John Muir Tartan

The original John Muir tartan was created in 1998 to mark the 150th anniversary of Muir’s arrival in the United States and was officially launched in 2002 at a reception in Pleasanton, in the San Francisco Bay Area. During the event, Muir’s grandson accepted an inscribed tartan clock on behalf of the Muir family. The colours of the tartan were carefully chosen in collaboration with Muir’s descendants to reflect the vision he shared with the world: a fragile Earth spinning silently through infinite space, inviting us all to appreciate its beauty.

John Muir, born in Scotland, is widely regarded as the father of America’s National Parks and is celebrated as one of the world’s first environmentalists and conservationists. He dedicated his life to preserving natural landscapes and the flora and fauna they sustain. The tartan’s designer, David McGill, aptly describes Muir as the "First Citizen of the Universe."

In April 2013, a postcard featuring the John Muir tartan and an imagined letter from Muir to his wife, Louie, was distributed during the "In the Footsteps of John Muir" photographic exhibition by Ken Paterson at Federal Hall in New York City.