Howard Zahniser
Tionesta Township, Forest County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
Conservationist and architect of the National Wilderness Preservation System Act of 1964. Although he died four months before President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill his efforts led to the preservation of over 100 million acres across the nation. Zahniser was born in Franklin, Pa., and Tionesta became his hometown. An advocate for preserving wilderness area, he was executive director of The Wilderness Society & editor of its journal.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
Howard Zahniser, who made Tionesta his hometown, was the principal architect of the Wilderness Act of 1964. As executive director of The Wilderness Society and editor of its journal, he drafted and championed the legislation through years of political struggle, writing the law's memorable definition of wilderness as a place 'where man himself is a visitor who does not remain.' He died just months before President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill into law.
Why it matters
Zahniser's persistence gave the United States its first legal mechanism to protect wild land permanently, ultimately shielding more than 100 million acres and reshaping how Americans value undeveloped nature.
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Related people
- · Howard Zahniser
- · Lyndon B. Johnson
Related events
- · Wilderness Act of 1964
Themes & tags
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