Discover Inspiring Stories

Andrew Galvan is the curator of Mission Dolores in San Francisco, and as an Ohlone Indian himself has been working for decades to raise awareness of the integral role of native Californians in the development of the mission system. “Come to California, and you’ve got Indians all over the place today!” he says. “Indians whose ancestors were here 250 years ago!”

Older than you think! The founding of the San Francisco Presidio in summer of 1776 – and of the City itself – took place within weeks of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, July 4, 1776. The folks at the Presidio Archaeology Lab have been working to uncover, preserve and educate the public about the important and fascinating history of this military fort that has operated under the three flags of Spain, Mexico and the United States for 250 years.

Meet Mary Pleasant is the daring saga of a 19th-century African-American woman, born a slave and raised in Nantucket, who became an international abolitionist, a prosperous entrepreneur, and a civil-rights activist whose work helped alter modern-day civil-rights law.

This one-hour documentary tells the story of the worst series of storms in Wyoming’s history. But for all the tragedy and loss, suffering and death, there was also hope and heroism, unselfish sacrifice and generosity. The blizzard brought out the best in people. Wyoming citizens from all walks of life worked together and demonstrated exceptional ingenuity in the face of dire circumstances.

American industrial workers in steel, grain, textiles, and shipping tell their stories of labor and life along the Erie Canal. These are the men and women who built American economic prosperity on the Canal for 150 years, and bore the brunt of its decline in the final decades of the 20th century.

The story of Dick Cheney, the man historians have dubbed the most powerful vice president in U.S. history. Hear his story recounted in his own words, from his modest upbringing in Casper, to his lifelong high-risk heart problems, his assessment of the world leaders he dealt with, the attack on Sept. 11, 2001.

For generations, the Clark family of Frankford, DE has shown tremendous support of one another as members faced hard times with tender loyalty. Our American Family: The Clarks traces the lives of this African-American family with seven children as they employed humor, resourcefulness and respect for all through the Depression, WWII, and racial tension.

Triumphs and tragedies of Thomas Paine’s life unfold in To Begin the World Over Again, a one-man play filmed live in Hollywood. Paine, provocative writer and flawed politician, ignited revolutions yet died ignored. His radical ideas on democracy, equality, and morality still challenge us: “We have it in our power to begin the world over again.”

OUR AMERICAN FAMILY: THE BARRERAS From the darkness of a coal mine in New Mexico to vibrant beauty under the California sun, Our American Family: The Barreras Family provides a compelling narrative of unwavering commitment to family. Life in the remote company-owned town of Madrid in the 1920s was a mixture of hard, dangerous work offset by the joy of baseball and celebrations. With the closing of the mine in the early '40s, the extended family re-established itself in southe

OUR AMERICAN FAMILY: THE SMITHS profiles Willie and Rena Smith of Goldthwaite, Texas and their seven children. The film tells the story of a family whose patriarch dies at an early age leaving the mother to raise seven children ages 18 months to 14 years old. After trying for years to make a living on a small farm in Goldthwaite, Rena Smith sets her sights on Abilene. There she believes a better life awaits her children through greater educational and vocational opportunities

OUR AMERICAN FAMILY – THE YOUNGS captures the voices of the generation that experienced this simpler time and the change that followed. The film profiles Darwyn Young, his wife Pauline and their eight children who labored as tenant farmers while nurturing a dream of one day owning their own land. The documentary chronicles their family journey, where reliance upon one another and their faith were the glue that held the family together through the extreme hardships of the Depr

In nanoseconds, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of W.W.II forever changed the nature of warfare and how nations would relate to each other. War reached its zenith. A Commitment To Peace looks closely at how the following Cold War years were complicated by personalities, ideologies, old fears and new visions. Unlocking the secrets of the universe would be relatively easy compared to finding the formula for peace. A Commitment To Peace is illustrated with remar

An original Alabama Public Television production of 75, one-minute American legacy moments commemorating the semiquincentennial in July 2026.

Along with our partners, Move to Include convened this important community conversation on ableism and inclusion. This panel discussion features nationally recognized disability rights activist, Imani Barbarin, moderator Jeiri Flores, a Rochester-based disability rights advocate, and local community members who share their own lived experiences.

In this special edition of "Connections with Evan Dawson", we discuss recent legislation and its impact on the disability community. How often are people with disabilities - and their caregivers - brought into the discussion? What are the risks of legislating without that input? Who should be helping guide these policies? Our panel includes Chris Hilderbrant, Heather Burroughs, and Brian Weber.

They came to New England for the promise of a better life. They brought with them a commitment to their faith, their family and their community. They were at the heart of New England industry. Their beautiful churches grace the cities and mill towns where they worked, and their rich cultural traditions are bright strands woven into the fabric of New England life.

A racially complex American city confronts its past and future. When a Black female city councilor, once bussed as a child to hostile neighborhoods, is catapulted to Acting Mayor, she breaks 200 years of white male mayorship. Boston's old school politics are further challenged when the top candidates in the historic 2021 mayoral race are all non-white women.

It’s been said that history is written by those in power. But what about the outlaws, outcasts and rogues? What if they had their say? Rogue History, a digital series produced by PBS Digital Studios and PBS North Carolina, shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives.

Back in Time is a documentary series that showcases significant people, situations, eras, and events that helped shape the history of the state of Oklahoma. OETA utilizes extensive research, archival photographs and film, as well as interviews with history experts and descendants of the people profiled in each program.

Tells the story of how two historians, Dr. Gordon “ Nick” Mueller and Dr. Stephen Ambrose, sought to salute the spirit of Americans who fought to preserve our freedom. Their dream exists today at The National WWII Museum in downtown New Orleans.