the john muir exhibit - life - california hall of fame
John Muir Inducted in California Hall of Fame
John Muir included as an Inaugural Inductee in the new California Hall of
Fame
at the California Museum of History, Women and the
Arts
On
July 31, 2006, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria
Shriver announced the creation of the California
Hall of Fame,
a
groundbreaking institution extolling the inspirational contributions of extraordinary
Californians who have made their mark on the state, the nation and the world.
John Muir is included among the first 13 inaugural leaders, trailblazers
and legends to be inducted in the new California Hall of Fame. Other inductees
include Cesar Chavez, Walt Disney, Amelia Earhart, Clint Eastwood,
Frank Gehry, David Ho, M.D., Billie Jean King, Ronald Reagan, Sally
Ride, Alice Walker and
the Hearst and Packard Families. The California Museum website include an entry
on John Muir as an inductee in the new California Hall of Fame, using the
Sierra Club
John Muir Exhibit's
short Muir biography.
In presenting the first inductees, First Lady Maria Shriver described Muir
as "the person who graces our quarter - the California
Quarter. He's the founding
father of our environmental movement, of our national park system, who taught
us to respect and take care of the land that we live on, and the air we breathe."
Conceived by First Lady Maria Shriver, the California Hall of Fame was established
to recognize individuals who embody California’s innovative
spirit.
Inductees will come from all walks of life, and are people who have made
distinguished achievements across many fields including the arts, education,
business
and labor, science, sports, philanthropy and public service. Inductees (or
their families for posthumous awards) will be installed
at a formal, annual event each year at the California Museum for
History, Women and the Arts in Sacramento.
The accomplishments of each inductee will be made part of the permanent record
in the California State Archives and become the subject of a year-round education
campaign. In addition, their unique stories and personal achievements will
be
showcased at the California Museum in a permanent exhibit serving as the visual,
encyclopedic record of the California Hall of Fame and its inductees.
A California Hall of Fame selection committee, comprising representatives
from the
California Museum, the California Arts Council, and the Governor’s and
First Lady’s
Offices, established selection and eligibility criteria for inductees. The
inaugural
inductees were selected in consultation with California historian Kevin Starr,
California
State Archivist Nancy Zimmelman and California State Librarian Susan Hildreth.
The
committee’s recommendations were presented to Governor Schwarzenegger
in May
2006 for approval.
The inaugural Hall of Fame induction
ceremony was held on December 6,
2006, at the California Museum in Sacramento, with the presentation of the
first " Spirit of California" Medals by Governor Schwarzenegger and First
Lady Maria Shriver. At this event, each inductee (or their family representative)
in the Hall of Fame introduced the next inductee on the list. John Muir was
introduced by Amy Butler, niece of Amelia Earheart, who described Muir as "one
of the most beloved figures in the history of California, because he devoted
his life to preserving the state's natural beauty." She recognized his role
in founding the Sierra Club,
"to this day, one of the world's most important and influential environmental
organizations." Ross Hanna, Muir's grandson, accepted the posthumous award
for John Muir.
After the December 6 ceremony, the California Hall of Fame exhibt was opened.
This exhibit is comprised of a stunning installation in the Museum lobby, as
well as a phenomenal collection of over 100 historic and original items representing
the lives and legacies of the inductees, located on the second floor.
The Spirit of California Medal (depicted in upper right of this page) is the
tangible representation of the inductee’s
installation into the California Hall of Fame. This Medal will be given to
inductees (or their families, if a posthumous award) each year at a formal
state induction ceremony.
The California Museum inspires men, women, and children
to dream the California dream and to dare to make their mark on history. The
California Museum is located at 1020 O Street in Sacramento. For more information
about the museum, visit www.californiamuseum.org.
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