Celebrate America 250: Must-Watch Programs on WTTW This Summer
Meredith Francis
June 4, 2026
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, WTTW marks the milestone with a wide range of programs exploring the people, events, ideas, and places that have shaped the country's history and continue to define its future.
To honor this anniversary and its impact on the local community, WTTW created Firsthand: Democracy, a year-long multiplatform initiative documenting how individuals and local organizations respond to political polarization and shifts in public trust. WTTW has also partnered with PBS on the new mini-documentary series, America’s Awesome Kids, which showcases exceptional young people from across the country. For that project, WTTW produced the Illinois short film featuring Kevin, an accomplished Irish step dancer.
WTTW PRODUCTIONS
10 MONUMENTS THAT CHANGED AMERICA
Geoffrey Baer tours wholly original American monuments telling their surprising stories.
Sunday, June 28, 6:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY – MITEN
Civics teacher and British-born Indian immigrant Miten Patel motivates his students at Evanston Township High School to register to vote, question political candidates, and directly engage with the political process.
Thursday, July 2, 7:00 pm and Monday, July 20, 9:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY – MARYANNE
Braver Angels volunteer Maryanne Colter participates in community debates, teaches college students how to disagree about politics without being disagreeable, and shows neighbors how to tone down toxic partisanship.
Thursday, July 2, 7:30 pm and Monday, July 20, 9:30 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY – ISABEL
With the help of a local nonprofit, Isabel became a naturalized citizen in time to cast her ballot in the 2024 election. She's now blazing a trail for other immigrants as a volunteer tutor, watching with pride as her students take the Oath of Allegiance to their new country.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY – CAMILLE
After being forced to testify in court at age six following her mother’s murder, Camille Williams has dedicated her life to fighting for a more inclusive democracy through activism, voting rights advocacy, and efforts to ensure Americans understand their rights within the legal system.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
FIRSTHAND: DEMOCRACY – JULEE
Julee Mortensen lives by a maxim: democracy does not retire. At 72, Julee Mortensen is a full-time defender of democracy, organizing protests, advocating for causes like voting rights and banned books, and helping inspire a new generation of local political candidates in her suburban community.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
10 MODERN MARVELS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Geoffrey Baer takes viewers on a whirlwind tour of engineering feats that made our civilization possible.
Friday, July 10, 8:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
10 PARKS THAT CHANGED AMERICA
Geoffrey Baer explores the serene spaces that offer city dwellers a respite from the hustle and bustle of urban life.
Sunday, July 12, 4:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
CHICAGO STORIES: PULLMAN AND THE RAILROAD REBELLION
Railroad titan George Pullman controlled the lives of the workers who staffed his groundbreaking sleeper cars. When his employees fought back, they helped shape America’s labor rights movement.
Sunday, July 12, 5:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
CHICAGO STORIES: THE GREAT CHICAGO FIRE
On October 10, 1871, Chicagoans awoke to a smoking pile of rubble that stretched for miles on end. Could the city possibly recover?
Sunday, July 12, 6:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
10 BUILDINGS THAT CHANGED AMERICA
Geoffrey Baer tells the stories of 10 American architectural marvels.
Friday, July 17, 8:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
TOURING CHICAGO'S LAKEFRONT WITH GEOFFREY BAER
Join Geoffrey Baer to traverse Chicago’s legendary “front yard” and learn how it was envisioned, built, and defended, and the ways it has evolved.
Sunday, July 19, 6:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
CHICAGO STORIES: JANE ADDAMS – TOGETHER WE RISE
Meet Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist Jane Addams and the cadre of women who joined her in her quest to enrich the lives of thousands of immigrants.
Saturday, July 25, 5:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
10 STREETS THAT CHANGED AMERICA
Geoffrey Baer highlights 10 iconic American streets and the ways that they continue to shape our communities.
Friday, July 31, 8:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
AMERICA’S AWESOME KIDS
A series of 25 short films features kids across America. Representing Illinois is Kevin, an accomplished Irish step dancer whose story will premiere on WTTW during the PBS Kids program Alma’s Way.
Wednesday, June 17, 12:30 pm
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 2026
Hosted by Mary McCormack and Gary Sinise, the 2026 concert featured tributes interwoven with musical performances by world-renowned artists and the National Symphony Orchestra.
Streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
ANTIQUES ROADSHOW: 250 YEARS OF AMERICANA
Discoveries reflect 250 years of American art, artifacts, crafts, and collectibles.
