John Clayton, author of Natural Rivals: John Muir, Gifford Pinchot, and the Creation of America’s Public Lands, shows how ideological forces in the 1890s united  behind the idea that a democratically-elected government should permanently own and manage land.

Through stories of both well-known and lesser-known heroes, Clayton helps attendees gain an understanding of the societal problems that public lands were designed to conquer. In discussions of the 1890s’ mass extinctions, income inequality, public skepticism about science, and dysfunctional Congress, audience members may gain historical perspective on today’s challenges as well.

For more information visit Elk River Arts & Lectures event page.