Moran in Teton County, Wyoming — The American West (Mountains)

Roots of Wilderness

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, August 1, 2021

1. Roots of Wilderness Marker

Inscription. The Wilderness Act of 1964 preserves the “wilderness character” of public lands by restricting human influence and activities to lands designated as Wilderness.

Conservationists Margaret (Mardy) and Olaus Murie believed strongly that wilderness lands should remain undeveloped. The Muries, along with Wilderness Society member Howard Zahniser met regularly at the Murie Ranch—here in what is now Grand Teton National Park—over two decades to craft language that would become the basis for the Wilderness Act.

“We have a profound fundamental need for areas of the earth where we stand without our mechanisms that make us immediate masters over our environment”
Howard Zahniser, principal author of the Wilderness Act

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Environment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1964.

Location. 43° 45.094′ N, 110° 43.359′ W. Marker is in Moran, Wyoming, in Teton County. It is on South Jenny Lake Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 S Jenny Lakr Drive, Alta WY 83414, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is

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in Greater Yellowstone.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Capturing Dudes (a few steps from this marker); The Park's First Visitor Area (a few steps from this marker); The Crandall Studio (a few steps from this marker); Ranger Station (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Wonderfully Grand (about 600 feet away); A Lake Named Jenny (about 700 feet away); An Unmapped Range (about 700 feet away); Jenny Lake (approx. 1.2 miles away).

Gateway to Wilderness Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ian Lefkowitz, August 1, 2021

2. Gateway to Wilderness Marker

A second geologic marker reflects on the wilderness of Jenny Lake.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2025, by Ian Lefkowitz of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.