In 1893, Katherine Lee Bates journeyed across the United States by train in order to accept a summer teaching position at Colorado College. Over the course of the trip, she became deeply impressed by the vastness and beauty of America. Upon reaching Colorado Springs, she traveled by prairie wagon to the top of Pikes Peak, an experience which made a great impression on her and on America. She saw her country as great, but saw also a challenge.
Greatness and goodness are not necessarily synonymous. Rome was great, but she was not good, and for that reason, the Roman Empire fell . . . The Spanish Empire was a great one also, but as morally rotten as the Roman; consequently, the Spanish Empire is no more. Unless we are willing to crown our greatness with goodness, and our bounty with brotherhood, our beloved America may go the same way. (The Story of Christian Hymnody, E.E. Ryden, p 592)
Echoes of this sentiment may be found in the lines she later penned. Looking out over the vast, sea-like prairies from the top of Pikes Peak, “the opening lines of the hymn floated into [her] mind.”
O beautiful for spacious skies
For amber waves of grain.
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain.
These lines rested in a notebook in her desk for two years after returning to her professorship at Wellesely College before she finally finished it and submitted it to the Congregationalist on July 4, 1895. On the suggestion of fans, she revised her hymn and republished it with the Boston Evening Transcript November 19, 1904 in the form we recognize it today. Although she retained the copyright to the words, she never collected any royalties, considering America the Beautiful to be her gift to her country.
It was finally set to music after a 1926 contest to find suitable music. Although there were 900 entries, none of them satisfied her or the judges so she selected instead Materna, composed by Samuel Augustus Ward in 1882.
America the Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!
O beautiful for heroes proved
In liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain divine!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for halcyon skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the enameled plain!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till souls wax fair as earth and air
And music-hearted sea!
O beautiful for pilgrims feet,
Whose stem impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till paths be wrought through
wilds of thought
By pilgrim foot and knee!
O beautiful for glory-tale
Of liberating strife
When once and twice,
for man’s avail
Men lavished precious life!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till selfish gain no longer stain
The banner of the free!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
Till nobler men keep once again
Thy whiter jubilee!
Happy Independence Day! And may you “crown thy good with brotherhood.”
Principled Discovery is a place to stop and discuss news and information related to faith, family and particularly education. Pour yourself a cup of tea and join the conversation! 
Just popping by to wish you and yours a happy 4th of July from Ireland!
Ruth
Thanks for posting all these verses. More than I’ve ever seen before.
And happy Independence Day to you and yours!
May we all indeed be so crowned!
Quote of the day:
Asked if we were going to shoot off fireworks tonight, my daughter answered,
Daddy doesn’t like celebrating America’s Independence with Chinese products.
I’m glad I stopped by the comments. Your daughter’s quote is worth remembering.
We sang and discussed America the Beautiful last week. Looking at photographs of the diversity and wonder of this country, Sunshine kept saying, “Let’s go there!” I agreed wholeheartedly.
I hope you had a memorable Independence Day!
Hi Dana. Happy Independence Day! (oop, I think I am a day late; sorry!). I have always loved that song America the Beautiful. Thanks for including the verses! I love the photo, too.
God bless.
~Hercules
I just saw the quote by your daughter — LOL!
It certainly is worth remembering! She is one smart gal’. Every now and then, those kind of remarks are passed around by my family members, so I feel like it comes from within my own home!
Happy Independence Day again!