On This Day in 1838: Naturalist & Author John Muir Was Born

April 21, 1838: On this day, John Muir was born in Dunbar, Scotland. This naturalist, explorer, conservationist and author, for whom the 550-acre Muir Woods National Monument was named, emigrated to the US from Scotland in 1849.

His activism helped to save the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. He founded the Sierra Club, which is the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States.

To this day, his writings are influential and commonly discussed in books, journals, and environmental circles. His prose is often quoted in books by nature photographer, Ansel Adams.

Muir died in Los Angeles, California on December 24, 1914.

Below is a segment from the Ken Burns documentary "The National Parks: America's Best Idea." If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend watching it. Incredible history and beautifully edited.

On This Day in 1909: North Pole Discovered

April 6, 1909: On this day, Robert E. Peary reached the North Pole after several failed attempts (and 23 years of effort).

The team consisted of:

• Peary, leader of the expedition

• Matthew A Henson, who had served with Peary since 1886 as the ship's cook, carpenter,  blacksmith, and Peary's coexplorer and valuable assitant

• Four Eskimo guides: Coquesh, Ootah, Eginwah and Seegloo

They sailed July 17, 1908, on the ship Roosevelt, wintering on Ellesmere Island. After a grueling trek with dwindling food supplies, Henson and two of the Eskimo guides were first to reach the Pole. An exhausted Peary arrived 45 minutes later and confirmed their location.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook, surgeon on an earlier expedition with Peary, claimed to have reached the Pole first, but that could not be substantiated and the National Geographic Society credited the Peary expedition.

The wording of this sign erected by scientists near their North Pole camp in 2003 had to be changed because of the rapid rate of the ice drifting.