My name is Jose and I am a filmmaker exploring the design, geography, and history of America. I like to dive into the story of the 50 states and bring life to the cities, towns, parks, and neighborhoods that create the foundation of the USA.

Jose Molina

The Cloisters Museum showcases medieval European art and architecture, featuring stunning tapestries, sculptures, and serene gardens.

Fort Tryon Park is a scenic oasis spanning over 67 acres that offer breathtaking views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. In 1917, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., bought the Billings mansion, which was located on the site and later burned down. He hired Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. to develop the property and transform the rocky topography and soil into a manicured landscape with promenades, terraces, wooded slopes, and eight miles of pedestrian paths. Rockefeller presented the completed park as a gift to the City of New York in 1935. The park is renowned for The Met Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, housing medieval European art. With its lush gardens, walking paths, and cultural attractions, Fort Tryon Park provides a peaceful retreat in the heart of the city. 

Fort Tryon Park

Visit NYC's Cloisters Museum at Fort Tryon Park

Visit the Home and Laboratory of the Inventor Thomas Edison in Essex County, NJ. One of America's greatest inventors.

Thomas Edison National Historical Park in West Orange, New Jersey, preserves Thomas Edison's laboratory and residence, Glenmont. The park is 1,109 acres and includes 21 buildings related to Edison's life and work, including his laboratory, where he invented the phonograph and developed a long-lasting light bulb filament. Edison's home, Glenmont, is a National Historic Landmark and is open to tours. A library at the site contains documents and books related to Edison and his inventions. Visitors can experience some of Edison's experiments firsthand at the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. The center features interactive exhibits about science, technology, engineering, and math. 

Thomas Edison NHP

Home of an American Icon

Discover the last home of the famed Alexander Hamilton. At the border of Harlem in New York City is a national museum overlooking the neighborhood.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial, also known as The Grange or the Hamilton Grange Mansion, was the home of U.S. Founding Father Alexander Hamilton from 1802 until his death in 1804. Built in the late 18th century, the Federal-style house was successfully relocated in 2008 from its former location on Convent Avenue to its current location on West 141st Street in St. Nicholas Park. The interior rooms have been restored and the ground floor features an interactive exhibit for visitors. 

Hamilton Grange 

Visit the Home of a Founding Father

Experience the rare meromictic Green Lakes of the Syracuse area. Only a few lakes in the world have this unique natural effect.

Green Lakes State Park, just outside of Syracuse, NY, is a gorgeous scenic park that lies at the base of a mile long gorge. The 1,955-acre park includes the largest stand of old growth forest in the state and two unusually green glacial lakes, Green Lake and Round Lake. The lakes are both meromictic lakes, which means the layers of water, ranging from cold and dense at the bottom to shallow warmer waters, do not mix, and the sediment on the bottom never decays. There are only a handful of these lakes in the U.S., and Green Lake is one of the most studied meromictic lakes in the world. In addition to camping, hiking, snowshoeing, swimming and boating, the park offers a “masterpiece” golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. It’s a great place to get away from the busy downtown of Syracuse and see some of the unusual geology of upstate New York.

Green Lakes State Park

Adventure at Green Lakes State Park

In this tour of Washington DC we head across the National Mall to explore some of the most important monuments scattered throughout the capital.

It takes center stage every four years for the inauguration of US Presidents, but "America's Front Yard" draws millions of visitors all year round. It's a place that honors presidents, remembers the sacrifices of our war veterans and acts as home base to the world's largest research and museum complex, the Smithsonian Institution. Whether it's a nighttime visit to the Lincoln Memorial, a spring picnic among the cherry blossoms surrounding the Jefferson Memorial or a daylong visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, a visit to the National Mall is always one to remember. 

National Mall

Explore the Monuments of Washington DC

Take a tour of some of the very best Smithsonian Museums, from the Air & Space Museum, to the Castle, American History, and Native American Museum.

Best of the Smithsonian Museums

Take a trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield to explore one of America's bloodiest wars and the monuments left behind to commemorate the events.

The Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP) was established in 1895 as a way to protect and interpret the landscape of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg. The GNMP properties include most of the Gettysburg Battlefield, many of the battle's support areas during the battle (e.g., reserve, supply, and hospital locations), and several other non-battle areas associated with the battle's "aftermath and commemoration", including the Gettysburg National Cemetery and Soldier's National Monument. The park has more wooded land than in 1863, and the National Park Service has an ongoing program to restore portions of the battlefield to their historical non-wooded conditions, as well as to replant historic orchards and woodlots that are now missing.

Gettysburg 

Visit the Gettysburg Battlefield

Experience a Tour of Niagara Falls State Park and the exciting Cave of the Winds.

Today, the signature attraction of America’s oldest state park, the majestic Niagara Falls, is the dramatic apex of the free-flowing waters of four of the Great Lakes into the Niagara River Gorge. But that wasn’t always the case. During the Industrial Revolution of the early 19th Century, the natural beauty of Niagara Falls began to suffer as earnest industrialists built mills and factories along the river to harness its power. By the late 1860s, a small band of early environmentalists, including landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who were concerned over the river’s waning flow, founded the Free Niagara movement. The movement believed that the natural beauty of the land surrounding the Falls should be protected from commercial interests and exploitation, and remain free to the public. After more than 15 years of pressure, the Free Niagara crusaders won their battle. The Niagara Appropriations Bill was signed into law in 1885, creating the Niagara Reservation. Frederick Law Olmsted, perhaps best known for designing New York City’s Central Park, believed that parks should be places of natural beauty, where “the masses could be renewed.” This philosophy was applied throughout Olmsted’s landscape design for Niagara Falls State Park, with an entire network of footpaths through wooded areas and along the banks of the Niagara River. Today, Olmsted’s vision continues with a commitment to maintaining native vegetation, preserving its unparalleled vistas and providing public access. Visitors from around the world are entranced by the thundering wonder of Niagara Falls, a grand tribute to the men and women who fought to preserve it for all.

Niagara Falls 

The Natural Wonder of Niagara Falls

Experience the hidden beauty of Paterson NJ and its Great Falls. The landmark that started America's Industrial Revolution.

The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, 77 feet high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson, NJ. One of the US' largest waterfalls, it played a significant role in the early industrial development of New Jersey and one of the earliest manufacturing centers in America. In 1778, Alexander Hamilton visited the falls and was impressed by its potential for industry. Later, when Hamilton was the nation's Secretary of Treasury, he selected the site of the nation's first planned industrial city, which he called a "national manufactory." In 1791, Hamilton helped found the Society for the Establishment of Useful Manufactures (S.U.M.), a state-chartered private corporation. The company built a dam and diverted part of the river to create a millpond that supplied water power for factories. The success of Hamilton's vision helped establish Newark as a major center of industry and commerce. Today, the remains of the S.U.M. factory are part of the Paterson Great Falls National Historic Park.

Paterson Great Falls NHP

Paterson Great Falls | New Jersey's Hidden Gem!

Journey to Washington DC to experience the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture.

DC's National Museum of African American History & Culture

On this tour we explore America's first public park and botanical garden, the Boston Common and Public Gardens in Downtown Boston Massachusetts.

Boston Common, America's oldest public park, offers a diverse range of activities and attractions over 50 acres in downtown Boston. Visitors can unwind on its lush lawns, enjoy iconic swan boat rides, and explore historical monuments. In winter, the Frog Pond transforms into an ice skating rink. The park hosts events, including concerts and festivals, and serves as a hub for the Freedom Trail, connecting visitors to the city's rich history. It's a versatile urban oasis for relaxation, recreation, and cultural immersion in Boston.

Boston Common

Boston Common - Discover America's First  Park

On this giant tour across the 51 blocks that make up Central Park, we'll explore some of the parks most popular sites as well as secret areas.

Central Park, an iconic urban oasis in New York City, spans 843 acres, making it a verdant sanctuary amidst the bustling metropolis. As the most-visited urban park in the United States, it welcomes approximately 42 million visitors each year. The park's diverse attractions include the serene Ramble and Lake, the Hallett Nature Sanctuary, and the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. It's also home to recreational activities, cultural events, and a biologically rich ecosystem featuring hundreds of flora and fauna species, offering a respite for both residents and tourists alike.

Jose Molina

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