Public Leisure Service: Muir Woods National Monument

by Frances Ha

Muir Woods National Monument is a unit of the U.S. National Park Service located in Marin County, California. It is a part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA), which surrounds the San Francisco Bay area and is one of the most visited units of the National Park system in the United States with over 13 million visitors a year. The monument consists of 559 acres of land, of which 240 acres are old-growth Coastal Redwood (Sequoia Sempervirens) forests.


The ancestors of redwood and sequoia trees grew throughout the United States from 150 million years ago, but today, the Sequoia Sempervirens can be found only in a narrow coastal belt from Monterey to Oregon. There were about 2 million acres of old-growth redwood forests in California, but since the logging industry came to California, most of them had been cut down by the early 20th century.
In 1905, An U.S. Congressman William Kent and his wife purchased 611 acres of land, only areas with old-growth redwood forests remained uncut, to protect the redwoods of Sequoia Canyon and the mountain above them. In 1907, a water company in Sausalito planned to flood the valley to dam Redwood Creek. To prevent this, Kent donated 295 acres of his property to the federal government.
On January 9, 1908, the land was declared as a national monument by President Theodore Roosevelt, becoming the 7th National Monument and the first created from land donated by a private individual. The original suggested name of the Monument was the “Kent Monument,” but Kent refused and requested it be named after a noted conservationist John Muir.




There are various employment opportunities at the Muir Woods. There are jobs with the National Park Service, such as a visitor use assistant, park guide, biological science technician, park ranger, and etc. You can find job openings and apply on the USAJobs website (http://www.usajobs.gov), the official job site for the United States Federal Government, by clicking “Basic Search” and typing in “NPS.” You must be a United States citizen to be eligible for employment. Working with the National Park Service, you can play a vital role in helping to preserve America’s natural, cultural and historic resources.
You can also find a job as a clerk at the cafe or gift shop in Muir Woods. Also, there are many internships and volunteering opportunities available at Muir Woods National Monument.

The current issue for the Muir Woods is protection and preservation of plants and animals at the Monument. The trees in Muir woods are known for their height and age. The tallest one is 258 feet. The average age of the redwoods in the Monument are between 500 and 800 years old, and the oldest one is at least 1,200 years old. The National Park Service used to remove all dead material from this forest to keep it clean and reduce fire threat until not a long ago, but not anymore. The trees that fall to the forest floor help keep the soil moist by soaking up rainwater and also serve as a shelter for many of the insects and mammals in the forest. The dead trees that remain standing are called “snags.” They provide home and nutrients to many insects, birds and mammals.
Muir Woods is home for over 50 species of birds. The number is relatively low because of the lack of insects due to the tannin in the trees and limited volume of flowers and fruits due to the shade of the redwoods. The Northern Spotted Owls and Pileated Woodpeckers can be seen occasionally in the forest, while their numbers decrease elsewhere. The National Park Service keeps monitoring the owls within the Monument.

Meaning of leisure defined by the Muir Woods National Monument is relaxation. The fresh air and quietness in the forest can relax you, getting rid of your stress.
Also, the Monument can be a great place for kids to meet the nature and learn about forests, especially for whom grew up in urban setting. That is why many students visit the Muir woods for their school field trip.










Overall, I really enjoyed visiting the Muir Woods.
The fresh, cool air gave me relaxation, and also I enjoyed looking at the old, huge trees.
The Muir Woods National Monument is a public leisure service. It is funded by tax dollars even though there is entrance fee of $5. Also, it is protecting and managing natural resources.
There are many pros for working at the Muir Woods National Monument. You can work in a beautiful, scenic place, and also the job is interesting and meaningful, giving you the pride of serving your nation and protecting the nature. Since it is a government job, there are many great benefits, such as tuition assistance, retirement benefits, excellent vacation and sick leave benefits.
The cons for working at the Muir Woods is that you might get paid lower than working at commercial leisure agencies. Also, people who do not like quiet environment or those who like urban settings might not like working at the Muir woods, getting bored soon.