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SMALL TOWNS AMERICA Discovering the Real America
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00:00:07In the modern times the vast majority of Americans are drawn toward enormous
00:00:12metropolitan areas. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami set the pace of modern
00:00:21civilization. But technological comfort and a fast-paced lifestyle come at a
00:00:29price. Life becomes a constant race against time leaving little opportunity
00:00:36to appreciate the simple moments that make it meaningful. But the real unfiltered
00:00:43America is often hidden far from multi-lane highways and neon signs. In the
00:00:51low-rise towns of the Midwest along the coasts of New England or amid the misty
00:00:56shores of Oregon, time follows a completely different set of rules.
00:01:04These places have preserved an authentic way of life shaped over generations.
00:01:11No one is in a hurry here. Residents know one another by name.
00:01:17Local shop owners remember their regular customers and Main Street remains the
00:01:22centre of social life. Small town offer a different way of looking at the world.
00:01:31The true face of America.
00:01:35In this video we will travel across the entire United States. From the frozen
00:01:43landscapes of Alaska to the tropical islands of Hawaii. Exploring some of the country's most fascinating small
00:01:59towns.
00:02:01Telluride, Colorado.
00:02:07This small town lies at the very bottom of a deep mountain canyon at an elevation of about 8,500
00:02:14feet.
00:02:19Steep cliffs and waterfalls surrounded on three sides.
00:02:28Because of this geography, Telluride remained isolated from the outside world for a long time.
00:02:39In the late 19th century its story began much like that of many other towns in the American West.
00:02:46As a noisy settlement filled with fortune seekers.
00:02:57Precious metals were extracted from the surrounding mountains and in 1889 the notorious outlaw Butch Cassidy carried out his first
00:03:06bank robbery here.
00:03:13That turbulent era left behind remarkable architecture of cosy Victorian houses, former saloons and old hotels.
00:03:28When the mines eventually closed, Telluride came close to becoming yet another ghost town.
00:03:37But in the 1970s the mountains gave it a second life with the opening of a major ski resort.
00:03:46It offers today more than 2,000 acres of terrain.
00:03:51With slopes ranging from gentle beginner runs to steep alpine descents.
00:04:04Located at the foot of Mount Mansfield in Vermont, Stowe has earned its reputation as one of the great ski
00:04:10destinations of the eastern United States.
00:04:17With its bright white church steeple and classic New England architecture, the town looks as though it has been lifted
00:04:23straight from an old postcard.
00:04:30Stowe's story began in the late 18th century with farming and logging.
00:04:35But in the early 20th century, winter sports permanently changed its future.
00:04:46In the 1930s members of the Civilian Conservation Corps carved some of the first ski trails by hand on the
00:04:53slopes of Mount Mansfield.
00:04:59The town later gained another layer of European character through the famous Von Trapp family, whose story inspired the sound
00:05:07of music.
00:05:12After leaving Austria before World War II, they found the mountain scenery here similar to their homeland.
00:05:18And established an alpine style resort that still operates today.
00:05:29Modern Stowe blends European mountain charm with the rural character of Vermont.
00:05:44BISBEE, ARIZONA
00:05:51Tucked away in the Mule Mountains, just about 15 miles from the Mexican border, it was once known as the
00:05:58Queen of the Copper Camps.
00:06:04In the late 19th century, BISBEE produced enormous quantities of copper, becoming one of the wealthiest cities between St. Louis
00:06:12and San Francisco.
00:06:17When the mineral deposits began to decline and the enormous lavender pit mines ceased operations in the 1970s, BISBEE found
00:06:25itself on the verge of collapse.
00:06:32But instead of becoming another abandoned ghost town, the city took an unexpected turn.
00:06:39Artists, musicians, writers and hippies began moving in, attracted by inexpensive real estate.
00:06:51Nowadays, BISBEE is perhaps one of the most eccentric and inviting small towns in Arizona.
00:07:04Because of its steep mountain terrain, there are few conventional straight streets.
00:07:14Instead, hundreds of old concrete and stone stairways wind through the hills, connecting neighbourhoods and leading residents up to their
00:07:22homes.
00:07:29Its narrow streets are filled with art galleries, vintage shops, independent coffee houses and craft bars.
00:07:39Its narrow streets are filled with art.
00:07:42Its narrow streets are filled with art.
00:07:47Galena.
00:07:48This secluded town in northwestern Illinois looks as if the entire 19th century has been preserved in place.
00:08:00Much of Galena is listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
00:08:04and more than 85% of its buildings retained their historic architecture.
00:08:18In the 1820s and 1830s, a lead mining boom transformed the town into one of the most important commercial centres
00:08:26in the region.
00:08:29Even its name comes from Galena, the mineral form of lead ore.
00:08:41By the mid-19th century, it had become remarkably influential for its size, producing nine generals who served during the
00:08:48Civil War.
00:08:55When the lead deposits declined and river traffic lost importance, Galena entered a long period of economic stagnation.
00:09:07Ironically, that slowdown helped save much of its historic architecture from demolition and redevelopment.
00:09:18Galena's main street curves through the old town, lined with elegant brick buildings.
