National Geographic Channel treks far and wide in search of lost treasure in a new 10-episode reality-TV series America’s Lost Treasures.Hosts Curt Doussett and Kinga Philipps search for objects of historical significance with hidden value. From a Civil War drum and a Native American tobacco bag to a 19th-century steamboat chair and a 150-million-year-old stegosaurus bone, the duo finds them and weighs in on their socio-political worth. Curt and Kinga tvisit ten U.S. cities, inviting locals to bring in their artifacts to find out whether they’re sitting on gold or fool’s gold.
The series differentiates itself from others in the antique-collectors genre because it consults with top museum curators, appraisers, and other experts who offer seemingly unbiased objective opinions about the value of the items on display. It also helps that Curt and Kinga both trace the history of the artifacts they’re interested in. Owners and viewers alike learn a little history a bit about the antiques marketplace.
Colorful characters also make America’s Lost Treasures fun to watch. At times, one wonders whether the antique owners believe the stories they tell or are merely seeking attention. Some yodle songs of the south while others wax nostalgically about family histories and the potential historical relevance of their relics. It makes for entertaining theatrics.
America’s Lost Treasures features a contest between antique owners. At the end of each one-hour episode, a field of antique collectors in narrowed down to two finalists, and a winner is awarded $10,000 as special recognition for the importance of the artifact in American history. The winning object which will be featured in a special exhibit at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. This element keeps the tension up as each episode winds down.
America’s Lost Treasures premieres July 4, 2012 9pm ET/PT on the National Geographic Channel.