The Natural History of the Sierra Nevada is a chronicle of startling diversity and breathtaking grandeur.  It is the story of adaptation in the endless natural cycle. 

From the largest tree to the tiniest insect, the mountain range exhibits the vast spectrum of life and the processes that influence existence.  Sculpted granite, roaring cascades, towering forests, wildflower-draped meadows, thunderous storms, thousands of windswept crystalline lakes and streams inhabit the region and haunt our dreams.  It is a land browsed by mule deer and bighorn sheep, roamed by the mountain lion, guarded by the golden eagle, and enchanted by the flash of a rainbow trout.

And everywhere is the light, that special Sierra light.  A light that envelopes the trees, the peaks, and the creatures, bathing each subtle texture with a warm glow. 

The Natural History of the Sierra Nevada is a search for an understanding of nature and ourselves.  As the naturalist John Muir once stated, “As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and the avalanche. I'll acquaint myself with the glaciers and wild gardens, and get as near the heart of the world as I can.”

Welcome to the “Natural History Gallery” of the Sierra Nevada Virtual Museum.