Capturing America: The Carol Highsmith Story
Capturing America: The Carol Highsmith Story | Preview
Premieres June 29, 2026 @ 7:00pm on LPB
For more than 40 years, Carol Highsmith has greeted each day with one mission: to document every nook and cranny of the United States through her photography. A self-described nomad, Carol captures life in America in the late 20th and early 21st centuries, visiting all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
From majestic mountains and quirky roadside attractions to unforgettable characters, both known and unknown, CAPTURING AMERICA: THE CAROL HIGHSMITH STORY follows Carol through six states as she wraps up her life’s work and completes her study of America.
Photos
By Carol Highsmith
1 / 20
Preservation Hall Jazz Band in New Orleans. 2023
2 / 20
A field of henbit plants in a field outside of Junction City, Kansas. 2021
3 / 20
An old gas station turned into a motorcycle shop in Jefferson, Texas. 2014
4 / 20
Skyline of Nashville, Tennessee. 2008
5 / 20
Boats along the Mississippi River in Louisiana. 2023
6 / 20
Architectural detail of grand staircase at Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. 2007
7 / 20
Ladies quilting in Gee’s Bend, Alabama. 2010
8 / 20
A stunning sky above remote Eureka County, Nevada. 2022
9 / 20
Mardi Gras in New Orleans in months after Hurricane Katrina. 2006
10 / 20
Ringling Museum, Sarasota Florida. 1980 – 2006
11 / 20
Kate Carter, on her 90th birthday, poses in a log cabin in Wentworth, North Carolina. 1985
12 / 20
A rusted old car sits next to an old post office in Oil City, Louisiana. 2020
13 / 20
Public Market Center, Seattle Washington. 2009
14 / 20
Reenactors of the Battle at the O.K. Corral at the historical site in Tombstone, Arizona. 2018
15 / 20
Vintage Coca-Cola mural on a downtown building in Shreveport, Louisiana. 2020
16 / 20
A longhorn awaits a “roundup” in the Stockyards, a historic livestock market district in Fort Worth, Texas.
17 / 20
The North Dakota Veterans’ Cemetery near Mandan at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. 2021
18 / 20
Skyline of the city of Columbus, Ohio. 2009
19 / 20
Frady’s Corner Store in New Orleans, Louisiana. 1980 - 2006
20 / 20
Old apple barn near Pembroke, Virginia. 1980 – 2006
View the Collection
The Carol M. Highsmith Archive at the Library of Congress features stunning photographs from across America. Explore the collection by state, county, and city using the LOC’s new GIS-based tool for a rich and interactive experience. Discover the beauty, character, and diversity of America through Carol’s lens.
Carol Highsmith's America
Events
Film Screening & Panel Discussion
Join us for this inspiring story of one woman’s mission to capture priceless portraits of America, preserving moments in time and place for generations to come.
Following the screening, Carol Highsmith and her husband and travel partner Ted Landphair will participate in a Q&A with the audience, joined by independent filmmaker Kristen Akers Gozdecki and Director of Photography Paul Jacobson. The discussion will be moderated by LPB Executive Producer Linda Midgett.
This program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Additional funding provided by: George Landegger and Diane Wallach