Augusta - A cable news network is highlighting Maine's captial as part of a series they plan to air next month.

C-span is in the midst of their 2012 cities tour, where they're highlighting some of the more historic and influential cities in the country. Their next stop, Augusta. "We'll be able to give our viewers an inside-look as to what Augusta is all about, its unique history and literary culture," said C-Span Producer, Debbie Lamb.

If the choice to highlight Augusta caught you by surprise, don't feel bad. It also caused the mayor, Bill Stokes, to do a double take. "Initially I said, 'What is this?' Then it started to make a little bit of sense, because about a year ago, C-Span did a series called The Contenders. They featured Vice President Blaine, James Blaine, whose family donated the Blaine House to the state."

All the historical sites of Augusta will be on display, sites like Old Fort Western, the oldest standing wooden fort in the country. C-Span producers also say they'll feature the Blaine House, the State House, the State Museum and the State Archives. They also plan to highlight some of Augusta's history that folks around the country, and some even right here in Maine, may not know. "The Revolutionary War, you know Benedict Arnold made a trip up the Kennebec, so we've got a terrific history in Augusta."

They'll also focus on where Maine's capitol is today and where it's headed, including the new regional hospital being built and the resurgence of the downtown area. "We have a downtown that for many years was in a deteriorating situation. It's now revitalizing," Stokes said. "You go downtown, there's more restaurants. The University of Maine Architectural School has come downtown."

The program is scheduled to air during a special Augusta feature weekend on October 6 & 7 on C-Span 2, the Book TV channel. It will also be available on their website http://booktv.org/

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