Boundary Waters Legends: The Story of Sigurd Olson
Sigurd Olson’s passion for preservation combined with his talent for nature writing earned him icon status from environmentalists across the world. His enthusiasm for the outdoors began in childhood and only grew stronger with age. Sigurd developed a particular fondness for the Boundary Waters and found himself moving to Ely in 1923 to be closer to its wonders. His time exploring and serving as a guide provided the foundation for his beliefs that nature can yield spiritual experiences that people of contemporary society need. The Boundary Waters served as his sanctuary, and he dedicated his life to protecting it.
His conservation work began in the 1920s when he fought the building of both dams and roads in the Quetico-Superior region. He became one of the leading figures in conservation in the 1940s when he lead the crusade against airplanes flying into the Boundary Waters. Sigurd spoke with fervor about the importance of shielding the Wilderness from anything with the potential to disrupt its natural state, and his charisma would prove a valuable asset. He continued to speak for the Boundary Waters as a wilderness ecologist for the Izaak Walton League of America, president of the National Parks Association, president of the Wilderness Society and as an adviser to the Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service.
Beyond this, Sigurd aided in creating the Wilderness Act of 1964 which led to the birth of the National Wilderness Preservation System and legally established Wilderness as “an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.” He was also a vital participant in the founding of Voyageurs National Park and Point Reyes National Seashore, which prompted prominent environmental organizations such as the Sierra Club, Izaak Walton League, Wilderness Society and National Wildlife Federation to each present him with their greatest awards. It is achievements such as these that set Sigurd apart as an ecological trailblazer, idolized by many environmental activists.
If these accomplishments weren’t enough, Sigurd also experienced a successful career as a writer. In total, he published nine books. His books all center around the Wilderness he so valued and include many famous quotes such as, “Joys come from simple and natural things, mists over meadows, sunlight on leaves, the path of the moon over water.” In 1974, the stunning imagery and vivid descriptions he provided eventually won him the Burroughs Medal, which is the most prominent award in nature writing. The spiritual worth of the Wilderness is reflected through his various works, and it is this philosophic approach that sets Sigurd apart from other preservation leaders.
Ultimately, Sigurd’s commitment to conservation led to long-term protection for the Boundary Waters. He inspired a movement of people over the years, including all of us. Our greatest hope is that we will be able to uphold his outstanding legacy and keep the Boundary Waters protected in its glorious, natural state. Now, I end this post with the words of Sigurd Olson that keep us believing in our mission, “Wilderness to the people of America is a spiritual necessity, an antidote to the pressure of modern life, a means of regaining serenity and equilibrium.”
