Discover Inspiring Stories

Lawrence Welk was born to Russian immigrant parents in Strasburg, North Dakota, where he developed a strong work ethic and love for music on the family farmstead. After touring the midwest for years, he was scouted by ABC in 1955 to create the "The Lawrence Welk Show," which still runs on public television stations. This biographical documentary explores the life and legacy of Lawrence Welk.

This is the compelling story of a country's fear, a great sadness, and, ultimately, heroism. It is the story of the Japanese-Americans in the war years of the 1940's.

From KUED comes a powerful five-part-series on the five American Indian Tribes of the Great Basin Region we now know as Utah. This episode examines the Paiute indigenous peoples that have called Utah home for centuries.

Discover the momentous events that defined the African American experience in Las Vegas throughout the Civil Rights era. These events altered the city’s history and changed thousands of lives. Our story introduces individuals who are connected to these events, and to each other.

The story of the remarkable achievements of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the segregated all-female Women’s Army Corps deployed overseas during WWII. Tasked with organizing a huge backlog of undelivered mail intended for U.S. soldiers, the women, nicknamed the "Six Triple Eight," worked tirelessly in challenging conditions to ensure that millions of letters reached the frontlines.

Narrated by Raiatea Helm, this PBS Hawai‘i documentary uncovers Hawaiʻi’s deep, global impact on modern music despite the political struggles they faced at home.

This lesson plan explores how the reintroduction of buffalo to the Native peoples helps them reclaim their identity, culture, and traditions. Tribes have an inherent right to reintroduce and manage buffalo on their reservations to preserve their way of life.

Explore the roots of country music in PA with untold regional stories of the state’s role in the creation of a uniquely American form. Plus, explore how the genre is thriving and inspiring a new generation of musicians and fans.

The Civic Season Pavilion inside the Smithsonian National Museum of American History features a 28-foot mural inviting visitors to add their wish for America’s future, as we approach the U.S. 250th birthday. The letters will be collected into a time capsule and stored in the Smithsonian archives to be opened in 2075. Education resources available at https://www.pbs.org/newshour/classroom/daily-news-lessons/2025/07/the-smithsonian-is-creating-a-time-capsule-of-hopes-and-wishes

NWPB traveled across Washington state to ask everyday people what the American Revolution—and America today—mean to them. Released to accompany the new documentary series, The American Revolution, this short documentary invites viewers interested in history, politics, and community to explore how “We the People” define America—its food, its freedoms, its contradictions, and its promise.

"Still Here: Native American Resilience in New England" features Indigenous perspectives and takes a fresh look at the history of the region, including the hidden history of Indigenous slavery, "paper genocide" and efforts to keep traditions alive.

Joe Minter is the world-renowned Alabama sculptor of the African Village in America. The project is a half-acre art gallery constructed using found objects, reclaimed metal and store-bought materials. Thousands travel to Birmingham to see this 400-year historical record of Black people in America.

From his birth in the Bitterroot Mountains among the Salish Tribe, to his exploits as a warrior with the Lemhi Shoshone and Bannocks, Washakie was recognized early as an extraordinary person. But he made his historical claim to greatness in the second half of the 19th century, as chief of the Eastern Shoshone.

Christa McAuliffe, America’s first teacher in space, is the subject of a moving documentary on the creation of her statue, unveiled in September 2024 at the New Hampshire State House and created by Idaho sculptor Benjamin Victor. Through interviews with former students, educators, and state leaders, the film celebrates her life and belief that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things.

African American pioneer, Clara Brown's true-life story is told through the lens of an American opera, "Gabriel's Daughter." Clara became a successful entrepreneur, helped populate the African American Colorado community while searching for her only remaining daughter who was sold away from her at auction. Through Opera highlighted performances we discover Clara's struggles and triumphs.

This film documents the historical context of textiles used in activism, and the remarkable process of this relevant nationwide public...

80 Years Later is a documentary that engages with the racial inheritance of Japanese American family incarceration during World War II...

African American artistic forms like the Blues, Spirituals, Spoken Word, Preaching, Comedy and Hip Hop reveal a story about the creative...

Talking Black in America: Social Justice reveals linguistic discrimination on Black Language speakers in education, work, housing, and...

From his birth in the Bitterroot Mountains among the Salish Tribe, to his exploits as a warrior with the Lemhi Shoshone and Bannocks,...