75-820: Muir Woods National Monument ( / m jʊər / MURE ) is a United States National Monument managed by the National Park Service and named after naturalist John Muir . It is located on Mount Tamalpais near the Pacific coast in southwestern Marin County, California . The Monument is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area , and is 12 miles (19 km) north of San Francisco . It protects 554 acres (224 ha), of which 240 acres (97 ha) are old growth coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) forests, one of
150-478: A donation of lands acquired by John D. Rockefeller Jr. , for addition to Grand Teton National Park after Congress had declined to authorize this park expansion. Roosevelt's proclamation unleashed a storm of criticism about use of the Antiquities Act to circumvent Congress. A bill abolishing Jackson Hole National Monument passed Congress but was vetoed by Roosevelt, and Congressional and court challenges to
225-537: A few such stands remaining in the San Francisco Bay Area . The Muir Woods National Monument is an old-growth coastal redwood forest . Due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean , the forest is regularly shrouded in a coastal marine layer fog, contributing to a wet environment that encourages vigorous plant growth. The fog is also vital for the growth of the redwoods as they use moisture from
300-837: A fifth in the Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument . On June 24, 2016, Obama designated the Stonewall Inn and surrounding areas in Greenwich Village , New York as the Stonewall National Monument , the first national monument commemorating the movement for LGBT rights in the United States . Obama's establishments included several others recognizing civil rights history, including
375-585: A footrace which goes between Mill Valley and Stinson Beach , passes through Muir Woods on the second Sunday in June. The Double Dipsea , later in June and the Quad Dipsea , in November, follow the same course. Rangers and volunteers present 15-minute interpretive talks and guided one-hour tours when staffing permits. Program topics include redwood ecology and conservation, the impact of climate change , and
450-477: A major Alaska lands bill. Congress passed a revised version of the bill in 1980 incorporating most of these national monuments into national parks and preserves , but the act also curtailed further use of the proclamation authority in Alaska. Carter's 1978 proclamations included Misty Fjords and Admiralty Island National Monuments in the U.S. Forest Service and Becharof and Yukon Flats National Monuments in
525-506: A narrow strip along the coast. By the early 20th century, most of these forests had been cut down. Just north of the San Francisco Bay , one valley named Redwood Canyon remained uncut, mainly due to its relative inaccessibility. This was noticed by William Kent , a rising California politician who would soon be elected to the U.S. Congress. He and his wife, Elizabeth Thacher Kent , purchased 611 acres (247 ha) of land from
600-520: A net benefit of $ 1.6 billion in additional revenue. A peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by economists Catherine Thomas and Egan Cornachione of the U.S. Geological Survey and Lynne Koontz of the National Park Service . The report shows $ 20.2 billion of direct spending by more than 318 million park visitors in communities within 60 miles of a national park. This spending supported 329,000 jobs nationally; 268,000 of those jobs are found in these gateway communities. The cumulative benefit to
675-525: A precedent for the use of the Antiquities Act to preserve large areas. Federal courts have since rejected every challenge to the president's use of Antiquities Act preservation authority, ruling that the law gives the president exclusive discretion over the determination of the size and nature of the objects protected. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Katmai National Monument in Alaska , comprising more than 1,000,000 acres (4,000 km ). Katmai
750-601: A serious problem by the end of the 19th century. In 1902, Iowa Congressman John F. Lacey , who chaired the House Committee on the Public Lands, traveled to the Southwest with the rising anthropologist Edgar Lee Hewett , to see for himself the extent of the pot hunters' impact. His findings, supported by an exhaustive report by Hewett to Congress detailing the archaeological resources of the region, provided
825-546: A shuttle on all weekends and holidays and during select peak weekdays, providing service to Muir Woods from Sausalito, Marin City, or Mill Valley (Route 66); the National Park Service recommends that visitors use the shuttle when it is operating to avoid difficulties in finding parking. The NPS requires reservations made in advance for all vehicles and shuttle riders; a parking reservation is $ 8.50 per vehicle while
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#1732776444025900-532: A slope, the tree leaned towards the valley for more than 100 years. Storms in El Niño years of 1981 and 1982 caused the tree to tilt even more and took out the top 40 feet (12 m) of the tree. During the winter of 2002–03, many storms brought high winds to Muir Woods causing the tree to lean so much that a fissure developed in January 2003. This fissure grew larger as the tree slowly leaned more and more, forcing
975-461: A spot on the shuttle is $ 3.25 per person. Furthermore, an entrance fee of $ 15.00 per person is charged in order to gain entry to Muir Woods. The shuttle service and park are open every day of the year including holidays. The park is open from 8:00 am and closes at sunset. There are no camping or lodging facilities in Muir Woods. The monument is a day-use area only. There are camping facilities in
