The Erie Canal flows down Main Street of Palmyra, New York. Because the movie was shot in Tennessee, production designers actually built an artificial Erie Canal down the middle of the 19th century Main Street they had built.
The movie is based on the first volume in a nine-part book series, with book one entitled The Pillar of Light.
The script required composer Sam CardonSam Cardon to write an original period violin piece that the character of Lydia McBride would play. He anticipated that Tiffany DupontTiffany Dupont, who plays Lydia would just act like she was playing for the camera and then they would mix the sound in for the final cut. But by mere chance, Tiffany DupontTiffany Dupont majored in violin at the University of Georgia and she ended up playing the piece live for the camera.