5 min to read
Introducing The Coverage Project
🗺️ A Friendship, a Journey, and 250 Years of American History
“Hello folks.”
In college, I was an orientation leader. Essentially, I facilitated icebreakers and activities to help incoming first-year students get to know one another. As awkward and daunting as that may sound, it was actually a lot of fun.
If I remember correctly, I first met Ely while I was an orientation leader during new student orientation in the fall of 2019. I had randomly sat down at a lunch table in the dining hall with a few first-year students, and he happened to be one of them. Who would’ve thought we’d still be keeping in touch all these years later?
Throughout college, we shared countless thoughtful, enjoyable, and deeply profound conversations. I distinctly remember one philosophically heavy evening in the commons where we spent time discussing the ideas that I was just beginning to develop—ideas that would eventually become my book and, later, this very website. I think those kinds of conversations are surprisingly difficult to find—and even harder to sustain—but with Ely, they still always felt effortless.
One memory that has always stuck with me happened during college. I was sitting alone in a residence hall lounge, really in my bag and wallowing. Seemingly out of nowhere, Ely walked in. He mentioned that he and some friends were getting together to watch Survivor, and he invited me to join them. It was a lollipop moment. He had absolutely no idea how much that simple invitation lifted my spirits and took my mind off everything. Those are the moments that stay with you. It speaks volumes about the kind of person he is.
Then the COVID pandemic uprooted the familiar rhythm of life for all of us. For Ely, it also ignited something deeper. It inspired him to pursue his passions beyond the beaten path. By the time he turned 21, he had visited all 50 states, documenting the journey through what would become The Coverage Project.
I’ve followed his videos from the beginning, and it’s been remarkable to watch the project evolve. There’s something difficult to describe about seeing an idea grow from its earliest stages into what it has become today. What viewers don’t often see is the incredible amount of work behind the scenes—the planning, research, filming, editing, and countless hours that go into producing something so polished. Ely is not only great company and a wonderful friend, but someone whose passion genuinely inspires me. I’m proud to call him my friend, and I admire the way he’s allowed his curiosity to shape such an ambitious project. He’s honestly one of the few people I truly look up to.
Recently, I had the privilege of being featured in a very special installment of The Coverage Project. Calling it a “video” feels like a misnomer. At just over two hours, it’s less of a video and more of an immersive journey—one that’s so rich with stories, history, and reflection that shortening it simply wouldn’t do it justice.
Over the course of seven days during the summer of 2026, Ely traveled through some of the most historically significant destinations along the American East Coast. These places witnessed pivotal moments in the founding and development of our nation. Through this immersive experience, he commemorates an extraordinary moment in American history: the United States semiquincentennial. Rather than simply recounting history, he invites you to experience it with him, weaving together the places, stories, and people that continue to shape the American identity.
Here’s Ely’s take on his movie:
I’d say my motivations and personal tilt were deeply rooted in the desire to maintain a human connection to the historic 250 experience throughout the week.
This tour’s essence really boiled down to a way I could pay tribute and give thanks to the finely-tuned and precariously preserved societal order that somehow had me spat out into the world a little over two centuries later. As the video develops, this gratitude becomes apparent as the central theme.
I frame the remembrance and celebration not as a cultural or political act but one that links me to human nature, embracing both reason and emotion. Sure, there’s plenty of historical substance. Yet I aim to do more… In this work one can see the myriad of opportunities there were for me to ask questions reflective of my own self, to make the most of a given day, to share the enjoyable experience with others, to learn and apply such insight to an accumulating gratitude.
— Ely, The Coverage Project
As Ely famously concludes: “More travels to come. I will see you at the next location.”