1050-751: A three movement solo classical guitar piece called "In the Woods" in 1995. The third movement of the piece is called Muir Woods and it was inspired in this forest. Characters played by James Stewart and Kim Novak visit the Muir Woods National Monument in Alfred Hitchcock 's 1958 film Vertigo ; however, the scene was actually shot in Big Basin Redwoods State Park . The monument was a setting in Rise of
1125-528: A website where all parking and shuttle reservations can be made, has helped to decongest the traffic to an extent. Despite the number of attending visitors trending downward at Muir Woods, parking and congestion remain a problem for tourists and locals alike. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, in an attempt to protect the wildlife and environment of Muir Woods which is given certain protections due to
1200-490: A wide variety of protected areas. The Antiquities Act was signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt during his second term in office. The act resulted from concerns about protecting mostly prehistoric Native American ruins and artifacts—collectively termed " antiquities "—on federal lands in the West, such as at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico . Removal of artifacts from these lands by private collectors, "pot hunters," had become
1275-487: Is an act that was passed by the United States Congress and signed into law by Theodore Roosevelt on June 8, 1906. This law gives the president of the United States the authority to, by presidential proclamation , create national monuments from federal lands to protect significant natural, historic, or scientific features. The Act has been used more than a hundred times since its enactment to create
1350-493: Is at least 1,200 years old. Other tree species grow in the understory of the redwood groves. Three of the most common are the California bay laurel , the bigleaf maple and the tanoak . Each of these species has developed a unique adaptation to the low level of dappled sunlight that reaches them through the redwoods overhead. The California bay laurel has a strong root system that allows the tree to lean towards openings in
1425-436: Is home to over 50 species of birds. This relatively low number is due to the lack of insects. The tannin in the trees repels the insects and the volume of flowers and fruits produced by plants below the canopy is limited by the shade of the redwoods. It is occasionally possible to see northern spotted owls or pileated woodpeckers in the forest. While decreasing in numbers elsewhere, the spotted owls appear to be thriving in
1500-448: Is the largest protected area proclaimed. George W. Bush signed proclamation Proclamation 8031 to establish the monument in 2006, and President Barack Obama expanded its size in 2016. The smallest, Father Millet Cross National Monument (now part of a state park), was a mere 0.0074 acres (30 m ). For any excavation, the Act requires that a permit (Antiquities Permit) be obtained from
1575-587: The 1906 earthquake , was "Muirahara Woods". National monument (United States) In the United States , a national monument is a protected area that can be created from any land owned or controlled by the federal government by proclamation of the president of the United States or an act of Congress. National monuments protect a wide variety of natural and historic resources, including sites of geologic, marine, archaeological, and cultural importance. The Antiquities Act of 1906 gives presidents
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#17327764440251650-560: The 63 national parks include areas originally designated as national monuments. The first use of the Act protected a large geographic feature: President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed Devils Tower National Monument on September 24, 1906. President Roosevelt also used it to create the Grand Canyon National Monument (now Grand Canyon National Park ) and sixteen other sites. At 583,000 square miles (1,510,000 km ), Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument
1725-603: The Antiquities Act it is necessary to take care of the ecosystems of surrounding areas outside of park boundaries that have impacts on the wildlife and ecosystems within the park. As a result, the park is involved in restoration and conservation efforts in Redwood Creek at the Banducci Flower Farm site, which is managed by Golden Gate National Recreation Area , and at Big Lagoon, which is outside
1800-767: The Bureau of Land Management , and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in the case of marine national monuments). Historically, some national monuments were managed by the War Department . President Theodore Roosevelt used the Antiquities Act to declare Devils Tower in Wyoming as the first U.S. national monument. The Antiquities Act authorized permits for legitimate archaeological investigations and penalties for taking or destroying antiquities without permission. Additionally, it authorized
1875-580: The César E. Chávez , Belmont–Paul Women's Equality , Freedom Riders , and Birmingham Civil Rights National Monuments . In December 2017, President Donald Trump substantially reduced the sizes of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monuments , removing protections on about 2.8 million acres of land where mining could resume. Three lawsuits challenged the legality of this action in federal court, and in October 2021, President Joe Biden reversed
1950-589: The Fish and Wildlife Service , the first to be created outside of the National Park Service. The latter two became national wildlife refuges in 1980. The proclamation authority was not used again anywhere until 1996, when President Bill Clinton proclaimed the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument in Utah , after many years of unsuccessful advocacy by conservationists to protect parts of
