Documentary filmmaker and discoverer of a lost ancient city in the Honduran jungle is coming back to his alma mater this evening to share his story.
Southern Illinois University Carbondale alum Steve Elkins embarked on an effort that unearthed the legendary city and put Ciudad Blanca, the White City, back on the map. After 24 years of searching for the White City, Elkins located it with new mapping technology allowing him to see what was underneath the dense rainforest.
In 2017 Elkins was honored for his contributions to Honduras at a ceremony in Tegucigalpa, hosted by Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez and U.S. Ambassador James Nealon. Elkins has appeared on many media platforms such as TEDx, National Public Radio, CBS, Xinhua, BBC and more, and was featured in both a television episode and an article in National Geographic.
The legacy of the lost city continues with a team of multinational biologists, under the auspices of Conservation International, conducting a survey of the unique flora and fauna of the rainforest surrounding the lost city. A public/private foundation, the Kaha Kamasa Foundation, is also being organized to provide for continuing scientific research and conservation of the threatened area.
Elkins will be presenting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the SIU Student Center Ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public. A reception and book signing will follow the presentation in the Student Center International Lounge.
