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.

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.”

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

Slavery has deep roots in Connecticut and across New England. Enslaved people helped build the foundation of much of this state. Get to know some of these men, women and children and the lives they lived. Hear from descendants who reflect on their loved ones. And learn from historians, experts and volunteers going on a journey of discovery to uncover this hidden history.

Park Ranger Adrian Stewart talks with Host Andrew Davis about the 1781 Siege of Ninety-Six and its historic significance for the Revolutionary War. The earthen “Star Fort” at Ninety-Six remains one of the best-preserved examples of an original 18th century fortification, and Kosciuszko’s tunnel is the only military tunnel constructed during the Revolution.

Visitors to Kings Mountain National Military Park may have noticed a grave marker with a massive pile of rocks behind it. What is the story of this unusual monument? NPS Park Ranger Robert Holmes joins Host Andrew Davis to uncover the background of the Battle of Kings Mountain and why South Carolinians have periodically added stones on top of this grave ever since it was placed there.

The Georgetown County Museum is proud to showcase an impressive piece of Revolutionary War history- A handwritten letter from Francis Marion, also known as “The Swamp Fox”, addressed to General Nathanael Greene. Paige Sawyer sits down with Host Andrew Davis to discuss Francis Marion’s significance in the Palmetto State and how this incredible artifact has been so well preserved!

Are you a South Carolinian looking for another reason to fire up the grill and celebrate in the month of June? This episode of History in a Nutshell explores the S.C. centric holiday known as "Carolina Day"! Carolina Day, which commemorates the victorious Battle of Sullivan's Island during the American Revolutionary War, is observed every June 28th. On June 28, 1776, a small band of Patriots stationed at the palmetto log fort managed to miraculously fend off a massive British

Long before it became a ghost town, Ebenezer was one of Georgia’s earliest and most important settlements. Founded by religious immigrants seeking freedom and opportunity, Ebenezer became a thriving colonial community, survived war, and endured three years of British occupation during the American Revolutionary War.

Marked!: Joseph Habersham was one of the most important early leaders in Georgia history. An influential part of Georgia's American Revolution story, a mayor of Savannah, and the second Postmaster General of the United States, Habersham helped shape both Georgia and the early United States.

Nancy Hart was no ordinary frontierswoman. Known for her sharpshooting, fierce resolve, and fearless spirit, she became one of the most legendary women of the American Revolution.

Did you know one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was killed in a deadly duel with his political rival? Meet Button Gwinnett, a key Founding Father whose influence shaped early Georgia history, but whose life was cut short by a bullet.

A Stitch in Time follows the journey of America's oldest colonial militia flag, from the First Company of Bristol County Militia in the 1690s to the present day, as it undergoes delicate conservation under the eye of an expert textile conservator.

The history of the Montiers, a trailblazing Philadelphia family who were among the first African-American landowners in Pennsylvania.

In December 1775, William “Billy” Flora, a free Black man from Portsmouth and member of the 2nd Virginia Regiment, performed a heroic act during the Battle of Great Bridge. Holding off British forces long enough for Patriot reinforcements to arrive, Flora helped secure a key victory that drove Governor Dunmore from Virginia and shaped the Revolution’s course. Discover Hampton Roads’ unsung heroes whose actions helped spark the American Revolution.

The Williamsburg Bray School, founded in 1760, is the oldest surviving building built to educate Black children in America. Its lessons reveal deep contradictions—teaching skills and faith while reinforcing enslavement. Today, the school stands as a site of resilience, memory, and critical reflection on America’s complex history. Discover Hampton Roads’ unsung heroes whose actions helped spark the American Revolution.

During the Revolutionary War, Elizabeth Bennett Young risked everything to save her county’s records from destruction at the hands of the British. Her bravery preserved vital Isle of Wight history, which continues to tell the story of her and her neighbors 250 years later. Discover Hampton Roads’ unsung heroes whose actions helped spark the American Revolution.

Michael Twitty, a James Beard Award–winning writer, explores the deep roots of American history, through food. During his time in Colonial Williamsburg, the culinary historian used dishes like sweet potato pumpkin and black-eyed peas, to reveal how food carried culture, resilience and identity, shaping Southern and American traditions and connecting past to present. Discover Hampton Roads’ unsung heroes whose actions helped spark the American Revolution.