Wisconsin Friends of John Muir

Want to join me in making a difference? John Muir, the legendary environmentalist and author, founder of the Sierra Club, considered to be the Father of our National Parks, was an early advocate for the preservation of wilderness for its beauty and intrinsic value.  His boyhood home of Montello, Wisconsin provided his early inspiration, and Wisconsin Friends of John Muir is working to preserve Muir's boyhood landscapes to inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.

The Wisconsin Friends of John Muir (WFJM) and Groundswell Land Trust, seek to purchase a 94 acre, historically significant property on Mulhern (Knight’s) Lake in the Township of Buffalo, Marquette County, Wisconsin.  The property includes the location where Daniel Muir re-baptized John Muir and his other children after emigrating from Scotland and settling in Marquette County.  The Mulhern Lake acreage includes shoreland, a marsh, spring seepage areas, open fields and woodlands and is adjacent to French Creek North State Natural Area.  

The Mulhern Lake property has recently come up for sale (4 parcels are slated for auction in May 2019) and will most likely be purchased and subdivided into smaller lots if the effort to preserve this cultural and historic site is not successful.  Time is of the essence as we ask you to help us protect this property from development and promote the legacy of John Muir. 

Your donation will help us protect this historically significant Muir site from development, interpret Muir’s history at this site, and preserve and manage the property for public education, wildlife, native plant habitat, research and enjoyment.

How Can You Help?

· Your individual donation - which helps match a $150,000 stewardship grant that has already been secured - will help Groundswell Land Trust and WFJM purchase the property, protect its natural conservation features and beauty, and interpret its cultural and historic significance as a part of the John Muir Legacy.

· Share this request for funds on Facebook to encourage others to donate!

· Contact businesses and Foundations with whom you have a relationship and request support for the project.

Thanks in advance for your tax-deductible contribution to this ambitious effort.