The Sierra Club: Environmental Activism and US Empire, 1892–1900

Abstract

Formed in 1892, the Sierra Club (SC) is the oldest US environmental organization concerned with the environment within US borders and beyond. Yet, to date, the Club has not received much attention from historians. Using personal papers of SC members, government documents, and newspaper articles, this paper unpacks the Club’s role in important environmental issues, such as the sustainability of natural resources and the creation of national parks and commissions. It assesses the impact of its activism on these key events, on themes such as preservation, conservation, “wilderness” tourism, and the growth of the US empire.