Julia Lorraine Hill (born February 18, 1974) is an American environmental activist and author.
She is best known as Julia Butterfly Hill. She spent 738 days living in a California redwood tree to stop it from being logged.
Who is Julia Hill?
Julia Butterfly Hill is an American environmentalist, author, and public speaker. She gained worldwide attention for living in an ancient redwood tree named Luna for 738 days.
Her tree-sit ran from December 10, 1997, to December 18, 1999. She undertook the protest to stop Pacific Lumber Company from cutting down the 1,000-year-old tree.
Hill eventually negotiated an agreement with the company to save Luna. She wrote about the experience in her 2000 book, The Legacy of Luna.
Early Life of Julia Hill
Julia Lorraine Hill was born on February 18, 1974, in Mount Vernon, Missouri. Her father, Dale Hill, worked as a traveling minister, and her mother was Kathleen Anne DelGallo.
She has two brothers, Mike and Dan, and is the middle child. Until she was about ten years old, the family traveled together in a 32-foot camper.
The family later settled in Arkansas. Hill was largely homeschooled during this period.
In August 1996, she suffered serious injuries in a car accident. The crash required nearly a year of physical and cognitive therapy, and she credits the recovery with reshaping her sense of purpose.
Julia Hill Age
Julia Hill is 52 years old as of June 21, 2026, born on February 18, 1974. Their zodiac sign is Aquarius.
She remains an active public speaker on environmental issues. In April 2026, she spoke at a Save the Bay event in Santa Cruz opposing expanded offshore drilling.
Julia Hill Ethnicity and Nationality
Julia Hill is American. She was born and raised in the United States, with early childhood years spent in Missouri and Pennsylvania.
Her family later settled in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Hill grew up in a devout Christian household led by her minister father.
Julia Hill Education
Hill’s formal schooling was limited and largely informal. She was homeschooled by her parents for much of her childhood.
She began taking college courses at age 16. Hill did not complete a traditional university degree, choosing instead to open her own restaurant at age 18.
Despite the lack of a formal degree, Hill later received an honorary Doctorate of Humanities from New College of California. The honorary degree recognized her environmental activism rather than completed coursework.
Julia Hill Career
Early Career
Before her activism began, Hill worked in restaurant management following her car accident recovery. In 1997, she traveled west and visited California’s redwood forests, an experience she has described as a turning point.
She soon connected with activists in Humboldt County who were staging tree-sits. These protests aimed to block logging by the Pacific Lumber Company.
Hill volunteered for what was meant to be a short rotation. No one else stepped forward at the time.
Major Works and Contributions
On December 10, 1997, Hill climbed roughly 180 feet into a redwood tree nicknamed Luna. She remained there for 738 days, descending on December 18, 1999.
She lived on a small platform through storms, high winds, and repeated attempts by the logging company to force her down. Hill ultimately reached an agreement that protected Luna and a buffer zone of surrounding trees.
She co-founded the Circle of Life Foundation in 1999 while still in the tree. The organization focused on environmental education and sustainable living.
In 2002, Hill was arrested and deported from Ecuador. She had been protesting an Occidental Petroleum pipeline project through an Andean cloud forest.
The following year, she became a vocal advocate for tax redirection. Hill withheld around $150,000 in federal taxes and redirected the funds toward community and environmental programs instead.
Current Position
Hill continues to work as a speaker, author, and advisor on environmental causes. She has helped found additional initiatives, including the Engage Network and We The Planet.
She remains publicly active in 2026, speaking out against expanded offshore drilling and other environmental threats. In April 2026, she addressed a crowd in Santa Cruz, California, on the issue.
Julia Hill Books and Publications
Hill is the author of The Legacy of Luna: The Story of a Tree, a Woman, and the Struggle to Save the Redwoods, published in 2000. The memoir detailed her tree-sit experience and became widely read internationally.
She co-authored One Makes the Difference: Inspiring Actions That Change Our World in 2002. The book focused on everyday actions individuals can take for the environment.
Hill also self-published a collection of writing and artwork titled Becoming. Her work has informed children’s books and academic profiles about her activism.
A Broadway musical called Redwood, inspired by her story, premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2024. It opened on Broadway on February 13, 2025.
Julia Hill Awards and Honors
Hill has received recognition for her environmental work over several decades. She became the youngest person ever elected to the Ecology Hall of Fame.
George magazine, under John F. Kennedy Jr., named her one of the twenty most influential women in politics. She also received the VFW Veterans for Peace Award and the Bioneers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Activism.
In 2016, the American Psychological Association honored her with a Presidential Citation. The citation recognized her work in environmental activism and empowerment.
She was also featured in the California State History Museum’s “California’s Remarkable Women” exhibit. Hill has addressed the United Nations Commission on Human Settlements as part of her advocacy work.
Julia Hill Net Worth
Julia Hill’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Estimates from various sources vary widely and do not agree on a consistent figure.
Her income has come primarily from speaking engagements, book royalties, and her work with environmental organizations.
She has been vocal about redirecting much of her own money toward causes she supports rather than accumulating personal wealth.
Julia Hill Social Media
Hill maintains an active presence on social media under her official accounts. Her main Instagram account is @julia_butterfly_hill_official.
She also posts on Facebook through her official page. Her social posts often focus on environmental news, activism updates, and reflections tied to her ongoing work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Julia Hill known for?
Julia Hill is known for living in a California redwood tree named Luna for 738 days to stop it from being logged. The protest ran from December 1997 to December 1999.
How old is Julia Hill?
Julia Hill is 52 years old as of June 2026. She was born on February 18, 1974.
Where did Julia Hill study?
Hill was largely homeschooled and began college courses at age 16 without completing a degree. She later received an honorary doctorate from New College of California.
What books has Julia Hill written?
Her best-known book is The Legacy of Luna, published in 2000. She also co-authored One Makes the Difference in 2002.
Who is Julia Hill’s spouse?
Julia Hill’s relationship status is not publicly confirmed. She keeps her personal life largely private.
What is Julia Hill’s net worth?
Julia Hill’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. Reliable, consistent figures are not available.
The Bottom Line
Julia Hill’s defining achievement remains her 738-day tree-sit in Luna, which ended with a 1999 agreement to protect the redwood. Her 2000 memoir, The Legacy of Luna, brought her story to a global audience.
She grew up homeschooled in a traveling minister’s family before a 1996 car accident reshaped her path. That background still informs the plainspoken, faith-rooted tone of her public talks today.
In 2026, Hill continues speaking out on environmental issues, including offshore drilling expansion in California. She remains an active voice in the movement she helped define nearly three decades ago.
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