FYI, you can also watch PBS shows online @ PBS.org, and The American Revolution first episode is up at the official site, linked there.

I'm looking forward to watching as well.

Yes, we in Pennsylvania do live in history. Remember our license plate years ago...America Starts Here. My SIL reminded me of this show, and I plan to watch. It's being recorded now. I loved Burns's Civil War shows years ago, and I especially resonate with that series because the Civil War was in my backyard. The owner of our house was killed by a Confederate sniper as he stood at our picket fence.

Excellent Part 1. Thanks for the reminder, Ded.

About a dozen years ago I took a group of 6 outstanding community college students to a conference at Penn State. Two of the students were immigrants from Ethiopia and one from Laos along with their midwest born peers. None had ever had the opportunity to visit PA or the east coast so I arranged for us to spend a day exploring Philadelphia. Our first stop was the Liberty Bell. All of the students were excited to see it but the reaction of the 3 "New Americans" was total awe and joy! They were overwhelmed with emotion and so was I as I watched them. We toured Independence Hall and other historic sites but I will never forget what the Liberty Bell represented to them.

All of the students were amazed when I told them that ancestors from both my Mom's and Dad's side fought in the Revolutionary War.

Wow! This was everything I thought it would be. If I were a history teacher, watching this would be a requirement. It's even harder to do this than it was making the Civil War series, because at least there were photographs and many letters to feature. I especially liked that in the 1750s, 15,000 people were immigrating to America every year. Both sides of my family had been here 40 years at that point, and when they showed the map of Philadelphia and tracked through Lancaster County, Gettysburg, Hanover, and down to the Carolinas, it was poignant. They mentioned that many thought of themselves as British since they ruled, but I was wondering about my ancestors, who came from Switzerland on the paternal side and Germany on the maternal side, and wondered which side they would have been on. They arrived in Philadelphia in 1708 and 1710 and both settled in Lancaster County.

It was so good! I have a history degree and my college internship was in Philadelphia working for the Dept of the Interior (mostly researching and cataloging artifacts from colonial/revolutionary days), and learned several things I didn't already know.

Did anyone notice all the celebrities voicing the profiled people? I thought I heard a few I recognized, like Laura Linney and Paul Giamatti, so looked it up on IMDB, and sure enough, there they were: The American Revolution (TV Mini Series 2025) - Full cast & crew - IMDb

Also, there is a podcaster, Jordan Harbinger, who recently had a chat with Ken Burns (episode 1238). He talked about the process of making the film. Interestingly, they refused to include anything not proven to be factual, like Betsy Ross' and Paul Revere's roles in the revolution, so they aren't named in the show. Ken Burns | What If the American Revolution Isn't Over? | Jordan Harbinger

Lily I also have German ancestors, part of the Pennsylvania settlers. Im sure some were involved in the Revolution. Ill have to dig out more family history.

I was so impressed with the documentary. It was absolutely riveting. I will have to watch it again because there was a lot to absorb. I was especially impressed with how the contributions of women , slaves, and indigenous people were highlighted.

The story of the young fifer was touching.

We didn't watch it last night because of the Eagles game (Birds won!) but we will be seeing it tonight. I live between Trenton and Princeton and Revolutionary War history is everywhere here. We have battlefield monuments and old barracks and historical markers all over. There's a reenactment of Washington crossing the Delaware here on Christmas Day and thousands of people line the river banks to watch it.

Yeah, go Eagles ( our national bird)! I kept switching channels to see how they were doing.

Im waiting to see if Washington actually crossed the Delaware standing up in a boat in the middle of the day. Kind of doubt it.

Ded, lol it looks like Washington did take the trip standing up but the troops crossed the river and marched to Trenton on Christmas night. 2,500 soldiers crossed the river that night!

FYI if the river has this much ice on it the reenactment is usually cancelled.

Another wonderful reason to contribute to PBS. I think they might show the series once, and then future airings are just shows about the show (the makings of..). Or at least a very abreviated version. I think that's been the case for previous Ken Burns productions. (National Parks and Country Music). I love PBS and am grateful for its exceptional programming. We watch it all the time.

If you contribute to your local public TV/radio stations, you will get Passport, which is their streaming service. You may find the complete series there. (I haven't looked yet.)

I need to find a way where I can pause the shows. I dont have a dvr. I need occasional bathroom breaks!

No, Washington did not stand up in the boat crossing the Delaware, especially during a storm and with the river so icy. He was smarter than that.

Watched last night. As is expected with anything by Ken Burns, I thought it was wonderful and no matter how much I know about history, there are always interesting surprises.

@sushipup2...yes, thank you, sushi. That's what I meant to say, but my post wasn't very clear.

Ken Burns has produced an impressive and perhaps even incomparable body of work in his career. He's a national treasure. More recent series have intimated that he may not be quite as involved in the day-to-day toils as he once was. No worries though, he's obviously assembled a team of very capable people to "make it happen" to his very high standards.

I haven't started watching yet.

