About an hour east from the popular attraction Muir Woods National Monument that bears John Muir’s name is his home in Martinez, CA. The site is situated right off the highway, making it an easy place to stop at. The home is in the midst of suburban sprawl, but maintains it’s natural presence, which seems fitting for the home of Muir. The National Park Site has a small parking lot and visitor center that contains only a few exhibits. There is also a short film that is available for visitors to learn more about Muir and conservation work. (The film is currently unavailable in-person due to the pandemic, but is available here).

The main attraction is the house and grounds themselves. The home is situated on top of a large hill, and is both grand and simple at the same time. Inside the ceilings are quite tall and there are select pieces throughout the space preserving the style at the time. The furnishings are nice, but simple. There are two main floors, with the living spaces on the bottom and the bedrooms on the second floor. There is also a third floor that is the attic that is filled with a few small exhibits and an assortment of stuff. Additionally, there is a small staircase that leads to a copula above the attic that provides expansive views. A special feature of the home is the attached sun porch/green house that is still maintained and contains some lovely greenery.

One of the main points of interest is the spaces reflecting where Muir would often write to encourage the protection of natural features. Muir was a prolific writer and these writings helped to lead the creation and protection of the natural spaces, including the formation of the National Park System. The rest of the site consists of a trail that meanders through the fruit trees that Muir loved, as well an additional structure, the Martinez Adobe, that is part of Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail.

For those who want to continue to learn more about Muir and experience life as he did, just down the road is Mt. Wanda. The mountain is where Muir would often walk with his children to be in nature. The final stopping point is the family grave site. Besides the sites to visit, there is also a variety of additional options for visitors to explore including a cell phone led tour, Ranger led tours, and seasonal events. When we visited we were able to stop by the visitor center, explore the grounds, and visit Muir’s home. It was a nice visit that only took about an hour and a half, making for a great little activity.

Side Note: If you would like to learn more about the National Park System and John Muir, there is a great documentary by Ken burns that talks about the history and creation of the National Park System.