A Proclamation
On January 9, 1908, with just the stroke of a pen, President Theodore Roosevelt used the powers of the Antiquities Act to create Muir Woods National Monument in Marin County, California.
This proclamation and others can be found under a set of records called Control Document Index cards on the General Land Office Branch website.
- Executive Orders
- Presidential Proclamations
- Public Land Orders
- Other documents, such as deeds that convey title to public lands to the United States, including quit claim deeds, acquired easements, condemnation judgments, and warranty deeds.
The Preservation of Giants
Coastal redwoods are the tallest trees in the world. They can reach over 300 feet high and 25 feet round. These trees can also live for over 2,000 years!
The Muir Woods preserve these magnificent giants on land that was gifted from a philanthropist and
conservationist named William Kent.
Based on these letters, you can see that Theodore Roosevelt wanted to name the monument after William Kent, but Mr. Kent insisted the monument be named after John Muir.