the first time we've been there as whenever I go I feel entranced and enveloped by the magnificence of John Muir.  I especially love walking into the house and seeing the "scribble room" as he called it, as Muir spent hours there working on his celebrated writings that changed the course of history, influenced people, and helped create our national parks we so value today.

I read the book to Stickeen to a group of 1st graders and they absolutely love it, which I already knew since my son loves the book too!





















Recommendations for book and outside readings:

Louie Strentzel Muir through the eyes of her daughter, Helen
http://patch.com/california/martinez/bp--louie-strentzel-muir-through-the-eyes-of-her-daughter-helen
(This is a very informative and personal account of Louie Strentzel seen through the eyes of her daughter.   One cannot go to this home and not imagine what Louie was like.)

Stickeen  by John Muir
(There are several versions of this book, and we have not read all of them.)

Online free version of the book, Stickeen, by John Muir
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/11673/11673-h/11673.htm
1909
I found it interesting that he dedicated this book to his daughter, Helen.
The movie they show in the John Muir House before touring the house, mentions Stickeen.  After Muir's great adventure with Stickeen in Alaska, he named his later dog Stickeen, and there are pictures of him with the dog in the house.