I struggled for a time in deciding whether to continue being a "member" of my local station or not and decided to stop. Maybe it varies from place to place but the editorial positioning my local station and certainly the PBS system seem to favor is often not in step with my own views. There isn't much of their programming I find I want to watch.

I'm almost always quite opposed to the prevailing right-side views but I often feel the same about the other side that these stations favor.

It's too bad they can't find a way to operate straight down the middle; they may not have lost public funding at the hand of the current extremists had they have done so.

Edit to correct error, I said "too bad they can" which is obviously wrong.

Elmer, true. Same with NPR.

My ancestors fought in the American Revolution.

Imagine the brutal cold. No warm boots, polarfleece coat linings, good gloves.

Horrific. It’s hard to think about. Men saying goodbye to their families, never to return.

Ken Burns — a master. I remember watching my first Ken Burns’ docu — The Brooklyn Bridge — in a small theatre, lecture in Northampton, MA. perhaps around 1980.

The Atlantic Magazine, November 2025 issue is dedicated to the American Revolution.

" My ancestors fought in the American Revolution. "

petalique, a quick search suggests that there are many millions of Americans alive today whose ancestors were so engaged. About 7 million is the estimated number.

My reaction to your comment is "Yes, good. Why do you mention that, does that reflect on you in some way?"

I didn't realize till the credits rolled that some famous actors did the voice-overs. Laura Linney, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti. I told my husband (who watched the last half hour because you know the Eagles come before anything in life) that I thought the narrator was Tom Hanks, and I was wrong.

@Elmer J Fudd Many of us whose ancestors fought in the Revolution are members of DAR. We are nonpartisan and support many causes which support our present military veterans. We contribute thousands of volunteer hours to better our country. DAR is also a sponsor of this PBS series.

I have a great great great great … aunt who was a victim of the Salem trials. I broke into tears when I read that.

I can and have also shed tears for my FIL and my father’s experiences, hardships and many close calls during WWII; the things they went through, the constant peril. Being blown out of the water or flying in an Army Air Corps prop plane over the Himalayas, Burma, North Africa. Those men and their comrads. It gives me chills. If I ever get to the Vietnam Wall and touch and read a friend’s name, I will also be in awe and cry.

Ever read an account of the men who perished with the USS Indianapolis? That always gets me.

@lily316, the narrator is Peter Coyote, who has done many of Ken Burns' documentaries. I get a kick out of the fact that Ben Franklin is voiced by Mandy Patinkin...not someone you'd normally think of in that role.

Lily, i was surprised by the list of narrators. Impressive performances, especially Peter Coyite.

I also had an ancestor who fought in the revolution, just an ordinary farmer who joined up.

texan, I applaud anyone who shares what they have, no matter if money or time or something else, to benefit the general public. Not enough people do so.

My question remains unanswered though - I've never understood the importance or the distinction some seem to imply by enthusiastically announcing being a descendent of someone who did this or that. Especially since even knowing that must require having some interest in genealogy, not necessarily a broadly shared hobby.

There must be descendants today of people who, say, were involved in the Civil War who know about it, and those who don't know. It wouldn't seem to matter or reflect on either person one way or the other. Why or how does someone who does know to have such a link, want to often mention it? Does it matter or reflect on them today at all? I think not, or am I missing something?

Deadtired wrote: I need to find a way where I can pause the shows. I dont have a dvr. I need occasional bathroom breaks!

I press the pause/start button ⏸️ on my FIOS remote. It will freeze-pause the program for a good while. I use it all the time. Located center of the remote. Then press the play arrow ▶️ when you want to resume. Know what I mean?

EF, I think that in your strong reaction*, you are missing something.

*biased assumptions

Thanks, Petalique, but that doesn't work for me. I believe my cable box doesn't have that capability.

Just finished episode two. I never knew that the patriots invaded Canada. Im learning so much. And smallpox! What a horror on top of other horrors.

Id like to suggest that we keep this thread on topic, which is discussing this documentary. If anyone wants to talk about their opinions of PBS and NPR, please start another thread. Thanks.

Such an interesting episode. I had no idea about the smallpox epidemics, and had never heard of Lord Dunmore. The fact that the runaway enslaved people made the southern colonies more inclined against the British and therefore toward independence was eye-opening. Talk about unintended consequences!

“EF, I think that in your strong reaction*, you are missing something”

I have an opinion, as I’ve expressed, but I don’t think it’s particularly biased. Not more or less than any opinion others have. What am I missing? Thanks

Started watching tonight - I recognized a number of the voices - Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks are unmistakable. Peter Coyote has voiced numerous documentaries.

How did you know it was Mandy Patankin? I was trying to find out who did what, but the official show page doesn't list the actors at all, and the IMDB page only lists the actors as 'Self' - and there are so many!

List of actors @ IMDB.com :

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35328184/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_cst_sm

FWIW, all the episodes are now available @ PBS.org

We also have the PBS app on Roku, and I have PBS Passport - which is basically a monthly donation of an amount you choose.

