Conservationist and prolific nature writer John Muir (1838-1914) is famous for the pivotal role he played in protecting Yosemite Valley and the Tuolumne Meadows area of this national park. Muir also founded the Sierra Club. While his legacy is everywhere you look in the park, it takes a very special actor to capture the spirit of John Muir for today’s audiences.
Lee Stetson is that man. Every summer in Yosemite Valley, Stetson’s live performances are riveting, bringing John Muir back to life through his historical reenactments. Stetson engagingly looks and acts the part, with his long white beard, Scottish accent and authentic period dress. Four evenings per week from May to September, Stetson performs his one-man show for an all-ages audience in Yosemite Village. He talks in a down-to-earth way about wildlife, conservation and the importance of nature – all of the same issues that the actual John Muir cared about, too.
These special shows are among Yosemite National Park’s most popular experiences, especially since Stetson recently portrayed John Muir in Ken Burns film, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” For performance schedules and tickets (fee applies), check the park’s seasonal newspaper, the Yosemite Guide. You can buy tickets at the Valley Visitor Center’s bookstore or from the tour desk of any park concessionaire lodge or hotel.