00:09:27The atmosphere remains intimate, while river excursions and views across the wooded hills make Galena one of the most charming
00:09:35small towns in the Midwest.
00:09:43The tiny and picturesque Leland, tucked onto a narrow strip of land in northern Michigan, is known as one of
00:09:49the most authentic lakeside communities in the Midwest.
00:09:58The town itself grew as a port and trading centre, thanks to its location between the two lakes.
00:10:09Over time, Leland's industrial role declined, but its historic architecture survived far better than in many other communities across the
00:10:18region.
00:10:22Life here moves to the rhythm of the water, while the air carries the scent of pine mixed with smoked
00:10:28fish and the cool breeze.
00:10:35The heart and defining landmark of Leland is the historic district known as Fishtown.
00:10:44It is one of the last surviving commercial fishing villages on the Great Lakes.
00:10:51Since the mid-19th century, schooners and fishing boats have worked these waters.
00:11:04Today, the narrow channel along the Carp River is still lined with weathered wooden shanties and smokehouses.
00:11:17Ferries leave from Leland for the remote Manitou Islands, while in the evening, residents and visitors gather along the sandy
00:11:24lakeshore.
00:11:32Located at the tip of Cape Ann, about 40 miles north of Boston, Rockport is surrounded by the cold waters
00:11:38of the Atlantic on three sides.
00:11:45Visitors come here for the quiet atmosphere of New England and the unmistakable character of an old fishing port.
00:11:56Rockport's history began in the 17th century with fishing and granite quarrying.
00:12:02For generations, the area's durable stone was shipped throughout the East Coast.
00:12:14By the early 20th century, however, artists had begun to discover the town.
00:12:22Rockport's most famous symbol became Motif No. 1, a modest, bright red fishing shack standing on pilings in the harbour.
00:12:35It was such a popular subject for painters and photographers that it earned a reputation as one of the most
00:12:41frequently depicted buildings in American art.
00:12:50For many years, Rockport maintained strict limits on alcohol sales, helping it preserve a quieter, family-oriented atmosphere.
00:12:58With the very few years in Southampton, the city of London, the City of London, it was widely introduced to
00:12:58a visa in the country for the area.
00:13:05Visitors stroll along granite piers, listen to classical music, and enjoy fresh lobster served just steps from the Atlantic.
00:13:21Surrounded by the cold waters of the Atlantic, Vinalhaven Island remains connected to the
00:13:26mainland entirely by sea.
00:13:31The only way to reach it is by ferry, which departs from Rockland several times a day.
00:13:40About 1,200 people live on the island year-round, but in summer its population grows several
00:13:46times over as visitors arrive.
00:13:54For decades, the local economy has revolved around the lobster fishery.
00:13:58Each morning, before sunrise, dozens of lobster boats leave the harbour, while brightly coloured
00:14:10buoys mark traps scattered across the surrounding waters.
00:14:17For many island families, lobstering has been passed down through generations, and the rhythm
00:14:22of daily life still depends on the sea.
00:14:32Much of Vinalhaven remains covered by dense evergreen forests, while its deeply indented
00:14:38shoreline forms dozens of quiet coves.
00:14:48There are no large resorts or high-rise hotels here.
00:14:57Visitors find only weathered wooden homes, quiet country roads and scenic trails leading
00:15:02to granite headlands.
00:15:11In the strait between Lake Huron and Lake Michigan lies Mackinac Island, a genuine portal back to
00:15:18the 19th century.
00:15:24Toward the end of the Victorian era, it became an exclusive summer resort for wealthy industrialists.
00:15:33And the most striking thing about Mackinac Island is the sound, or rather, the lack of it.
00:15:45Since 1898, cars have been prohibited.
00:15:52The narrow streets are dominated by the rhythmic clopping of horse-drawn carriages and the whirr
00:15:58of bicycle tyres.
00:16:03The air here doesn't smell of exhaust, but of lake spray, pine needles and the island's
00:16:09legendary fudge.
00:16:15The scent of cooling chocolate has become a permanent part of the island's atmosphere.
00:16:27As you approach the island's bustling harbour, the Round Island Passage Lighthouse stands
00:16:33as a solitary guardian in the middle of the shipping lane.
00:16:41This picturesque light marks a treacherous deepwater channel that allows massive freighters to safely
00:16:47navigate the straits.
00:16:57St Augustine, Florida is not just another resort town on the Atlantic coast, but officially the
00:17:03oldest continuously inhabited European-founded city in the United States.
00:17:16It was established by Spanish colonists in 1565, more than half a century before the arrival
00:17:23of the Mayflower.
00:17:28St Augustine completely challenges the familiar image of America as a young country without
00:17:33a deep historical past.
00:17:39Its most famous landmark is the Castillo de San Marcos, built from coquina, a distinctive
00:17:44local limestone made from compressed seashells.
00:17:54The fortress endured repeated British attacks, as well as centuries of Atlantic storms.
00:18:04The narrow streets of the historic centre, with their Spanish-style balconies, can feel more
00:18:09like an old corner of Andalusia than a typical southern town.