Thank you ded, my DH is watching! (I'm not able to now).

Episode two was mindblowing. I never heard of the smallpox epidemic and the invasion of Canada. Those patriots were the real thing. The Founding Fathers were so intelligent, and their writings were eloquent. Fast forward 250 years. I totally forgot about Peter Coyote. He has the best voice. I'm confusing Tom Hanks because he was the narrator of The Americas earlier this year. Is there an episode every night this week?

How did you know it was Mandy Patankin?

First, I thought I recognized his voice, which is pretty unmistakable. He did Franklin for Ken Burns' documentary on him (just as Giamatti did Adams in the miniseries, and he's Adams once again here.) Then I went to check. You can see the whole list if you scroll down here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_American_Revolution_(TV_series)

Ded, if you join PBS Passport you can stream all the PBS shows and stop and start when you wish. We watch Antiques Roadshow, This Old House and even PBS Newshour anytime. All the episodes of AR are available to stream too. We're not reliant on broadcast schedules!

Sorry. I removed my recent comment.

Another sorry for a different reason-

It occurred to me I should have mentioned another worthwhile information source for those interested in learning more about the American Revolution.

This is something known to perhaps most of you but just in case - Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Atkinson has completed two books of an expected three book series on the American Revolution. His research is thorough and impeccable and his writing style is very engaging. He's started work on the third book in the series but I'm not aware of a projected release date. Other than, each of his other books has taken a number of years to complete.

So after reading the first two books, readers will have to wait for the release of the third one to know how the story ends. 😀

We are really enjoying the show. @Elmer J Fudd I’m about halfway through the first book. I am learning so much from both.

I am really glad that I'm recording this series. It is loaded with facts and I found myself pausing and rewinding just to catch some of the details. There were times I wanted to download a transcript so that I could read and absorb at my own pace. I know I'll watch it again.

And on a side note - this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer mentions another past time of our founding fathers. Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, Paul Revere, John Jay frequented the City Tavern to dine and drink - apparently it was the proverbial political hotbed.

https://www.inquirer.com/food/bars/revolutionary-war-taverns-drinking-a-man-full-of-trouble-20251121.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=must_read_alerts_11_21_2025&int_promo=newsletter&utm_term=42668089.82205

I honestly found the fifth episode to be so bloody and horrific I had to turn it off, but will definiely catch up on the PBS app. Im amazed what people lived through ( and didnt) at this time.

I loved the story of the brave fifer who went on to be a successful dentist and made George Washington’s dentures! And they werent wood.

I have a framed sketch of the City Tavern that is 150 years old, so an interesting fact that the founding fathers ate and drank there. I also have eleven other Philadelphia taverns part of that set that are extremely old. They are a set inherited by my husband's father. They probably belong somewhere in Philly in a museum, but where?

Yes, the gruesome, gory details are sobering. How people of the time expressed and demonstrated their resolve in the face of overwhelming force is super impressive. We're watching about half an episode each time, as it is very dense with info for sure.

lily - What an interesting collection. I wonder if the Museum of the American Revolution would be interested?

This quote is from the Inquirer "By 1776, Philadelphia boasted roughly 200 licensed and illegal watering holes — or about one for every 150 citizens, said Tyler Putman, senior manager for gallery interpretation at the Museum of the American Revolution. "

My favorite drink was the cocktail that John Adams called - The Whipped Sillabubs - a 'boozy, creamy concoction ... of sherry, wine and lemons.'

lily, are your prints this series? https://philaprintshop.com/products/preston-james-city-tavern-walnut-above-2nd-street. If so, they are very nice but not rare.

Bookwoman...Thank you so much. These ARE the prints that we have hanging up our staircase. My father-in-law owned and operated a large tavern and was given these in the 1920s. He was told there were only a few copies in existence. He took them to a well-known framer and had each of the twelve put in a plain, solid maple frame with glass, thus preserving them. The twelve taverns that hung in FILs tavern, were the ones that existed during the revolution. If my kids don't want them someday, who would in the Philly area?

I wonder if the Print and Picture department at the Free Library of Philadelphia would take them?

You could certainly ask the Museum of the American Revolution; if they don't already have a set, they might be happy to have them as a donation: https://www.amrevmuseum.org/

You could also check with Temple or Penn - both have large collections relating to Philadelphia history. The city itself has an archive - but from what I've read all too often things go there to be lost.

There is another possibility that is rather unique - certainly not as reference worthy as the Museum of the American Revolution or the Free Library. It's another tavern, the only one that dates back to pre- Revolution times. A Man Full of Trouble, built in 1759 has recently re-opened. and is even serving drinks again after a 100 year hiatus. It's small, only two row homes but on the second floor Dan Wheeler, the attorney who saved the building has a space dedicated to the Revolutionary history of the neighborhood and tavern life in the city. The story of how he rescued the building is fascinating.

Unfortunately City Tavern closed during Covid. The original City Tavern was damaged by fire in the 1800's, razed and a new one re-constructed on the same site.