2025-631: The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy have worked together to restore the last 1/2 mile of the Redwood Creek before it enters the Pacific Ocean. Before restoration efforts, the Redwood Creek mouth functioned poorly in conveying water and sediment from a nine square mile watershed to the ocean. The National Park Service claims that for over 100 years agriculture, logging, and road-building increased
2100-655: The Grand Canyon as a national monument. In response to Roosevelt's declaration of the Grand Canyon monument, a putative mining claimant sued in federal court, claiming that Roosevelt had overstepped the Antiquities Act authority by protecting an entire canyon. In 1920, the United States Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the Grand Canyon was indeed "an object of historic or scientific interest" and could be protected by proclamation, setting
2175-713: The National Park system , and President Roosevelt agreed with this proposition. Kent and Muir had become friends over shared views of wilderness preservation, but Kent's later support for the flooding of Hetch Hetchy caused Muir to end their friendship. In December 1928, the Kent Memorial was erected at the Kent Tree in Fern Canyon. This tree—a Douglas fir, not a redwood—was said to be Kent's favorite. Due to its height of 280 feet (85 m) and location on
2250-479: The National Trust for Historic Preservation . Since the Antiquities Act became law, all but three presidents, Richard Nixon , Ronald Reagan , and George H.W. Bush , have chosen to enlarge or dedicate new national monuments. President Obama established more monuments than any president, with 29 in total. The previous record was held by President Clinton with 19 monuments. President Carter dedicated
2325-520: The Tamalpais Land and Water Company for $ 45,000 in 1905 with the goal of protecting the redwoods and the mountain above them. The deal was facilitated by banker Lovell White and his activist wife, Laura Lyon White . In 1907, a water company in nearby Sausalito planned to dam Redwood Creek , thereby flooding the valley. When Kent objected to the plan, the water company threatened to use eminent domain and took him to court to attempt to force
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2400-475: The coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens ) trees. They are known for their height, and are related to the giant sequoia of the Sierra Nevada. While redwoods can grow to nearly 380 feet ( 115 m ) , the tallest tree in the Muir Woods is 258 feet (79 m). The trees come from a seed no bigger than that of a tomato seed. Most of the redwoods in the monument are between 500 and 800 years old. The oldest
2475-560: The American West. The reference in the act to "objects of ... scientific interest" enabled President Theodore Roosevelt to make a natural geological feature, Devils Tower in Wyoming , the first national monument three months later. Among the next three monuments he proclaimed in 1906 was Petrified Forest in Arizona , another natural feature. In 1908, Roosevelt used the act to proclaim more than 800,000 acres (3,200 km ) of
2550-480: The Antiquities Act, requiring Congressional consent for any future creation or enlargement of national monuments in Wyoming . The second time followed Jimmy Carter 's use of the Act to create 17 national monuments in Alaska covering 56 million acres (230,000 km ). The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act rescinded Carter's withdrawals while establishing those areas as national parks or other site types and requires Congressional ratification of
2625-549: The Central California Coast distinct population segment . Coho salmon are listed as endangered in their evolutionary significant unit (2011). The creek is near the southernmost limit of coho habitat and the fish have never been stocked, so they have a distinctive DNA. The Redwood Creek salmon are Central Coast coho salmon which have been listed as federally threatened species since October 2006 and as federally endangered species in June 2005. Coho migrate from
2700-537: The National Park Service introduced a reservation system in early 2018 which restricts the number of vehicles allowed to enter and park in Muir Woods every day. Residents of neighboring Mill Valley had protested against earlier plans to set up an additional parking lot, and together with a group named "Mount Tam Task Force" sued to prevent the building of a shuttle bus station. Reservations are required for all vehicles and shuttle riders since 2018. Marin Transit operates
2775-933: The Pacific Ocean, the largest in the system: the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument , the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument , the Marianas Marine National Monument , and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument . They are managed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration overseeing the fisheries. President Barack Obama significantly expanded two of them and added
2850-649: The Planet of the Apes (2011), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) and the first act of War for the Planet of the Apes (2017), though all three films were in fact filmed in British Columbia . Jack Kerouac discusses hiking though Muir Woods in his 1958 novel The Dharma Bums . He appears in the Big Hero 6: The Series , set in an alternate history that San Francisco was under much Japanese influence after