00:18:22In the late 19th century, railroad magnate Henry Flagler transformed this old colonial outpost
00:18:28into a fashionable winter resort for America's wealthy elite.
00:18:38One of them, today, houses Flagler College, which gives the historic city a younger and
00:18:43more relaxed atmosphere.
00:18:57SEDONA, SAYS
00:18:58SEDONA, ATRIZONA
00:18:58SEDONA, AZNUSIA
00:19:02SEDONA, AZNUSIA
00:19:04This town, tucked among the famous red rock formations of Oak Creek Canyon, is captivating
00:19:10from the very first glance.
00:19:17At times, it feels as if it were built on Mars.
00:19:25Massive sandstone monoliths in brilliant shades of orange and crimson turn an ordinary
00:19:31sunset into a spectacular natural show.
00:19:39For thousands of years, these lands were considered sacred by the Yavapai and Apache peoples.
00:19:49In the mid-20th century, Sedona was discovered by filmmakers and its otherworldly scenery became
00:19:55the backdrop for dozens of classic Hollywood westerns.
00:20:04But the town gained worldwide fame in the 1980s.
00:20:12Sedona became a global centre of the New Age movement and a magnet for followers of alternative
00:20:17healing.
00:20:22Many believe that powerful energy zones surround the town.
00:20:29The so-called vortexes, or rising energy spirals, drawing people from around the world to meditate
00:20:42here.
00:20:44Whitefish, Montana.
00:20:50This welcoming town in the northern Flathead Valley, at the foot of the Rocky Mountains,
00:20:55serves as one of the main gateways to Glacier National Park.
00:21:03The spirit of the American West and the region's rugged logging and railroad past blend here
00:21:09naturally with alpine recreation.
00:21:20Whitefish began to grow around the turn of the 20th century, when the Great Northern Railway
00:21:25pushed through these dense evergreen forests.
00:21:31At first, it was a working town for railroad crews and loggers, but the surrounding landscape
00:21:36soon changed its future.
00:21:44A major turning point came after World War II, when local residents built the first ski lift
00:21:50on Big Mountain.
00:21:55From that moment on, it gradually developed into one of the country's best known mountain resort
00:22:00towns.
00:22:05Nowadays, Whitefish carefully protects the appearance of Central Avenue and its small town atmosphere.
00:22:14The town moves at an easy, open pace, where locals are often ready to share a story or point visitors
00:22:22toward another quiet corner of Montana's wilderness.
00:22:34Seward, Alaska.
00:22:40In 1793, Alexander Baranov, the Governor of Russian America, founded Port Voskrisensky,
00:22:47modern-day Seward, on the south edge of what he called Chugach Bay.
00:22:57Here, under the shadow of the Kenai Mountains, Russian settlers built the Phoenix, the first
00:23:03vessel ever constructed by Russians in the Americas.
00:23:16After the Alaska Purchase of 1867, Seward evolved slowly from a seasonal trading post into a strategic
00:23:24harbour.
00:23:29By the early 1900s, it became the southern terminus of the Alaska Railroad, linking the
00:23:35port to Anchorage and the resource-rich interior.
00:23:45This connection turned Seward into a crucial artery for goods, ore and fish, and later for
00:23:52tourists drawn to the untamed scenery.
00:24:01Each summer, the streets fill with visitors chasing the same feeling that drew Baranov here.
00:24:11That blend of promise and peril that defines Alaska's coast.
00:24:20Yet, beyond its beauty, Seward has always been a working town, a place defined by its people
00:24:26as much as its setting.
00:24:30The harbour bustles with fishing boats, cruise ships and research vessels heading into the
00:24:35open sea.
00:24:49Carmel-by-the-sea feels very different from the California of palm trees and broad sandy beaches.
00:25:00The town looks more like an illustration from a brother's grim fairy tale.
00:25:09Cottages with thatched and tiled roofs, winding stone pathways and lush gardens.
00:25:21From its beginnings in the early 20th century, Carmel developed as a colony for the artistic
00:25:27elite seeking refuge from the bustle of San Francisco.
00:25:33That creative spirit and deep appreciation for nature produced a distinctive way of life
00:25:39that local residents still carefully protect.
00:25:47Over the decades, residents introduced strict building regulations to preserve the town's
00:25:52distinctive appearance.
00:26:00traditional street addresses remain absent from much of the residential area, while commercial
00:26:05development is carefully controlled.
00:26:11one of Carmel's most unusual architectural landmarks is its collection of fairytale cottages designed
00:26:18in the 1920s.
00:26:24Beyond the historic streets stretches Carmel Beach, a wide strip of white sand framed by wind-shaped
00:26:30cypress trees and the Pacific Ocean.
00:26:45Looking at this town at the foot of the Cascade Mountains, it is easy to imagine that you have
00:26:50suddenly found yourself in the heart of Alpine Bavaria.
00:26:57Leavenworth began as a railroad and logging settlement at the turn of the 20th century.
00:27:06When the rail line was rerouted, the town stood at the edge of abandonment.
00:27:13Another fading outpost in the long ledger of western expansion.
00:27:25But in the 1960s, local leaders decided to re-imagine the town as a Bavarian Alpine village.
