Small creek running into Ennis Lake, once called Fountain Lake, John Muir's boyhood home in Wisconsin

A Small Creek, A National Impact

July 06, 20251 min read

John Muir’s Boyhood Home

While this may look like just a simple creek, the distant hillside (now private property) is the location of John Muir's childhood home in Wisconsin, before he went to the UW-Madison and beyond.

It’s Influence

The creek flows to Ennis Lake (originally called Fountain Lake when he lived there), which is behind me. (See lake below).

In his book, "The Story of my Boyhood and Youth", the natural environment around his home, including the lake, had great influence on John Muir.

Ennis Lake, once called Fountain Lake, John Muir's Wisconsin boyhood home

The Foundation of an Environmental Movement

Just imagine - this location started him on a path to ultimately found the Sierra Club, and become a great environmental spokesperson.

Who would have guessed by simply looking at the hillside, and the small stream, that it was the foundation of an environmental movement.

Small, with a Large Impact

One never knows how a small part of the world can impact the future of so many.

Back to Blog

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"If you do what you can do,

and I do what I can do,

together, we can make a difference.”

~ John Denver

All Images and Text © 2026 Drake Fleege, All rights reserved

Powder Hill Photography LLC

Hartford, Wisconsin