2925-507: The Secretary of the department which has jurisdiction over those lands. Presidents have historically tended to create more monuments during their second terms or lame duck periods. Presidential powers under the Act have been reduced twice. The first time followed the controversial proclamation of Jackson Hole National Monument in 1943. The 1950 law that incorporated Jackson Hole into an enlarged Grand Teton National Park also amended
3000-403: The U.S. economy was $ 40.1 billion. The popularity of Muir Woods as a tourist destination has created a great deal of congestion and delay on the two lane California State Highway 1 . As a result, many civilians and residents living near Muir Woods and affected by the increased traffic on the pathway to the national monument have voiced concern with the National Park Service . In response, policy
3075-500: The ability to travel to Muir Woods. The efforts to restore Redwood Creek illustrate a way in which the government protection of Muir Woods leads to positive benefits for the surrounding area. American keyboardist and composer George Duke composed Muir Woods Suite in 1993. The Suite, a major orchestral piece, was premiered and recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival . Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu composed
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3150-413: The adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park . The paved/boardwalk main trail begins at the entrance plaza ( Trail Map ) and travels into the old growth redwood forest alongside Redwood Creek. Other unpaved walking trails extend from the main trail to connect with Mt. Tamalpais State Park trails outside of the monument boundaries. Bicycles are only allowed on designated fire roads. The annual Dipsea Race ,
3225-704: The area. This was the first national monument managed by the Bureau of Land Management . This action was unpopular in Utah, and bills were introduced to further restrict the president's authority, none of which have been enacted. Most of the 16 national monuments created by President Clinton are managed not by the National Park Service, but by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the National Landscape Conservation System . President George W. Bush created four marine national monuments in
3300-520: The canopy. The bigleaf maple, true to its name, has developed the largest leaf of any maple species. These large leaves allow it to capture more of the forest's dim light. The tanoak has a unique internal leaf structure that enables it to make effective use of the light that filters through the canopy. Redwood Creek provides a critical spawning and rearing habitat for coho or silver salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) and steelhead ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ). Steelhead are listed as threatened species (2011) in
3375-452: The changes. The restoration of the monuments has been challenged in court in an attempt to attack the Antiquities Act. President Biden's proclamations establishing and expanding monuments often incorporated consultation with Native American tribes for management and planning. Antiquities Act The Antiquities Act of 1906 ( Pub. L. 59–209 , 34 Stat. 225 , 54 U.S.C. §§ 320301 – 320303 )
3450-612: The closure of some trails. On March 18, 2003, at around 8:28 pm, the tree fell, damaging several other trees nearby. The closed trails have since been reconfigured and reopened. In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge was completed and park attendance tripled, reaching over 180,000. Muir Woods is one of the major tourist attractions of the San Francisco Bay Area , with 776,000 visitors in 2005. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945, shortly before he
3525-529: The creek due to a loss of large woody debris and deep pools where young salmon can rest. Starting in 2009, the National Park Service began restoring Muir Beach to create a functional, self-sustaining ecosystem and improve visitor access. The intervention was almost too late, since the coho only has a three-year life span. But, as of January 2010, and for the first time in three years, an estimated 45 coho swam up Redwood Creek to spawn, creating 23 redds or clusters of eggs. In 2011, 11 live adult coho and 1 coho carcass
3600-416: The erosion and degradation of the creek. As a result, local species of coho salmon and steelhead trout were threatened. Moreover, due to the poor state of Redwood Creek, even moderate and slight storms would cause flooding leaving residents flooded and local roads untraversable. While technically within the protected lands of Muir Woods, the poor state of Redwood Creek was having negative effects on wildlife and
3675-435: The fog during drought seasons, particularly during dry summers. The monument remains cool and moist year round with daytime temperatures averaging between 40 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit ( 4 to 21 °C ). Rainfall is heavy during the winter and summers are almost completely dry with the exception of fog drip caused by the fog passing through the trees. Annual precipitation in the park ranges from 39.4 inches (1,000 mm) in
3750-440: The history of Muir Woods. Longer hikes or other special programs are offered several times per month, and require a reservation. Weddings, commercial filming, and special events are allowed in the monument only with a proper permit. In 2018, more than 17.5 million visitors visited Golden Gate National Recreation Area , Muir Woods National Monument, and Fort Point National Historic Site , and spent $ 1.2 billion in communities near
3825-418: The level of difficulty and distance. Picnicking, camping and pets are not permitted. As of 2015, the park sees up to 6000 visitors per day during peak times (April to October, Thanksgiving weekend, and Christmas through New Years), more than 80% of which arrive by car, and most of the rest with a tour bus or shuttle bus. Currently, parking is extremely limited and lots often fill early in the day. The county and