00:27:39Traditional wooden architecture, frescoed facades and flower-laden balconies transformed the streetscape
00:27:45into a theatrical illusion.
00:27:53What might have become novelty, instead evolved into a powerful engine of cultural and economic
00:27:59renewal?
00:28:05Today, Leavenworth is a living stage set, animated by festivals that trace the European calendar.
00:28:17Octoberfest, Myfest and the luminous ritual of Christmas lighting, when half a million lights
00:28:24ignite the town.
00:28:43Tucked between the ocean and the dense green of the Tongass National Forest, Ketchikan was
00:28:49the first major port for ships heading north.
00:28:53The gateway to Alaska.
00:29:00It sits on Revilaquiquedo Island, a place where the rain almost never stops and the sea feels
00:29:06close enough to touch from every window.
00:29:19Ketchikan began as a salmon cannery town in the late 1800s, earning the nickname Salmon Capital
00:29:27of the World.
00:29:35At the peak, dozens of plants line the waterfront, filling the air with the smell of brine and
00:29:40fish oil.
00:29:45The town climbs the hillside in a tangle of wooden stairways and boardwalks.
00:29:56Rain-slicked streets wind between colourful houses built on stilts.
00:30:06Creek Street, once the city's red light district during the Prohibition era, is now one of Ketchikan's
00:30:12most photographed spots.
00:30:28Rain is part of the character.
00:30:30It falls here more than 230 days a year, drenching the forest in shades of deep green.
00:30:42Feeding everything, the moss, the salmon streams, the towering Sitka spruce that seem to glow
00:30:48in the fog.
00:31:01Moab, Utah is surrounded by such otherworldly landscapes that it can easily feel like the
00:31:07set of a science fiction film.
00:31:14Moab lies between two famous national parks, arches and canyon lands.
00:31:23Red desert terrain is framed by massive sandstone arches, deep canyons and, in the distance, the
00:31:31snow-covered peaks of the LaSalle Mountains.
00:31:37Its history began in the mid-19th century, with an unsuccessful attempt by Mormon settlers to establish a community in
00:31:45this harsh country.
00:31:51But the real boom came a century later, in the 1950s, when geologist Charlie Steen discovered a major uranium deposit
00:32:00nearby.
00:32:04Moab suddenly became the uranium capital of the world, drawing thousands of fortune-seekers.
00:32:20When the Cold War and the uranium rush faded, the town entered a quieter period.
00:32:28Until it was rediscovered by outdoor enthusiasts.
00:32:38In present days, Moab is widely regarded as the unofficial capital of off-roading and adventure travel.
00:32:58And Virginia City in Nevada looks as if a Western film crew has simply paused the camera.
00:33:06There are few signs of modern concrete architecture here.
00:33:11Instead, the main street is lined with wooden boardwalks, old saloon facades, gas-style street lamps and creaking 19th century
00:33:20porches.
00:33:29The town's story began in 1859, with the discovery of one of the richest deposits of silver and gold in
00:33:36American history.
00:33:44Within just a few years, an anonymous tent camp grew into an astonishingly wealthy and unruly Wild West Boontown.
00:34:00It was here, while working as a reporter for the local territorial enterprise,
00:34:04that the young Samuel Clemens first began using the pen name Mark Twain.
00:34:15When the silver boom faded, Virginia City seemed to freeze in time, gradually becoming a living open-air museum.
00:34:29Only around a thousand people live here.
00:34:32Yet the atmosphere of the old mining frontier can still be felt almost everywhere.
00:34:46On the northeastern shore of Mount Desert Island in Maine, lies the charming town of Bar Harbour.
00:34:56Home to only about 5,000 permanent residents, every summer its population swells several times over as visitors arrive from
00:35:04around the world.
00:35:09The town's history is closely tied to the rise of America's wealthy elite during the late 19th century.
00:35:19After the Civil War, some of the nation's richest families began spending their summers here.
00:35:28Dozens of lavish estates were built along the coast.
00:35:33Their owners modestly referred to them as cottages, although many were larger than European palaces.
00:35:42But in 1947, one of the largest wildfires in Maine's history swept across Mount Desert Island.
00:35:51More than 60 grand estates were destroyed, and large portions of the island were left burned.
00:35:59Today, the town has a very different character.
00:36:07Instead of an exclusive retreat for the wealthy, Bar Harbour has become a welcoming coastal community filled with small inns.
00:36:18The harbour is still dotted with elegant yachts,
00:36:22but alongside them sit working lobster boats returning each day with their fresh catch.
00:36:33Located on the forested edge of Baranov Island, between snow-covered peaks and a restless sea,
00:36:40Sitka once ruled Russian America.
00:36:51It was a strategic foothold in the North Pacific.
00:36:54A place to harvest sea otter pelts.
00:37:02The soft gold that fuelled Empire's colonial ambitions.
00:37:11The locals, who had lived along these coasts for thousands of years, resisted the occupation fiercely.
00:37:21Tensions exploded in 1802, when Tlingit warriors attacked and destroyed the outpost.
