Sigurd Olson and the Wilderness Act



When President Lyndon Johnson signed the National Wilderness Preservation Act in 1964, creating the nation's wilderness preservation system, it was the end of an eight-year struggle to turn the legislation into law. For Sigurd Olson, the hardest part came at the beginning, and again at the end. For now, this website focuses on the beginning period, 1956 and 1957. I recommend starting by reading the background article, and then the samples of related letters and documents.

[bullet]Background Article: Sigurd Olson and the Wilderness Act, 1956 and 1957

[bullet]To Sen. Hubert Humphrey, April 3, 1956 (re Wilderness Act)

[bullet]Correspondence with Frank Hubachek, April 1956 (re Wilderness Act)

[bullet]Correspondence with Frank Hubachek, April-May 1957 (re Wilderness Act)

[bullet]Correspondence with Sen. Humphrey and others about Wilderness Bill Uproar in Ely, Minn., July 1957

[bullet]Correspondence with Sen. Humphrey about Wilderness Bill Uproar in Ely, Minn., August 14-September 1, 1957

[bullet]Correspondence with Ely Miner and Howard Zahniser about Wilderness Bill Misinformation Being Spread in Ely, September 1957

[bullet]The Turning Point: Correspondence with Howard Zahniser and Sen. Hubert Humphrey about Positive Effect of Wilderness Bill Changes, September 27-October 4, 1957

[bullet]Getting the Support of the Quetico-Superior Committee, November 1957