All his life, Bob Marshall craved adventure and being in nature. Bob was born in New York City in 1901 into a German-Jewish family. Outside his window, taxis honked and buses belched smoky air. But when summer came, Bob and his family left the city for the Adirondack Mountains. There, his parents taught him to identify plants, and to love and cherish nature. Bob learned these lessons well, and he decided he would protect the wild places of the world when he grew up. His college studies of forestry, environmental science, and plant physiology led him to jobs with the U.S. Forest Service and as Chief of Forestry with the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In 1935, Bob joined like-minded folks to form the Wilderness Society, whose efforts eventually resulted in the Wilderness Act of 1964. Through his own efforts, Bob Marshall saved five million acres of American wilderness. Alongside others, he contributed to the protection of over 110 million acres of wilderness. Though he died young at the age of 38, Bob’s dedication to preserving the wild places left a lasting legacy. "Bob Marshall: Defender of the Wilderness," the award-winning illustrated children's book published by SDHS Press, is available to order at https://www.sdhspress.com/books/bob-marshall. #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth #bobmarshall #bobmarshallwilderness (fb)

We know there’s curiosity about when the building will be reopen to the public, but this might be pushing it too far… (if you want building updates, make sure to check out our website: https://history.sd.gov/museum/remodel.aspx) (fb)