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#17327764440253900-561: The lower valley to 47.2 inches ( 1,200 mm ) higher up in the mountain slopes. The redwoods grow on brown humus-rich loam which may be gravelly, stony or somewhat sandy. This soil has been assigned to the Centissima series , which is always found on sloping ground. It is well drained, moderately deep, and slightly to moderately acidic. It has developed from a mélange in the Franciscan Formation . More open areas of
3975-500: The monument and other evergreen forests in the area. A National Park Service monitoring project of the owls is ongoing within the monument. The project has found that adult owls are finding mates, raising young to adulthood and the young are having new broods of their own. The monument is home to a variety of mammals ranging in size from the small, four-inch long American shrew mole to the much larger black-tailed subspecies of mule deer , Odocoileus hemionus columbianus . The majority of
4050-455: The monument at Muir Beach, to improve ecosystem health and salmonid habitat. These efforts typically require a mixture of effort from the National Park Service, federal, state, and local governments; and even private landowners. The restoration efforts in surrounding areas outside of Muir Woods have helped to protect and restore the habitats of wildlife and fish such as coho salmon and the northern spotted owl . The National Park Service and
4125-532: The monument home, often using hollows burned into the redwoods by past fires as a maternity colony. In November 2010 sea otters ( Enhydra lutris ) have been spotted swimming in the new stream channel constructed in the lagoon area of Redwood Creek. Muir Woods, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is a park which caters to pedestrians, as parking of vehicles is only allowed at the very entrance. Hiking trails vary in
4200-452: The monument's mammals are either nocturnal or are burrowing animals that live underground or in the forest floor's dense plant litter . Most commonly seen are Sonoma chipmunks and western gray squirrels . Bears historically roamed the area but were largely exterminated by habitat destruction. In 2003 a male black bear was spotted wandering in various areas of Marin County , including Muir Woods. There are 11 species of bats that call
4275-507: The monuments are to be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected. Protection of sites can include restrictions on mining, logging, grazing, commercial fishing, and hunting; known as land withdrawals, these are typically described in the presidential proclamation establishing the monument. Some areas designated as national monuments have later been converted to or incorporated into national parks or national historical parks . 28 of
4350-456: The most acreage to national monuments, mostly in areas in Alaska . On April 26, 2017, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13792 directing a review of the law and its uses. The Act was intended to allow the president to set aside certain valuable public natural areas as park and conservation land. The 1906 act stated that it was intended for: "... the protection of objects of historic and scientific interest." These areas are given
4425-665: The necessary impetus for the passage of the legislation. The Act failed to deter purposeful, criminal looting at these protected sites and was deemed too vague, eventually resulting in passage of the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979 . The Antiquities Act has been praised by several groups for its ability to protect important sites, including The Wilderness Society , the National Parks Conservation Association , The Pew Charitable Trusts , and
4500-469: The ocean back to freshwater for a single chance at reproduction, generally after two years in the ocean. The spawning migrations begin after heavy late fall or winter rains breach the sandbar at Muir Beach allowing the fish to move upstream (usually in December and January). No salmon were seen in the 2007–2008 winter run, nor the 2008–2009 winter run. Evidence points to exhaustion of smolt oversummering in
4575-700: The park have shallow gravelly loam of the Barnabe series, or deep hard loam of the Cronkhite series. One hundred fifty million years ago ancestors of redwood and sequoia trees grew throughout the United States . Today, the Sequoia sempervirens can be found only in a narrow, cool coastal belt from Monterey County, California , in the south to Oregon in the north. Before the logging industry came to California, there were an estimated 2 million acres (8,000 km) of old growth forest containing redwoods growing in
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#17327764440254650-415: The parks. The protections given to these areas by the federal government helped to establish them as natural tourist destinations creating an attraction that brought positive externalities in the form of increased business to the surrounding communities. According to the National Park Service, the spending and cash flow brought to the area through these visitors created 12,658 new local jobs and had
4725-459: The power to proclaim national monuments by executive action. In contrast, national parks in the U.S. must be created by Congressional legislation. Some national monuments were first created by presidential action and later designated as national parks by congressional approval. The 134 national monuments are managed by several federal agencies: the National Park Service , United States Forest Service , United States Fish and Wildlife Service ,