00:37:31The Russians returned two years later, retaking the settlement and establishing New Archangel.
00:37:40The new capital of Russia's American territories.
00:37:47Yet by the 1860s, Russia's hold on Alaska was weakening.
00:37:56Fur trade had declined, the empire's finances were strained.
00:38:06In 1867, the territory was sold to the United States for $7.2 million, in what would later be called
00:38:13Seward's Folly.
00:38:19The official transfer took place right here, on Sitka's Castle Hill.
00:38:28Russian troops lowered their flag.
00:38:31The stars and stripes rose in its place.
00:38:39At the confluence of two major rivers in West Virginia, we encounter a small settlement that played a pivotal role
00:38:46in American history.
00:38:51Harper's Ferry sits inside a narrow river gorge, where water cuts directly through the Appalachian Plateau.
00:39:01In the 19th century, it was one of the key US government weapons manufacturing sites, supplying arms to the American
00:39:08military.
00:39:14Yet Harper's Ferry is best known, not for industry, but for the events of 1859.
00:39:24It was here that abolitionist John Brown led an armed raid on the Federal Armoury, intending to spark a broader
00:39:31uprising against slavery.
00:39:35Although the raid was quickly suppressed, its political and psychological impact was enormous.
00:39:43It intensified national tensions, and is widely regarded as one of the major catalysts leading to the American Civil War.
00:39:58Today, Harper's Ferry is one of the rare places where an entire historic landscape has been maintained almost in its
00:40:06original setting.
00:40:10With 19th century streets and buildings embedded directly into the surrounding Appalachian terrain.
00:40:26Cannon Beach, Oregon is a true embodiment of the rugged, yet romantic spirit of the Pacific Northwest.
00:40:36Instead of a typical sunny beach resort lined with lounge chairs, visitors are greeted by misty ocean views and dense
00:40:44evergreen forests.
00:40:52The town's defining landmark is the towering Haystack Rock, which rises 235 feet straight out of the water.
00:41:11The rock is part of a protected natural area, and at low tide, its base reveals tide pools filled with
00:41:17colourful sea stars and sea anemones.
00:41:26In the 19th century, the American naval schooner Shark was wrecked nearby, and a cannon washed ashore, giving the future
00:41:34settlement its name.
00:41:41Cannon Beach has managed to preserve the atmosphere of a quiet artist's village.
00:41:45Cannon Beach has managed to preserve the city's village.
00:41:49Development is tightly restricted.
00:41:52Chain hotels and major franchises are largely absent, and the architecture follows a consistent style.
00:42:07The town is home to numerous independent art galleries, bakeries known for homemade pastries, and small restaurants serving fresh seafood.
00:42:25Sollvang, California.
00:42:31This remarkable town in the Santa Inés Valley feels like a fragment of old Copenhagen.
00:42:40Among vineyards and palm trees unexpectedly appeared Danish windmills and half-timbered houses with thatched roofs.
00:42:57Sollvang's story, its name means sunny field, began in 1911.
00:43:03A group of Danish-American educators and pastors, eager to escape the harsh winters of the Midwest, founded a Danish
00:43:11colony in California.
00:43:14Their goal was to create a community where their children could be educated while preserving the traditions of their ancestors.
00:43:30By the mid-20th century, following visits by members of the Danish royal family,
00:43:35Sollvang had developed into a major tourist destination.
00:43:42The town carefully preserves its Scandinavian character and relaxed pace of life.
00:43:50The air is often filled with the sweet aroma of cinnamon and freshly made erbliskyva.
00:43:57Traditional Danish pancake balls.
00:44:05The town is home to museums dedicated to Danish history.
00:44:13While a traditional wooden, horse-drawn streetcar carries visitors through the centre.
00:44:28Nantucket in Massachusetts looks like a postcard from old New England brought to life.
00:44:38Cobblestone streets are framed by classic cedar-shingled houses with weathered grey facades.
00:44:46And windswept sand dunes stretched toward the Atlantic.
00:44:55In the 18th and 19th centuries, Nantucket was, without exaggeration, one of the world's great centres of the whaling industry.
00:45:09Hundreds of ships departed from its harbour on dangerous voyages that could last for years.
00:45:19The story of the Nantucket whaling ship Essex, which was rammed by a sperm whale,
00:45:24became one of the inspirations behind Herman Melville's legendary novel, Moby Dick.
00:45:35Merchants and sea captains built enormous fortunes here,
00:45:38leaving behind elegant mansions that still define much of the island's character.
00:45:50When whaling declined, Nantucket entered a long period of relative isolation,
00:45:55which helped preserve its historic architecture.
00:46:03The island today is an elegant and secluded vacation destination,
00:46:08with strict architectural regulations.
00:46:11New buildings are expected to follow the traditional New England style.
00:46:17New buildings are expected to follow the island of Wyoming.
00:46:20New buildings are expected to follow the island of Wyoming.
00:46:22Set at the foot of the dramatic, jagged peaks of the Teton Range in Wyoming,
00:46:27Jackson serves as one of the main gateways to Wyoming's national parks.
00:46:36The town has become a symbol of the modern American West,
00:46:39polished and sophisticated, yet still deeply connected to its frontier roots.
