The Historic Home of John Muir

The Strentzel/Muir House, built in 1882, is a Victorian Italianate mansion located on a knoll with a commanding view of Alhambra Valley. This historic home became John Muir's residence for the last 24 years of his life.

NPS photo/Luther Bailey

 

Muir House Banister Restoration Project: What to Expect

The restoration of the Muir House stairs banister is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 6th, 2025 and will take approximately one month to complete. During this time, the second floor and upper levels of the house will be closed to visitors for safety reasons.

Work Schedule:

• Monday through Friday
• 7 a.m. to late afternoon (3-5 p.m.)

Key Details:

• The project is expected to last for one month.
• Dust will be contained with plastic tarps.
• Occasional work vehicles may be near the house in the mornings.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to preserve this historic feature for future generations.

 

John Muir's desk in the "Scribble Den" of the Muir/Strentzel house.

NPS photo/Luther Bailey

Exploring the Strentzel/Muir House

Experience: Historical, Cultural, and Natural

Visit the Strentzel/Muir home, built in 1882 by Dr. John Strentzel, John Muir's father-in-law. When Dr. Strentzel passed away in 1890, Mrs. Strentzel invited the Muir family to move into the "big house" with her. This became John Muir's home for the last 24 years of his life.

The home is a 17-room, late Victorian (Italianate style) wood-frame mansion situated on a knoll with a commanding view of Alhambra Valley. This two-story structure features a full basement and attic, a cupola on the roof peak, 12-foot-high ceilings, and over 10,000 square feet of floor space. Designed by architects Wolfe and Son and built by contractors Sylvester and Langabee of San Francisco, the house is a remarkable piece of architectural history.

Learn more about this historic house during your visit, or explore our "Places" page for detailed information about the structure and layout of each floor.

Tips for Exploring the Strentzel/Muir House

• Accessibility: The house is a short walk from the visitor center, but up a small hill. Staff can provide a cart ride if you need assistance.
• No Food or Drinks: Opened food or drinks are not allowed in the house.
• Preservation: For safety and preservation reasons, please refrain from touching historic items or moving beyond barriers.
• Photography: Photos are allowed, but please be mindful of other guests.
• Staff Assistance: Feel free to ask questions of the staff, who are usually situated at the inside entrance.

The Strentzel/Muir House: In-Depth Details

The John Muir House, built in 1882 by Dr. John Strentzel, became John Muir's home for the last 24 years of his life after Mrs. Strentzel invited the Muir family to move in following Dr. Strentzel's death in 1890.

Architectural Highlights

• Design: This 17-room wood-frame mansion, designed in the Italianate style of the late Victorian period, stands on a knoll with a commanding view of Alhambra Valley.
• Structure: The two-story structure features a full basement, attic, and a cupola on the roof's peak. The rooms have 12-foot-high ceilings, and the house offers over 10,000 square feet of floor space.
• Architects: Wolfe and Son of San Francisco designed the house, which was built by contractors Sylvester and Langabee.

First Floor Layout

• Entrance Hall
• Formal Parlor
• Library: With a partially enclosed porch
• Family Parlor
• Dining Room: With an attached conservatory
• Kitchen
• Water Closets: Originally two, with one removed by John Muir in 1906.

Second Floor Layout

• Bedrooms: Six bedrooms, one water closet, and one bathroom. Three bedrooms have been restored: Muir's, the children's, and the governess's.
• Study: A large bedroom converted into a study by John Muir.
• Sierra Club Material: Another room contains Sierra Club material.

Historical Amenities

• Cost: Built and furnished at a cost of over $20,000.
• Plumbing and Lighting: Included indoor plumbing and gas lighting. By 1885, the house had a telephone, and an electrical system was installed just before Muir's death in 1914.
• Water System: Indoor plumbing relied on rainwater collected from the roof or water pumped from nearby wells, stored in redwood tanks in the attic. Overflow water was directed to a large brick cistern under the kitchen floor. After 1890, Muir added a three-story addition to the back of the house to support a large steel water tank in the attic.

Fireplaces and Renovations

• Fireplaces: Originally, there were seven imported Italian marble fireplaces, of which only three remain. Two were converted to brick, and two were removed.
• Mission-Style Fireplace: Muir built a large mission-style fireplace in the family parlor after the original was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake.
• Archways: Muir opened up the space between the two first-floor parlors with large archways and created a smaller one into the dining room during house repairs.

Preservation Efforts

Since the house was declared a National Historic Site in 1964, it has remained largely unaltered structurally. The National Park Service has undertaken an ongoing restoration program, using period furniture and artifacts, and reproducing wall and floor coverings and paintings to reflect the historic period.