A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story is the inspiring and mysterious story of Japanese photographer George Masa, his passion for the Appalachian Mountains and his role in founding Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A winding road and decades of research finally reveal the secrets that followed him to his grave in 1933. His was an artistic odyssey—from tragedy in Japan and the Pacific Northwest to a reimagined life in Asheville, NC.
A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story is produced by Bonesteel Films in association with PBS North Carolina.
Watch A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story, streaming now on YouTube and the PBS app. Find additional airtimes across PBS NC & the North Carolina Channel on our TV Schedules page.
Japanese-born photographer George Masa (1885–1933) was one of the most important figures in the preservation of the Great Smoky Mountains. He meticulously documented the Smoky Mountains through thousands of photographs and helped accurately map the region’s trails and peaks, often correcting errors in existing maps. Masa formed a close friendship with naturalist and writer Horace Kephart, and together they advocated tirelessly for the creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which was established in 1934—just a year after Masa passed away. Masa's contributions were largely overlooked during his lifetime but have since been recognized as foundational to the park’s creation and the preservation of the Appalachian Trail.
Archive Credit: Appalachian Trail Conservancy Records, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries
Archive Credit: Appalachian Trail Conservancy Records, Special Collections Research Center, George Mason University Libraries
Archive Credit: Buncombe County Special Collections, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville, NC
Archive Credit: Highlands Historical Society Archives
In the vast collection of the Biltmore Estate's archive, an abundance of photos have been revealed to be George Masa's work. "The Masa Interiors" from 1930 captures the Biltmore at a critical time before the house was open to the public. Swipe through the gallery below to compare the home from 1930 to 2025.
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
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Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Used with permission from the Biltmore Company, Asheville, North Carolina
Photo courtesy of Bonesteel Films
Paul Bonesteel is an Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker based in Asheville, North Carolina, whose work centers on history, landscape and the people who shape our understanding of both. A childhood visit to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina, left a lasting impression, instilling a belief that history should feel lived-in and present rather than static and preserved.
His work includes The Day Carl Sandburg Died (2012, featured on American Masters), America’s First Forest (2017), Muni (2020, featured on Reel South) and the four-part series Shadow of a Wheel (2023). His latest film, A Life Reimagined: The George Masa Story (2026), explores the life and legacy of the Japanese photographer who helped bring the Great Smoky Mountains National Park into existence.
Photo courtesy of Wes Cordell
Photo courtesy of Bryan Fowler
Photo courtesy of Janet McCue
Photo courtesy of Wes Cordell
Photo courtesy of Bryan Fowler
Photo courtesy of Nagomi Onda
Photo courtesy of Bryan Fowler
Photo courtesy of Paul Bonesteel
Researching the Film
George Masa left behind more questions than answers. Trace the century-long investigation—by friends, historians, photographers and filmmakers—that slowly pieced together the life of one of Appalachia's most enigmatic figures. Explore the books, archival discoveries and primary sources behind the film.
