From Sea to SHining Sea:

Katharine Lee Bates and the Story of America the Beautiful

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: KATHARINE LEE BATES AND THE STORY OF AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL examines the remarkable life of Katharine Lee Bates, poet, professor, and social reformer; an unsung hero best known for authoring America the Beautiful who was deeply committed to the beauty and principles of our country.

America The Beautiful may be America’s most beloved song. Its words are found in nearly every hymn book in the country. It’s much easier to sing than The Star-Spangled Banner, much more welcoming, much less militaristic. There have been numerous proposals to make it our national anthem, most notably by music legend Ray Charles. It celebrates our natural beauty and makes a powerful appeal for justice, brotherhood and inclusion. It has been sung at inaugurations, demonstrations, and sporting events like the Indianapolis 500 and others, in operatic, folk, country and other styles.

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. It is a tale that does not ignore the fact that the United States has often not lived up to its promises and ideals, yet it honors the unbroken chain of Americans who, honoring those ideals and loving their country deeply, strived to make it all it can be. A 35 minute version of the film will begin distribution in January 2025.

Writer/Director: John de Graaf

Producers: Laura Pacheco, Laurence Cotton and Karen Olcott

Executive Producers: Vada Manager and Kevin White

Photographers: Greg Davis and Diana Wilmar

Editor: Greg Davis

Researcher: Tessa Campbell