00:46:48The history of the valley dates back to the late 19th century,
00:46:52when it was a rugged refuge for the first cattle ranchers.
00:46:59Just outside town lies the famous historic district of Mormon Row.
00:47:06A former settlement of Mormon farmers.
00:47:13These weathered wooden barns, standing against the towering peaks of Grand Teton,
00:47:18have become the postcard image of Wyoming.
00:47:30The legacy of the cowboy era is still visible everywhere.
00:47:37From wooden boardwalks to the central town square,
00:47:40framed by enormous arches made from naturally shed elk antlers.
00:47:49High-rise construction is strictly limited,
00:47:52so that nothing obstructs the surrounding mountain views.
00:48:01In winter, skiers arrive from around the world for the steep terrain of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
00:48:12In winter, skiers arrive from around the world for the steep terrain of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
00:48:14It takes hikers and visitors rafting the Snake River.
00:48:21North of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington,
00:48:23Port Townsend rises from the shoreline like a preserved fragment of another century.
00:48:37Elegant, yet weathered, the town stands as one of the best-kept Victorian seaports in the United States.
00:48:49In the late 19th century, Port Townsend was expected to become the dominant port of the Pacific Northwest.
00:49:01It's deep, sheltered harbour and strategic position at the gateway to Puget Sound
00:49:06made it a natural candidate for commercial supremacy.
00:49:13Elaborate brick buildings, ornate hotels and imposing mansions lined the streets.
00:49:21For a moment, the future seemed inevitable.
00:49:25Then, the railroads bypassed the town.
00:49:30Development stalled, freezing the city in architectural time.
00:49:40But what could have been, decline, became preservation.
00:49:50Forming one of the most extensive historic districts in the Pacific Northwest.
00:50:00The historic downtown unfolds along the waterfront in a procession of brick facades,
00:50:05adorned with iron balconies and tall arched windows.
00:50:19Hanalei, Hawaii.
00:50:26Located on the north shore of Kauai,
00:50:28this picturesque town at the foot of emerald green mountains feels like a tropical paradise.
00:50:38Hanalei lies between a broad, crescent-shaped bay with turquoise water and steep, jungle-covered cliffs.
00:50:52For centuries, native Hawaiians cultivated taro here,
00:50:56a culturally important crop used to make the traditional food poi.
00:51:04Green taro fields still surround the town today,
00:51:07forming part of a protected wildlife area where several rare bird species can be found.
00:51:20In the mid-20th century, Hanalei's dramatic scenery also attracted Hollywood.
00:51:27The surrounding area appeared in the classic musical South Pacific.
00:51:36While the historic wooden Hanalei Pier,
00:51:39originally developed in the 19th century for local shipping,
00:51:42became one of the best-known landmarks on Kauai.
00:51:53Hanalei still preserves much of the relaxed spirit of old Hawaii,
00:51:57along with a strong surf culture.
00:52:06In the morning, locals head out to surf the waves of Hanalei Bay or paddle along the winding river.
00:52:23Located on the eastern edge of Yellowstone, where the plains meet the mountains,
00:52:27the town of Cody was built on the spirit of the American frontier.
00:52:38Founded in 1896 by the legendary showman and scout William Cody,
00:52:43it was intended as a living embodiment of the Wild West.
00:52:52Nicknamed Buffalo Bill, Cody was a hunter, army scout and world-travelling entertainer.
00:53:00Whose Wild West shows brought the romance and drama of the frontier to audiences across America and Europe.
00:53:12His vision for the town was to create a place that combined modern comforts with the adventure of the West.
00:53:22One of Cody's most captivating historic sites is Old Trail Town,
00:53:30a collection of 19th century frontier buildings.
00:53:39Here, visitors can walk boardwalks past original cabins, saloons and general stores from the era of cowboys and outlaws.
00:53:57Among them is the cabin used by the infamous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,
00:54:02and the grave of mountain man, Jeremiah Johnston.
00:54:14Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is a miniature town in the narrow valley,
00:54:19where mountains press in so closely that they leave only a thin strip of land.
00:54:34In the 19th century, coal was hauled down from the mountains in the mountains,
00:54:35Historically, this was the former Mochchunk,
00:54:37one of the key centres of Pennsylvania's anthracite coal industry.
00:54:53In the 19th century, coal was hauled down from the mountains into the valley,
00:54:58and then shipped toward the industrial cities of the US East Coast.
00:55:03The town functioned as part of this supply chain, operating as both a transportation hub and an administrative node.
00:55:13The downtown area is a dense cluster of 19th century buildings.
00:55:21Brick and stone structures with ornate facades.
00:55:32Almost everything here dates to the period when the coal economy defined the town's growth and status.
00:55:41Today, Jim Thorpe is primarily a tourist town with a remarkably well-preserved historic core.
00:55:51Narrow streets and preserved facades make it easy to visualise what small industrial Appalachian towns looked like in the 19th
00:55:59century.
00:56:07Mystic Connecticut is a perfect embodiment of old New England seafaring romance.
00:56:16The air carries the scent of salt water.