4800-940: The president to proclaim "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" on federal lands as national monuments, "the limits of which in all cases shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected." Presidents have used the Antiquities Act's proclamation authority not only to create new national monuments but to enlarge existing ones. For example, Franklin D. Roosevelt significantly enlarged Dinosaur National Monument in 1938. Lyndon B. Johnson added Ellis Island to Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965, and Jimmy Carter made major additions to Glacier Bay and Katmai National Monuments in 1978. The Antiquities Act of 1906 resulted from concerns about protecting mostly prehistoric Native American ruins and artifacts (collectively termed "antiquities") on federal lands in
4875-512: The proclamation authority were mounted. In 1950, Congress finally incorporated most of the monument into Grand Teton National Park, but the act doing so barred further use of the proclamation authority in Wyoming except for areas of 5,000 acres or less. The most substantial use of the proclamation authority came in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed 17 new national monuments in Alaska after Congress had adjourned without passing
4950-405: The project to move ahead. Kent sidestepped the water company's plot by donating 295 acres (119 ha) of the redwood forest to the federal government, thus bypassing the local courts. Muir Woods became a national monument on January 9th, 1908 before the National Park Service existed when it was signed into law under the Antiquities Act by president Theodore Roosevelt . Prior to this, Muir Woods
5025-492: The title of " national monuments ." It also allows the president to reserve or accept private lands for that purpose. The aim is to protect all historic and prehistoric sites on United States federal lands and to prohibit excavation or destruction of these antiquities. With this act, this can be done much more quickly than going through the Congressional process of creating a national park . The Act states that areas of
5100-561: The trees". Once declared a national monument, Muir Woods was immediately protected and placed under the care of the United States Government. The Antiquities Act was the first of its kind to provide protection for natural resources. The original suggested name of the monument was the Kent Monument but Kent insisted the monument be named after naturalist John Muir , whose environmental campaigns helped to establish
5175-494: The use of the Antiquities Act in Alaska for withdrawals of greater than 5,000 acres (20 km ). The Trump administration conducted a review of 27 major designations to consider changes and Trump subsequently significantly reduced the size of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument and Bears Ears National Monument in Utah in 2017. Trump also lifted restrictions on commercial fishing at Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument . The legality of these actions
5250-468: Was called "Redwoods Canyon" before it was bought by the Kent family. The family bought the area to protect and preserve it and worked to get President Roosevelt to declare it a monument. In legislation written to protect Muir Woods, it was described as, "of extraordinary scientific interest and importance because of the primeval character of the forest in which it is located, and of the character, age and size of
5325-420: Was challenged in federal court, and President Biden restored the original areas and protections in 2021. Although some presidents have chosen to ignore the tradition of preservation of notable environmental or historic areas, no president has entirely undone a predecessor's monument. The United States Supreme Court has repeatedly upheld presidential proclamations under the Antiquities Act, ruling each time that
5400-472: Was designed that would create a parking reservation system, detailed road shoulder parking limits and enhanced parking enforcement in order to combat the negative externalities caused by Muir Woods. However, according to the Mount Tam Task Force, created to address the traffic concerns created by Muir Woods, the policy aimed towards fixing the issue has proved ineffective. The introduction of
5475-550: Was later enlarged to nearly 2,800,000 acres (11,000 km ) by subsequent Antiquities Act proclamations and for many years was the largest national park system unit. Petrified Forest , Grand Canyon , and Great Sand Dunes , among several other national parks , were also originally proclaimed as national monuments and later designated national parks by Congress. Substantial opposition did not materialize until 1943, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed Jackson Hole National Monument in Wyoming . He did this to accept
5550-400: Was observed, along with three redds, a modest increase over the 2007–2008 spawning season. Statewide the coho population is 1% of its levels in the 1940s and the fish have vanished from 90% of the streams they formerly visited. The Watershed Alliance of Marin reported that no salmon returned to spawn in 2014, prompting concerns that the fish may now be extirpated from the creek. Muir Woods
5625-765: Was to have opened the United Nations Conference on International Organization for which delegates from 50 countries met in San Francisco to draft and sign the United Nations Charter . On May 19, the delegates held a commemorative ceremony in tribute to his memory in Muir Woods' Cathedral Grove, where a dedication plaque was placed in his honor. The monument was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 2008. The main attraction of Muir Woods are
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