See America First

In Short

This book serves as a spirited travelogue and a patriotic manifesto for the American landscape. It records a multi-day journey that stretches across the eastern United States, from the fertile river bottoms of Ohio to the rocky coastlines of New England and the thundering spray of Niagara. By weaving together geological wonder, historical anecdote, and local lore, it attempts to convince readers that the natural beauty of their own backyard is as profound as any classic European vista. Its legacy lies in this earnest, romantic preservation of a rapidly modernizing nation’s regional character.

The Story

The narrative begins as an invitation to see the United States not as a collection of states, but as a vast, living gallery of natural and historic treasures. The travelers, driven by a desire to challenge the common perception that American scenery lacks the depth of the Old World, embark on a sprawling, multi-day road trip. They start by exploring the undulating, green-cloaked hills of Highland County, Ohio, where they find a landscape so picturesque it demands comparison to the work of the masters. From these quiet pastoral beginnings, the journey expands, documenting the transition from serene farm life to the weight of history found in the "Great American Bottom" of Illinois, where they ponder the mysterious, massive earthworks of the ancient Mound Builders.

As the journey turns toward the East, the focus shifts from natural beauty to the echoes of the American Revolution. The narrative guides the reader through the Hudson Valley and into the heart of New England, where every town—Fishkill, Willamantic, Plymouth—offers a monument or a memory. The travelers stand on the sites of ancient Indian powwows and reflect on the valor of the soldiers whose nameless graves dot the landscape. They visit the home of George Washington, finding in the venerable trees he planted a symbol of the nation’s enduring spirit, contrasting this quiet dignity with the frantic, artificial grandeur of European palaces.

The story does not shy away from the sensory overload of modern life, noting the sheer congestion and industrial energy of the Atlantic coast, particularly the sprawling boardwalks of Atlantic City, which they contrast against the quiet, bird-filled solitude of the Adirondacks or the fading relics of Trenton Falls, where nature is slowly reclaiming a once-famous resort for the birds. As they traverse the mountains, the tone often turns meditative. They witness a stunning sunrise over the Blue Ridge, where the shifting colors of the landscape mirror the transience of human life. The arc concludes with a realization that the true "sight" of America is not found in a single landmark, but in the synthesis of rugged geology, colonial memory, and the simple, persistent beauty of the woods. They return from their long circuit with a renewed faith in the land, viewing the industrial developments and the "grim objects of destruction" like naval destroyers not as the end of the American story, but as challenges to be balanced against the preservation of the sacred, natural spaces that define the continent's soul.

How It Unfolds

The call to travel The journey opens with an intellectual challenge to the reader, arguing that American scenery is unfairly ignored by those who flock to the Alps. The authors set the stage by emphasizing that true appreciation of the land requires a grounding in nature and history.

The Ohio landscape The travelers move through the curves of Highland County, describing the morning light on ripening wheat and the intricate mosaic of native ferns. This section establishes the book's appreciation for the "everlasting poetry" of the local terrain.

The weight of history The path winds through the Shenandoah Valley and the Hudson River, where the narrative focuses on the remnants of the Revolution and the lost cultures of the Mound Builders. Here, the landscape is treated as a silent witness to national sacrifice and ancient rites.

The Atlantic contrasts The trip hits the coast, detailing the intense, bustling energy of Atlantic City’s boardwalk. This is sharply contrasted with the quiet, abandoned beauty of Trenton Falls, which has been surrendered to the swallows and the hum of electricity.

The final vista The narrative concludes by cataloging the remaining legs of their trek, from Niagara Falls to the final return to Indiana. It leaves the reader with a sense of the vast scale of the country and the persistent presence of the past in every village.

The People

The book is driven by the perspectives of the travelers, who act as observant, reflective guides. They remain largely unnamed, acting as conduits for the reader’s own potential journey. Their primary desire is to find meaning in the "Great Out-of-Doors," and they are constantly frustrated by others who seek only the comfort of the familiar or the prestige of foreign travel.

Washington serves as a central, almost spectral figure throughout the text. He is viewed not merely as a historical leader, but as an environmental steward whose influence is felt in the trees he planted and the land he walked. His presence acts as a bridge between the American past and the living, breathing forests of the present.

The "Indian" figures appear both as historical ghosts—the builders of mounds and the inhabitants of the "Devil’s Dance Chamber"—and as subjects of early, romanticized ethnographic observation. The travelers also encounter various local residents, such as the "officious" woman near Plymouth and the quiet, struggling families in Ohio. Each encounter serves to highlight the divide between those who view the land as a source of commodified experience and those who find in it a source of quiet, restorative wisdom.

In Its Own Voice

"The round browed hills lift themselves in 'bold bastions' and parapets of green that seem to beckon to you to come up higher."

The authors describe the inviting, dramatic topography of Highland County, Ohio.

"Nature was making the old place a part of the landscape, and the birds were now the sole proprietors--gay summer tourists who never grow tired of lovely natural haunts like their human cogeners."

The travelers observe the melancholy beauty of Trenton Falls after it has been abandoned by humans and claimed by wildlife.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this is a meditation on the relationship between national identity and the natural environment. The authors argue that a country’s soul is not found in its cities or its industrial output, but in the preservation of its landscapes and the history inscribed upon them. It asks whether we can maintain a connection to our roots while hurtling toward a modern, electrified future. The book suggests that the "pomp of emperors" is far less significant than the quiet, medicinal power of a forest or a river. Ultimately, it is an argument for environmental and historical stewardship, proposing that to truly "see" America, one must learn to look past the surface and recognize the sacredness of the earth itself.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the slow-paced, observational quality of classic nature writing, such as the works of Thoreau or Burroughs, will find much to admire here. The prose is earnest and romantic, filled with vivid descriptions of light, color, and the rhythmic shifting of seasons. It functions as a time capsule, capturing a transitionary moment in early 20th-century America when the automobile was just beginning to shrink the continent, and the industrial age was casting its long shadow over the landscape.

However, readers should be prepared for the book's period-specific attitudes, particularly its romanticized and sometimes reductive portrayals of indigenous history and the "white man’s" role in settling the continent. The narrative is as much a product of its time as the scenery it describes, and the authors’ perspective reflects the conventional wisdom of the early 1920s. Despite this, the book remains a sincere, deeply felt love letter to the American outdoors. It is a rewarding read for those who want to experience the thrill of a long-distance road trip from a bygone era, and who, like the authors, find themselves looking for a sense of permanence in a world that feels increasingly transient. You will walk away with a lingering appreciation for the "unimaginable spaces" that still exist if one only knows how to look for them.