PBS America @ 250 is a multiyear celebration of U.S. history, culture, and children's programming, now through America's Semiquincentennial in 2026 and beyond. This summer, from June 27 through July 4, 2026, PBS and KBTC will showcase a collection of its programming during a special week commemorating this important milestone.
KBTC is paying homage to the country’s founding by telling local stories of Washington's history and welcoming community members to events designed to engage our community and inspire conversation around history, culture, and civics.
Watch and stream | Visit the KBTC program schedule and explore KBTC Originals for a curated selection of national and local shows and features celebrating Washington's history and its people.
Attend an Event| Join the conversation! Watch for KBTC community events where you'll be invited to gather, engage in discussions, exchange ideas, and recognize 250 years of Washington state history.
KBTC America @ 250 Events
Upcoming Events - check back soon!
Past Events
Free Facebook Live Event:
American Stories: A Reading Roadtrip | Washington
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
5pm
Buckle up and join PBS Books and the Library of Congress as they visit the state of Washington on their next stop in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip!
Free Screening & Discussion
Unheard Voices of the Revolution
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
6pm - 7:30pm
Tacoma Public Library Main Branch
How does our understanding of the American Revolution change when we look at the whole story? Join KBTC and Tacoma Public Library for a screening of The American Revolution. After the screening, stay for a thoughtful panel discussion and Q&A focused on the unheard and underrepresented voices of the Revolution and how these perspectives continue to shape our understanding of history today.
Free Screening & Discussion
Let's Talk About the American Revolution: Why the Past Matters to Your Future
Friday, January 30, 2026
3:30pm-5pm
Tacoma Public Library Main Branch
Join KBTC and Tacoma Public Library for a screening of The American Revolution. After the screening, stay for a youth-centered conversation and live Q&A.
The American Revolution Screening Photos - October 9, 2025
Washington @ 250 - Local Perspectives
The Importance of Storytelling
Afghanistan Combat Veteran Peter Cowman shares his thoughts on the importance of storytelling, the impact Ken Burns' documentaries had on his own life, and how Ken Burns' new documentary, The American Revolution, can elevate discourse about who we are as a country and who we want to be moving forward. Watch now >
KBTC Storytelling: Connecting with Washington State's Rich History
Explore Washington's place in the larger American story! KBTC presents stories of early settlers, descendants of Revolutionary War participants, and the evolving landscape our region, reflecting on how the people and land of this region have changed over the past 250 years.
Tacoma's Chapter of Sterling Worth: Daughters of the American Revolution
Paul McClintock crafts historically accurate 18th-century reproductions.
Tacoma's Fort Nisqually Living History Museum.
The life and legacy of Chief Seattle.
Learn how this unique founder's legacy still echoes through the town today.
Securing women's voting rights.
Making quilts to honor those who served.
A look at the Job Car Cabin Museum - where it all started for Tacoma.
A look at the 1885 Tacoma Chinese expulsion.
A local actor performs in tribute to Thurgood Marshall.
Explore the Chehalis and Centralia depots in the history of Washington's twin cities.
War veteran Mel Schulstad recalls the impossible odds in early days of World War II.
Full Focus remembers Lt. Col. Kevin Shea and how people are giving back to these heroes.
A profile of Michael Reagan, a professional artist painting fallen U.S. Service Members.
Local military heroes.
PBS America @ 250 - Featured Shows
Explore American History
At the helm of the PBS America @ 250 initiative is The American Revolution, a new six-part, 12-hour documentary series from David Schmidt, Sarah Botstein, and Ken Burns, which explores the country's founding struggle and its eight-year War for Independence. Stream it now with the free PBS app.
More to Watch
Watch the broadcasts on KBTC (dates and times below, access the KBTC livestream HERE), online at pbs.org, or on the PBS app.
Railroad Stations in American Life | Stream with the PBS app
Prohibition - A Film by Ken Burns & Lynn Novick | Stream with KBTC Passport
Benjamin Franklin – A Film by Ken Burns | Stream with KBTC Passport
Concord's Secret History | Watch a preview
Thomas Jefferson – A Film by Ken Burns | Stream with KBTC Passport
Muhammad Ali - A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon | Stream with KBTC Passport
American Experience: Fatal Flood | Stream with KBTC Passport
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History – A Film by Ken Burns | Stream with KBTC Passport
American Experience: Surviving the Dust Bowl | Stream with KBTC Passport
American Experience: The American Vice President | Stream with KBTC Passport
Resources for Teachers
Bring U.S. History to life in the classroom! Browse our collection of U.S. History videos, interactive activities, teaching materials, and more. Find engaging curriculum-aligned content on topics such as the Revolutionary War, Reconstruction, the Great Depression, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
