
Lyceum to Features the Father of the National Parks
Mount Vernon – Continuing the 8th season of Elixir’s Chautauqua/Lyceum Series, this Thursday June 26 at 7 PM, Mike Petee will lead the audience through the world, the writings and life of America’s Naturalist and Father of the National Parks, John Muir. Opening the program will be Steve Ball, noted Civil War music expert, performing the songs of Stephen Foster.
John Muir was born in Scotland but immigrated to America at the age of 11. Living in the Wisconsin, his father had him working the farm upwards of 16 hours a day and would not allow John to go to school or read any book other than the Bible. By the age of 22 John had secretly awakened early each morning to read and invent gadgets that a neighbor encouraged him to take to the state fair where he met and convinced the Dean of the University of Wisconsin to allow him to come to school. After a factory accident that left him sightless in one eye, John struck out on a lifetime of exploration and love of all of God’s wilderness that lead to his teaming with Theodore Roosevelt and convincing him to help reserve the amazing wilderness that God gave America and to preserve that beauty for all future generation to enjoy.
Come and learn about this amazing man at ThePlace@TheWoodward [111 S. Main Street in downtown Mount Vernon] on Thursday June 26. Doors open at this first door facility at 6 PM and program starts at 7 PM. The program is presented on a donation basis with all funds going to the performers. For more information on this program or upcoming programs in the series, visit : www.elixirpresents.com, www.VisitKnoxOhio.org or call 740-392-6102.