Muir Woods Centennial Walk: Redwood Canyon Then and Now

During 2007, the centennial of Muir Woods was celebrated. The area was named a National Monument by Teddy Roosevelt in 1907 to preserve its abundance of wildlife and old-growth coastal redwood trees. Throughout the spring and summer of 2007, naturalist Evelyn Rose conducted two-mile tours through Muir Woods, where she spoke about how the redwoods have been conserved and preserved over the last 100 years. These "Muir Woods Centennial Walks" were well-attended and lauded by local press. Even though the area has been preserved by the government, inevitable changes due to human industry and development did occur in Muir Woods between 1907 and 2007, and Rose explained and described these changes.

Muir Woods is part of the Golden Gate Recreational Area, one of the largest parks in the nation. Located about a half-hour north of San Francisco, Muir Woods is home to some of the rare coastal redwoods found in California and Oregon, and was named a National Monument by Teddy Roosevelt over 100 years ago. The entire Golden Gate National Recreation Area is a wonderful place to visit, as the park encompasses beaches, coastal nature preserves, mountains, city views, and of course, groves of coastal redwoods.