"There can be nothing in the world more beautiful than the Yosemite, the groves of the giant sequoias... our people should see to it that they are preserved for their children and their children's children forever, with their majestic beauty all unmarred."

In 1903, President Roosevelt spent three days hiking and camping throughout Yosemite National Park with environmentalist John Muir. This trip helped convince Roosevelt to federally protect five national parks and over 150 national forests.