Documentary Film: From Sea to Shining Sea ~ Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America the Beautiful

America The Beautiful may be America’s most beloved song. It celebrates the country’s natural beauty and makes a powerful appeal for justice, brotherhood and inclusion. But few know about the fascinating life of Katharine Lee Bates; the woman who wrote the song. Her story should not be forgotten, nor its context. The first words of her poem America (later set to music and called America the Beautiful) came to Bates as she surveyed the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains from the broad summit of Colorado’s Pike’s Peak on July 22, 1893. This documentary examines her remarkable life as poet, professor, and social reformer; an unsung hero who was deeply committed to the beauty and principles of our country. The film will be introduced by its writer/director John de Graaf.

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