00:56:19Elegant 19th century captain's homes line the waterfront.
00:56:26And the famous Mystic River-Bascule Bridge rises above the river, opening regularly to let yachts and sailboats pass through.
00:56:39During the 18th and 19th centuries, the town was one of the region's major shipbuilding centres.
00:56:48Today, Mystic is home to the Mystic Seaport Museum.
00:56:56An entire 19th century seaport village has been recreated there,
00:57:00where craftsmen still restore traditional wooden vessels.
00:57:12Moored at the waterfront is the Charles W. Morgan.
00:57:16The world's last surviving wooden whaling ship.
00:57:24What was once a busy shipbuilding community has become one of Connecticut's most recognisable coastal destinations.
00:57:34Where the maritime traditions of New England remain part of everyday life.
00:57:51Located on Oahu's legendary North Shore, Haleiwa is widely regarded as the unofficial surfing capital of the world.
00:58:04Unlike bustling Honolulu and the high-rises of Waikiki, Haleiwa has carefully preserved its aloha culture associated with mid-20th
00:58:13century Hawaii.
00:58:18The town's modern history began in the late 19th century,
00:58:22when railroad entrepreneur Benjamin Dillingham built the luxurious Haleiwa Hotel here.
00:58:39Translated from Hawaiian as House of the Frigate Bird,
00:58:42the area soon became a popular vacation destination for island residents.
00:58:54The real transformation came in the 1960s, when surfers from around the world discovered the enormous winter waves of Oahu's
00:59:02North Shore.
00:59:11Since then, Haleiwa has become a mecca for adrenaline seekers, while preserving much of its historic wooden architecture.
00:59:25At nearby Laniakea Beach, famous Hawaiian green sea turtles, known as Honu, regularly come close to shore and rest on
00:59:33the warm sand.
00:59:39Protected by volunteers, they have become one of the most beloved natural symbols of Oahu's North Shore.
00:59:53Located in central Texas, Fredericksburg was founded in 1846 by German immigrants and named after Prince Frederick of Prussia.
01:00:10Unlike many frontier settlements, it was planned deliberately with wide streets and a central market area.
01:00:21The town's early settlers negotiated a controversial peace agreement with local tribes, allowing the colony to survive when many others
01:00:29failed.
01:00:37German language, customs and architecture persisted here well into the 20th century, and traces of that heritage remain visible today.
01:00:51The town's main axis is Main Street, a long, walkable corridor lined with limestone buildings.
01:01:02Many of the original structures date to the mid-19th century.
01:01:09Built from local stone and designed for durability rather than ornament.
01:01:18Unlike cities that erased their early cause, Fredericksburg retained its centre, allowing the town to grow outward while preserving its
01:01:26original scale.
01:01:30Truckee in California is a small mountain town with a lively main street surrounded by wooden buildings.
01:01:41But tourism was not the reason it first appeared.
01:01:48Truckee was born because of the railroad.
01:01:54As the Central Pacific pushed its line through the Sierra Nevada, this area developed into an important construction centre.
01:02:08In 1868, the settlement officially became known as Truckee.
01:02:16The name is associated with a northern Paiute leader whom American settlers called Chief Truckee.
01:02:29Once the railroad line through Donagh Pass was completed, trains could cross the mountains much more quickly.
01:02:38Truckee stood directly on this route.
01:02:41A town began to grow around the station.
01:02:46Low-rise buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries remain here.
01:02:53And trains still passed directly through the centre.
01:03:01Today, however, Truckee's economy is much more closely tied to tourism.
01:03:09In winter, skiers and snowboarders arrive.
01:03:15In summer, the town attracts travellers heading toward the lakes and mountain trails.
01:03:29Woodstock, Vermont is often described as one of the most beautiful and postcard-perfect places in New England.
01:03:42There is little visual clutter or urban rush here, only remarkably well-preserved 19th century architecture.
01:03:55Woodstock's story is closely tied to heritage preservation and a deep respect for the surrounding landscape.
01:04:05Founded in the 18th century, the town quickly became an important centre of trade and craftsmanship.
01:04:18And by the 19th century, it had attracted wealthy industrialists and philanthropists, including the Rockefeller family.
01:04:30The area later became closely associated with some of the early American ideas of conservation and nature-based recreation.
01:04:43Woodstock still somehow manages to look as if time has slowed down without ever feeling like an artificial museum.
01:04:54The town is especially striking in fall, when the surrounding forests transform Woodstock into a perfect expression of quiet New
01:05:03England charm.
01:05:05Woodstock, Vermont.
01:05:09Few places on the east coast of the United States offer a landscape as distinctive as Camden.
01:05:19This charming town, overlooking Penobscot Bay, is often called the place where the mountains meet the sea.
01:05:32Just minutes from its busy harbour, forested hills rise directly above the Atlantic, creating one of Maine's most iconic views.
01:05:45Camden was founded in the late 18th century as a small fishing and shipbuilding community.
01:05:57The vast forests of central Maine supplied an abundance of timber, allowing local shipyards to build the famous Windjammers.
01:06:07Large sailing ships that carried cargo along the New England coast.
