Noted naturalist publishes articles and books celebrating U.S. wildlands.
On May 28, 1892, California conservationists, led by Muir, create the Sierra Club.
Aldo Leopold, Arthur Carhart, Robert Sterling Yard, and others raise the idea of a national wilderness preservation policy in their writings.
At Leopold’s urging, the Forest Service establishes the first wilderness area, the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico on June 3, 1924.
Bob Marshall leads the campaign for a national system of wilderness areas. More than 14 million acres of “primitive areas” are established on national forests.
Yard, Marshall, and Leopold are among the new organization's leaders.
He becomes executive director of the Wilderness Society and goes on to draft the Wilderness Act and lead the eight year campaign for its enactment.
Zahniser, David Brower of the Sierra Club, and other conservation leaders work to build public support for wilderness protection.
The first, bipartisan wilderness legislation is introduced by Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D-MN) and Rep. John P. Saylor (R-PA).
The Senate passes the measure, endorsed by President John F. Kennedy, by a bipartisan vote of 78-8, leading to House action in 1964.
