Shaping the Wild: A Case Study of the Sierra Club’s Impact on American National Parks

Abstract

The U.S. national park movement established a global precedent for conservation, driven largely by non-governmental organizations. This study investigates this phenomenon through an in-depth case study of the Sierra Club, arguing that it was not merely a participant but a key institutional architect of the park system. Using historical analysis, the paper traces the Club’s evolution through three distinct functions: as a defender of existing parks, a forger of new conservation policy, and a guardian of the movement’s ideals. The findings demonstrate that the Club’s strategic advocacy created profound and lasting impacts on legislation, governance, and public culture. By revealing how civil society can shape national heritage, this research repositions the Sierra Club as a primary force in American environmentalism and a model for non-governmental influence on conservation worldwide.