A new PBS adventure show, America: The Land We Live In, premieres on Feb. 23 and explores the hidden treasures of the American Southeast — with Charleston as one of the pilot season’s key locations.
The show’s co-hosts Sophia Michelen and Doc Varn follow the trail of America’s first travel book published in the late 1800s, Picturesque America, and travel from the majestic Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, to fly-fishing and exploring in Tennessee, to Lowcountry experiences in and around Charleston.
Following a Picturesque view
In the show’s trailer, the hosts use the drawings and descriptions from the book — with no GPS or coordinates — to retrace the steps of the early adventurers who created America’s first travel guide. Michelen told the Charleston City Paper she and Varn see themselves as following in the footsteps (literally and conceptually) of the pair behind the book: Harry Fenn, an artist, and William Cullen Bryant, a writer.
“It was written in the late 1800s, post-Civil War during the Reconstruction era,” Michelen said. “It was made in a time of really a very divided country, and it was made to try to get people out there and see unity in the country through art, natural beauty and oral histories and culture.
“I think it’s kind of ironic that we’re at this point in history where we’re in a divided country, and Doc and I are following that path, trying to also bridge the division, trying to show our humanity and bring value to it,” she added.
With a new twist around every corner, the pair’s treasure hunt across the Southeast also uncovers the “then and now” of each depicted location.
“In the book, the writer mentions, ‘I wonder if these locations are going to be there 150 years later.’ And here we are nearly 150 years later, so we’re kind of checking to see if they are,” Michelen said. “Doc and I always say, maybe we are the ones to ask now if these locations and this nature will be here in the next 150 years.”
A focus on eco-friendly travel is another aspect that makes the show impactful, she added.
“It’s about traveling through the respect of preservation. For example, when we were on the trail, that means being mindful of trail rules and just common sense, not leaving anything behind. We made sure we didn’t bring extra cars, just what we needed. We really tried to make sure to be very cognizant of our impact and our footprint.”
And another part of eco-friendly travel explored in the show, Michelen said, is approaching new places with a sense of curiosity and open-mindedness, investing time to learn about the area’s history, culture and residents.
The stop in Charleston
In the Charleston segment, the hosts interview Lowcountry artists including Jonathan Green and Mary Edna Fraser. They go crabbing with Tia Clark of “Casual Cabbing with Tia,” talk with the advocacy group Charleston Waterkeepers and enjoy food and learn of Lowcountry cuisine traditions from Chef (and City Paper contributor) Amethyst Ganaway.
From learning basket weaving traditions with the Gullah Geechee community to visiting historic homes like 20 South Battery — Varn and Michelen focus on learning and sharing oral histories in America: The Land We Live In.
“Meeting with Amethyst, she taught us that it’s not just about the food, it’s about the oral histories that come with the cooking,” Michelin said. “It’s about preserving the traditions — it’s not just preserving the taste, it’s really preserving the legacy of all that came before it.”
There’s over 900 locations in the book. So Michelen said she, Varn and the rest of the crew behind the show hope to continue to explore and share the rich legacies of different American regions through the program. For viewers at home, Michelen said her hope is that you’ll be inspired to do some digging into your own personal history.
“You don’t need to be doing what we’re doing exactly the way we’re doing it to get the same feeling,” she said. “Get old photographs of your family in your hometown and try to recreate it. Learn the stories that go with that photograph and where it was taken. Or go to your local library and find an antique art book, and try to look for locations, because it’s really not about the destination. It really is about the journey. The journey is where you learn the value of what you’re seeing and the need to preserve it.
“You don’t have to travel far. You can go down the block — especially in Charleston — and find interest in old buildings or your own family history. So I hope people really get that from the show, valuing what preservation means on a personal level.”
America: The Land We Live In is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning Feb. 23 (check local listings) and streaming on PBS.org.
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