Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years
DIRECTIONS:
From San Francisco: I-80 eastbound, exit at Highway 4 and follow the signs for Martinez and Concord. Exit at Alhambra Avenue and turn left at bottom of the ramp. Cross beneath the freeway and railroad tracks. The visitor center parking lot will be immediately on the left hand side.
From I-680: Exit at the Highway 4 ramp, westbound toward Martinez and Richmond. Get off at the Alhambra Avenue exit and turn right at the bottom of the ramp. The visitor center parking lot will be immediately on your left.
TRANSPORTATION:
Access via interstate and state highways. Martinez is served by AMTRAK. Contra Costa County Transit, Line #116, provides access to the Site with connections to AMTRAK, the Pleasant Hill BART station and the Walnut Creek BART station.
FEES, COSTS, RATES:
$2.00 per adult. Children 16 and under are free.
FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
Visitor Center/Exhibits:
Thirty-minute film about John Muir shown six times daily. There are exhibits in the visitor center, Muir House and the Martinez Adobe.
Trails, Roads:
A paved walking path goes from the visitor center to the Muir House and orchards throughout the Site. Mt. Wanda has a one mile, self-guided loop trail and several miles of fire road.
Programs/Activities:
The house can be seen on our daily guided tour or self-guided tour. Bird and wild flower walks are offered throughout the winter and spring.
Lodging and camping facilities:
Available in immediate area; none in the park.
Food/supplies:
Several supermarkets and shopping areas are in close proximity to the Site.
Other Concessions/NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:
A bookstore is located in the visitor center and is managed by Southwest Parks and Monuments Association.
JOHN MUIR NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE BOOKSTORE
Publications are available in the following categories:
Accessibility:
The first floor of the Muir House and the grounds are wheelchair accessible. Scripts of the movie shown in the visitor center are available for the hearing impaired.
RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE:
Visitation to the Muir House and Martinez Adobe; walks through the grounds; hikes on Mt. Wanda; bird watching and wild flower observation; attendance at numerous special events.
RESERVATIONS/PERMITS:
Reservations for school and other educational groups should be made at least two weeks in advance. Any requests for programs in March, April and May should be made at least a month in advance. Special use and filming permits should be submitted at least a month in advance and are approved on a case-by-case basis. For additional information concerning reservations, special use and filming permits, call (510) 228-8860.
BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:
An hour and a half to visit the house and grounds; two hours for a hike on Mt. Wanda.
SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:
April: John Muir's Birthday Celebration. An annual celebration of Muir's Scottish heritage, traditionally held on the last Saturday of April.
December: Las Posadas. This Mexican tradition celebrates the story of Christmas and is centered around the Martinez Adobe.
Victorian Christmas. The Muir house is decorated in accordance to Victorian era and Muir family traditions.
Other special programs include: bird walks, wild flower walks, monthly victorian piano programs and a junior ranger program.
ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:
Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, Danville. This National Park Site preserves the home of the Pulitzer prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill. Call (925) 838-0249 for tour information and reservations.
Benicia State Capitol State Historic Park, Benicia. This California state park preserves the old state capitol building (1852-53). Open daily 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. (707) 745- 3385.
Mount Diablo State Park. From the summit of Mt.Diablo, the tallest peak in the Bay Area, you can see more than 40,000 square miles of California! Open daily, camping available. (925) 837-2525
JOHN MUIR
Interested in learning more about John Muir? Check out these sites:
The John Muir Exhibit
This on-line exhibit, maintained by Sierra Club volunteer Harold Wood, contains a tremendous amount of information concerning Muir's life, legacy and accomplishments
Dunbar's John Muir Association (DJMA)
Check out this site exploring the birthplace of John Muir: Dunbar, Scotland. DJMA is currently spearheading a campaign to purchase the home Muir lived in as a child.
The John Muir Centre
The John Muir Centre, also in Dunbar, is dedicated to promoting a greater appreciation of John Muir as the Scottish pioneer of nature preservation.
Canadian Friends of John Muir
The Canadian Friends of John Muir focus on the time he spent living in Canada (1864-1866).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Questions? Comments? More Information? Let us know! JOMU_Interpretation@nps.gov
You can also write the Superintendent at: John Muir National Historic Site, 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553
Call us at (925) 228-8860.