01:06:16Beyond the edge of town, Camden Hills State Park protects a chain of low granite mountains blanketed by dense evergreen
01:06:23forests.
01:06:26The park's best known summit is Mount Batty, rising about 780 feet above sea level.
01:06:37Though modest in height, its summit offers one of the most celebrated panoramas in all of New England.
01:06:47Below lies Camden Harbour, dotted with white sailboats.
01:06:51While beyond it, the islands of Penobscot Bay gradually fade into the deep blue waters.
01:07:02The historic captain's homes and picturesque harbour of Kennebunkport create the classic image of coastal America that many people associate
01:07:10with Maine.
01:07:16Thanks to its protected harbour and abundant forests, the town became one of Maine's leading shipbuilding centres.
01:07:28Maritime trade brought great prosperity and many sea captains returned home as wealthy men.
01:07:36It was during this period that the town's grand captain's houses began to appear.
01:07:46Unlike the modest homes of fishermen, these residences were built to reflect the success of their owners.
01:07:57Most are painted in the traditional white of New England.
01:08:01Their tall, symmetrical facades are adorned with intricate wooden trim.
01:08:10Nearly every house is framed by a neat white fence, while in summer the gardens overflow with blooming flowers.
01:08:21Original shutters, brick chimneys, heavy front doors and even small rooftop cupolas can still be seen.
01:08:34Thanks to careful preservation and restoration, making a walk through its streets feel like a journey back a century and
01:08:41a half.
01:08:50This quiet historic town in Florida's Big Bend region feels completely different from the resort side of Florida with its
01:08:57crowded beaches.
01:09:05Here, the slower rhythm of the Old South still survives, with life shaped by the tides, river traffic and warm
01:09:12gulf breezes.
01:09:19In the 19th century, Apalachicola became one of the most important ports on the Gulf of Mexico, shipping cotton bales
01:09:27to markets around the world.
01:09:34Later, the town became famous for its oyster industry.
01:09:39The unique mix of fresh and salt water in Apalachicola Bay for generations supported one of the country's most important
01:09:47oyster fisheries.
01:09:54The town also played an unexpected role in the history of modern cooling technology.
01:10:01In the mid-19th century, local physician John Gorey developed an early mechanical ice-making machine while trying to cool
01:10:08hospital rooms for patients suffering from fever.
01:10:16His work later became an important milestone in the development of refrigeration and air conditioning technology.
01:10:33Located about 45 miles south of Tucson, and not far from the Mexican border,
01:10:39Tubac is one of the most distinctive communities in southern Arizona.
01:10:50It is best known today as an artist's colony, filled with galleries.
01:10:56But its roots reach deep into the colonial history of the southwest.
01:11:05In 1752, the Spanish established a military presidio here,
01:11:09making Tubac one of the earliest European outposts in the area.
01:11:17The settlement helped guard mission routes and frontier communities along the northern edge of New Spain.
01:11:27Much of that early story is preserved at Tubac Presidio, Arizona's oldest state historic park.
01:11:38The town changed dramatically in the second half of the 20th century, as artists began moving in.
01:11:45Drawn by strong Mexican cultural influence.
01:11:54Gradually, the old frontier settlement evolved into one of southern Arizona's best known art communities.
01:12:06Beyond the town, the landscape opens into classic Sonoran Desert scenery.
01:12:12Dry hills and broad stretches of open country.
01:12:23Leaving Arizona desert behind, we arrive in one of North Carolina's most well-known mountain towns.
01:12:29Boone.
01:12:36Its history is deeply connected to the story of the American frontier and the culture of the Mountain South.
01:12:46The town was named after Daniel Boone, the legendary 18th century pioneer.
01:12:54Although Boone himself never lived here permanently, his journeys through mountain passes made him a symbol of westward expansion.
01:13:06At the heart of the community is Appalachian State University.
01:13:13Which attracts thousands of students from across the region.
01:13:22The history of the local population is equally important.
01:13:28For much of its past, the mountain regions of North Carolina remained relatively isolated from the outside world.
01:13:41That helped preserve traditions that disappeared from many other parts of the United States during the 19th century.
01:13:50For this reason, Boone is often regarded as one of the cultural capitals of Appalachia.
01:14:04Centuries after many of America's small towns were first founded, a surprising number of them still preserve the character that
01:14:11shaped their identity.
01:14:16In some places, the architecture has barely changed.
01:14:22In others, new life has grown carefully around the old.
01:14:30What survives is not only the appearance of these towns, but also their way of life.
01:14:37Local traditions remain important.
01:14:40Neighbours still know one another, and community events continue to bring people together.
01:14:52A former mining settlement may now live from tourism and art.
01:14:59An old fishing port may have become a quiet vacation town.
01:15:06Yet beneath these changes, the original character often remains recognisable.
01:15:14These places are not simply reminders of the past.
01:15:17They are living communities that continue to adapt without completely giving up their roots.
01:15:26And perhaps that is why, even centuries later, so many of these towns still feel unmistakably like themselves.
01:15:34It's so.
01:15:34Hope дух hacksaw close.
01:15:39Hope дух hacksaw shay