PRUDENTIAL
Smith Mountain Lake, VA (August 10, 2009) —Blue Ridge PBS is partnering with the Booker T. Washington National Monument and Prudential Waterfront Properties to celebrate the founding of America’s national parks on Tuesday, Aug. 25 in Hardy, VA.
The day begins with a free screening of Ken Burns’ new documentary film, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” at the Westlake Cinema. The first 200 guests will receive a free copy of Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery.”
Following the screening, the nearby Booker T. Washington National Monument will host a Founder’s Day reception at 12:30 p.m., followed by a short documentary about Washington’s life and a walking tour of his birthplace. All activities are free and open to the public.
“The Ken Burns film offers a spectacular glimpse into the vast natural and cultural treasures which are under the stewardship of the National Park Service,” said Carla Cowles Whitfield, Superintendent for Booker T. Washington National Monument.
“We are thrilled to partner with Blue Ridge PBS to highlight the contributions of Booker T. Washington, a man from humble beginnings who paved the way for Americans to live a better, more productive life,” she continued. “It is my hope that the Burns film will create a groundswell of renewed interest in national parks and serve as an invitation for the public to rediscover the parks that are in their own backyards.”
“The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” is the latest blockbuster project from Ken Burns, an acclaimed filmmaker who gained fame for projects like “Baseball,” “Jazz,” and “The War.” His new “National Parks” film series spans a century and a continent. It contains nearly 2,000 archival images from 262 sources, with breathtaking video from some of nature’s most spectacular locales. Featured parks include Acadia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, and Shenandoah National Park. The National Park Service has a presence in 49 of the 50 states, with national parks, historic sites, and national monuments like Booker T. Washington’s birthplace.
Blue Ridge PBS will premiere “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea,” beginning Sept. 27 at 8 p.m. The six-part, 12-hour film will continue through the week. Visit BlueRidgePBS.org for more information about the Aug. 25 celebration and the Burns documentary.
About Blue Ridge PBS
Blue Ridge PBS, founded in 1967, is the sole public multimedia enterprise serving 4 million individuals in portions of five states. The station’s 26,000 square-mile coverage area includes southwestern Virginia and bordering counties in Kentucky, Tennessee, West Virginia and North Carolina. As the region’s storyteller, Blue Ridge PBS offers outstanding informational, educational and cultural programming, along with an award-winning local production team devoted to regional issues and interests. Further, over 200,000 schoolchildren and their teachers benefit from the station’s education services that provide a safe, trusted environment for innovative on-air and online learning. Blue Ridge PBS is comprised of WBRA-TV/DT in Roanoke, WSBN-TV/DT in Norton, and WMSY-TV/DT in Marion, Va. www.BlueRidgePBS.org
About the Booker T. Washington National Monument
About Booker T. Washington National Monument On April 5, 1856, Booker T. Washington was born a slave on the 207-arce farm of James Burroughs. After the Civil War, Washington became founder and first principal of Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School. Later as an adviser, author and orator, he would become one of the most influential Americans of his era. In 1956, the National Park Service began to commemorate the life and accomplishments of Booker Taliaferro Washington. Visitors are invited to step back in time and experience firsthand the life and landscape of people who lived in an era when slavery was part of the fabric of American life. The monument is open to the public, year-round, from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. www.nps.gov/bowa
About Prudential Waterfront Properties
Prudential Waterfront Properties markets property throughout Smith Mountain Lake and the surrounding areas. As members of the Multiple Listing Service, Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS(r) are able to assist buyers and sellers with all listed properties in a variety of price ranges and locations throughout the lake and surrounding areas. Prudential Waterfront Properties REALTORS(r) are consistent leaders in sales as well as customer and client service. Visit online at www.smithmtnlake.com.