Mondays, June 1 and 29, 7:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
LUCY WORSLEY INVESTIGATES: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Historian Lucy Worsley examines the 18th-century split between Britain and the 13 American colonies.
Saturday, June 6, 5:30 and 7:00 pm; Tuesdays, June 23 and 30, 8:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: THE PRESIDENTS – GEORGE H. W. BUSH
This two-part documentary examines the life and presidency of George H.W. Bush (1989-1993).
Fridays, June 19 and 26, 9:00 pm
ICONIC AMERICA: OUR SYMBOLS AND STORIES WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN
Spend the afternoon with David Rubenstein as he examines the history of America through some of its most iconic objects, symbols, and artifacts, using them as a gateway to the past.
Sunday, June 28, 12:00 pm and streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
DECLARATIONS: BLACK AMERICANS AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR
This documentary follows the stories of enslaved and eventually freed Black Americans who fought for fundamental tenets of democracy.
Monday, June 29, 9:00 pm
FINDING YOUR ROOTS: SECRET LIVES
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. makes the surprising discovery that comedy icon Carol Burnett has ancestors connected with the American Revolution and the Civil War.
Tuesday, June 30, 7:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
NOVA: ATHENS – BIRTH OF DEMOCRACY
Follow archaeological investigations into the dramatic origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago.
Wednesday, July 1, 7:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
NOVA: REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS
What military technologies did the American colonies use to achieve one of history’s most unlikely victories?
Wednesday, July 1, 8:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
THE LAST BATTLEFRONT: QUEST FOR THE VOTE IN WASHINGTON, DC
This film looks at four turning points in the history of Washington, DC.
Thursday, July 2, 8:00 pm
AMERICAN DENDRITE
This road trip documentary follows the Mississippi River system from Chicago to the Louisiana Bayou, capturing intimate stories along the way.
Thursday, July 2, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
A CAPITOL FOURTH: 250TH WEEKEND CELEBRATION
Watch America's grand Fourth of July celebration – where music, fireworks, and heartfelt tributes light up the special night.
Friday, July 3, 7:00 and 8:30 pm; Saturday, July 4, 5:30 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
AMERICA MADE IN VIRGINIA: 250 YEARS TOGETHER
This live special from Colonial Williamsburg will reflect on America’s past, present, and future, concluding with a dramatic fireworks and drone display. Guests will include Ken Burns, Judy Collins, Michael Feinstein, Ryan Speedo Green, Kelli O'Hara, Richard Thomas, and more.
Saturday, July 4, 7:00 and 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
In this six-part docuseries created by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, thirteen American colonies win an eight-year war to secure their independence and establish a new form of government.
Sunday, July 5, 6:00 am and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
BECOMING AMERICAN: PHILADELPHIA’S STORY
Explore the founding of the United States through the lens of Philadelphia and how diverse communities shaped a new nation.
Monday, July 6, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
BREAKING THE DEADLOCK
A politically diverse panel explores freedom of speech and protest and the power of the vote, with the goal of finding common ground through civil discourse.
Tuesday, July 7, 8:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: THE PRESIDENTS – JFK
This two-part documentary explores the life, presidency, and legacy of John F. Kennedy.
Fridays, July 10 and 17, 9:00 pm
AMERICA THE BOUNTIFUL: AMERICA'S 250TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL
Host Capri Cafaro travels to storied locations of colonial America, highlighting the historic foods and drinks colonists were growing, harvesting, and producing.
Saturday, July 11, 5:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
RAILROAD STATIONS IN AMERICAN LIFE
Examine the role that U.S. railroad stations played in American history, from local civic centers to temples of transportation.
Sunday, July 12, 11:30 am and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
OUR VANISHING AMERICANA: FLORIDA
This film captures the spirit of Florida’s main streets through nearly 30 short stories from across the state.
Sunday, July 12, 1:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
A RIDE ALONG THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY
Explore America’s first coast-to-coast highway.
Sunday, July 12, 2:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED: DESIGNING AMERICA
Learn about a visionary whose parks and preservation are an essential part of American life.
Sunday, July 12, 3:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
BUILT TO LAST: THE LEGACY OF THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS OF MINNESOTA
During the Great Depression, men and boys took part in a program that would teach them job skills, restore logged-over forests, and create public parks.
Sunday, July 19, 11:30 am and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
REENACTING THE REVOLUTION AT MOUNT VERNON
This annual event utilizes reenactors who transform George Washington’s backyard into a living history experience.
Sunday, July 19, 12:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
BEFORE AMERICA
This program traces Indigenous resistance, memory, and sovereignty across the Great Lakes.
