At Colgate University last week, President Obama recommended Ken Burns’s THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION as a “quick synopsis” for a course on democracy. We agree.

Geoffrey C. Ward and @kenlburns.bsky.social write about Franklin D. Roosevelt and the political force of durable optimism. FDR entered office in 1933 with one in four Americans out of work, 9,000 banks failed, and public confidence collapsing.

Lonnie Bunch is a great historian, public servant and a dear friend. He has devoted his career to helping us understand the full American story in all its complexity. Our country is better for his work, and I am deeply grateful for it.  www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/a...

Smithsonian’s Secretary to Resign as Trump Tries to Rule the Institution (Gift Article)

In the face of escalating White House attacks about how museums present American history, Lonnie G. Bunch III has announced his decision to depart.

nytimes.com

On this day 250 years ago, the Battle of Long Island began. It was fought in what is now the borough of Brooklyn, including Prospect Park, Flatbush, and Crown Heights. It was a crushing defeat for George Washington. Here's Ken Burns introducing a new UNUM playlist on NYC's Revolutionary History.

The iconic, inimitable Dolly Parton will be deeply missed. Here’s a clip of her remembering her mother’s singing from COUNTRY MUSIC.

On August 15th, 1969, half a million Americans gathered on a dairy farm in upstate New York for Woodstock—a festival devoted to music and peace. In Vietnam, another half a million Americans were still at war. Watch the clip from THE VIETNAM WAR.

On this day in 1948, Satchel Paige shut out the White Sox. At 42, he was the oldest rookie in the history of professional baseball. A week later, he shut them out again. Watch the clip from BASEBALL.

What went into creating an American identity? First, a lot of walking. On this day in 1775, recruits from outside New England began to join the Continental Army in Cambridge, MA. Among the first were 96 riflemen from Virginia. Watch the clip from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Happy birthday to @kenlburns.bsky.social, pictured here in 1990, the broadcast year of The Civil War.

On this day in 1885, Ulysses S. Grant died. He had finished his memoirs days before. The two volumes would sell half a million copies and save his family from financial ruin. Watch the clip from THE CIVIL WAR.

On this day in 1941, Joe DiMaggio's 56-game hitting streak came to an end. Eighty-five years later, no one has come close to breaking his record. Watch our clip from @kenlburns.bsky.social's BASEBALL.

Fifty-five years ago today, President Nixon began the process of establishing relations with China. The historic opening raised fears for South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who worried about the future of his country. Watch this clip from THE VIETNAM WAR.

Tomorrow is July 4th, a day featured prominently in THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. Did you know it's in a lot of our older films too?

1/ Documentary filmmaker @kenlburns.bsky.social reflects on Franklin Roosevelt’s leadership during historical challenges like the Great Depression and WWII in this short by Retro Report, based on @inpursuitusa.bsky.social, for @pbs.org.

The first Canyon of Heroes march celebrated the opening of the Statue of Liberty, as workers and others marked the occasion with an impromptu walk up Broadway. Today as we applaud the Knicks, let’s remember that New York has always welcomed heroes of all kinds. Here’s a clip from STATUE OF LIBERTY.

On this day in 1775, the British won the Battle of Bunker Hill. But the victory came at a cost, 40% of the attacking force was killed. The British were facing a far more formidable enemy than they had anticipated. Watch the clip from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

On this day in 1971, The New York Times began publishing The Pentagon Papers, revealing the government’s internal account of US involvement in Vietnam—a version the public had not yet seen. Watch the clip from VIETNAM.

On this day in 1925, a 21-year-old Lou Gehrig took the place of Yankees first baseman Wally Pipp. He remained there for the next 2,130 consecutive games—a record that stood for 56 years. Watch the clip from BASEBALL.

On Monday, we lost Sonny Rollins, one of the greatest saxophonists who ever lived. Watch the clip from JAZZ.

On this day in 1781, Lord Cornwallis's army arrived in Virginia. He intended to hunt down the Marquis de Lafayette. But Lafayette was too nimble to catch. Watch the clip from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

On May 10, 1869, Americans across the country celebrated the joining of the rails at Promontory Summit in Utah by a great golden spike. A cross country journey would now take days instead of months. Watch the clip from THE WEST.

Mark Twain, the man William Dean Howells called "the Lincoln of our literature," died on this day in 1910. He influenced everyone from Ernest Hemingway to Saul Bellow to Percival Everett. Watch the clip from MARK TWAIN.

UNUM on the Road continued in late February as @kenlburns.bsky.social and co-director Sarah Botstein brought America's story to the @britishlibrary.bsky.social They don't entirely agree on how it goes. It's a long film.

On Presidents Day we honor all those who have served as President and celebrate the birthday of George Washington, whose presidency was so distinguished even King George had to admit he was “the greatest character of the age.” Watch our clip from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.

Abraham Lincoln was born today in 1809. Here is a clip from our film, THE CIVIL WAR, featuring Lincoln’s 1862 annual message to Congress.

In 1870, the explorer Truman Everts—lost in what would become Yellowstone National Park—had to deal with a nasty snowstorm. He survived by hugging a heat spring for warmth. Hoping your snow story has been less challenging. Here’s a clip from THE NATIONAL PARKS.

On January 20, 1947, the Negro League star Josh Gibson died from a stroke. One of the greatest to ever play in any league, Gibson died alone, destitute, and in pain. Watch our clip from BASEBALL.

320 years ago, Benjamin Franklin was born into a crowded Boston household. Franklin treated reading like a craft and authority like a problem to be solved. At five he was reading the Bible, and soon after, he was editing the doctrine, suggesting one prayer for the whole winter’s food to “save time.”

250 years ago, Common Sense, the most important pamphlet in American history, was first published, energizing the colonies with a newfound hope for freedom. Our newest UNUM Playlist takes clips from THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION focused on Thomas Paine and his indelible words.

JAZZ premiered 25 years ago today on @pbs.org As @kenlburns.bsky.social explains here, music outpaces language. Jazz changed American music permanently.