Sunday, July 19, 12:30 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
THE WAR OF 1812
This documentary examines the strange and awkward conflict that shaped the destiny of a continent.
Sunday, July 19, 1:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
AMERICA'S STAIRWAY
This is the story of the historic Flight of Five locks on the Erie Canal in Lockport, New York, a symbol of what a developing nation could achieve.
Sunday, July 19, 3:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
WISCONSIN LIGHTHOUSES
Explore the lighthouses that shaped Wisconsin's maritime history.
Sunday, July 19, 4:00 pm and streaming now on wttw.com and the PBS app
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S MOUNT VERNON: PRESERVING THE LEGACY
This renovation of George Washington’s sprawling estate has revealed new insights about the private person behind the public figure.
Sunday, July 26, 5:30 pm
HAYMARKET: THE BOMB, THE ANARCHISTS, AND THE LABOR STRUGGLE
In May 1886, workers' protest rally turned deadly when a bomb thrown into the ranks of police resulted in the execution of innocent activists.
Sunday, July 26, 6:00 pm
AMERIGO: THE SEARCH FOR THE AMERICAN DREAM
This sweeping documentary strives, through the voices of everyday Americans across all 50 states, to answer one timeless question: what happened to the American Dream?
Monday, July 27, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
SECRETS OF THE DEAD: LADY LIBERTY
This episode highlights the unique partnership between the United States and France that made the iconic monument possible.
Wednesday, October 7, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
SECRETS OF THE DEAD: SAVING TANGIER ISLAND
Scientists battle rising sea levels to save the tiny island that inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Wednesday, November 4, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
SECRETS OF THE DEAD: WHO FOUGHT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Discover how the Continental soldiers’ devastating loss at the Battle of Camden in South Carolina turned the tide of the war.
Wednesday, November 11, 9:00 pm and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
IN PURSUIT: LESSONS OF AMERICAN LEADERSHIP
In partnership with More Perfect’s IN PURSUIT project, Retro Report will bring to life leadership lessons learned from presidents and first ladies.
Fall 2026, date to be determined
CRAFT IN AMERICA: NORTH, SOUTH
North investigates the impact of the environment on craft artists in the Northern U.S. South discovers craft artists in the Southern U.S. who are building an inclusive and hopeful future.
Fall 2026, dates to be determined, and will be streaming on wttw.com and the PBS app
GREAT PERFORMANCES: SUFFS
This Broadway musical tells the dramatic story of the American suffragist movement.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app and YouTube
ROGUE HISTORY
This digital series shakes the dust off the history books to unravel myths, unearth narratives, and discover fresh perspectives.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
IN THE MARGINS
This series covers the history they didn’t teach in school, exploring obscure yet captivating tales that offer unique insights into their time and place.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICA
Examine the current social climate in Native America, diving deep into the factors that have shaped their contemporary circumstances. Hosted by comedian and actor Tai Leclaire, with a special episode coming in July.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
SOUND FIELD
Hosts Arthur “L.A.” Buckner and Lucia Sarmiento break down the sounds of freedom with in-depth discussions on music theory, history, and culture.
Streaming now on wttw.com, the PBS app, and YouTube
PBS FILM CLUB
The film club members have a special conversation about the American Dream through the lens of three documentary films from the past and present.
Thursday, July 9 streaming now on YouTube
KIDS PROGRAMMING
WOWSABOUT
Enjoy this vibrant family-friendly adventure from the Jim Henson Company set in Sequoia National Park, featuring live-action puppets.
Streaming now on WTTW Kids and YouTube
CITY ISLAND: USA!
A series of shorts that follow Watt and Windy as they travel across the country, meeting real-life landmarks that come to life to share their stories.
Friday, June 12 –will be streaming on WTTW Kids and YouTube
MOLLY OF DENALI: HAPPY BIRTHDAY QYAH
This episode celebrates the history of Native land and populations.
Monday, June 15, 2:00 pm and will be streaming on WTTW Kids and YouTube
XAVIER RIDDLE CELEBRATES AMERICAN HEROES
A series of four specials highlighting “ordinary” American kids throughout history who went on to do extraordinary things. The programs center on leaders, athletes, artists, and innovators.
Beginning Tuesday, June 23, 8:30 am and will be streaming on WTTW Kids and YouTube
ALMA'S WAY VERTICAL SHORT: AMERICA 250!
Alma celebrates America’s 250th birthday by comparing pictures of her neighborhood from a long time ago to today.
Thursday, July 2 –will be streaming on WTTW Kids and YouTube
