In honor of the nation’s 250th Anniversary and as part of PBS America @ 250 – a multi-year initiative designed to engage viewers nationwide with history and civics.
PBS Fort Wayne news release:
PBS Fort Wayne honoring America’s 250th birthday with special programming through Independence Day
Fort Wayne, Indiana (June 22, 2026) — In honor of the nation’s 250th Anniversary and as part of PBS America @ 250 – a multi-year initiative designed to engage viewers nationwide with history and civics through inspiring stories, performances, and educational programming – PBS Fort Wayne will celebrate with a special showcase of programs through July 4th offering viewers new perspectives of our nation’s founding.
PBS Fort Wayne President/CEO Ed Leon states, “We are proud to offer Northeast Indiana this unique slate of PBS programming that celebrates our grand American Experiment. These stories and programs not only illuminate our past but inspire a better present and future America.”
Stated Paula Kerger, President and CEO of PBS. “Our nation’s history deserves to be honored, and through this work, we are doing just that. PBS was made for this type of national reflection.”
A centerpiece of this programming block is the rebroadcast of the blockbuster documentary, The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, with the first episode airing Friday July 3rd and Episodes 2 through 6 airing back-to-back on Saturday July 4th from 9:30 AM to 8 PM. This documentary miniseries will also be available for streaming for free through July 12 on the PBS app and at pbs.org.
A new addition to PBS Fort Wayne’s traditional Independence Day programming will be A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration airing Friday July 3rd at 8 PM. This special will be hosted by country music icon Trace Adkins and feature the National Symphony orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly.
On Saturday, July 4th, the all-new special, America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together will celebrate America’s 250th from revolutionary-era Colonial Williamsburg. This star-studded live tribute will feature performances, immersive historical interpretations and dazzling fireworks.
The full slate of programs scheduled on PBS Fort Wayne as part of this initiative are, by date and time as follows:
Tuesday, June 23, 2026 • 9 PM
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution
Part 1 of 2:The Break Up Lucy Worsley takes a new look at the events, from the British perspective, that led to America’s Declaration of Independence.Friday, June 26, 2026 • 8PM
Firing Line Special: America at 250-Pursuing a More Perfect Union
Host Margaret Hoover brings together Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and General Stanley McChrystal (Ret.) to reflect on the principles that have sustained the American experiment in self-government for two and a half centuries.Monday, June 29, 2026 • 8 PM
Antiques Roadshow: 250 Years of Americana
Antiques Roadshow shares discoveries reflecting 250 years of American art, artifacts, crafts and collectibles.Monday June 29, 2026 • 10 PM
Declarations: Black Americans and the Revolutionary War
This documentary shares the heroic stories of the enslaved and freed Black Americans who fought to define democracy and their liberty through the Revolutionary War.Tuesday, June 30, 2026 • 9 PM
Lucy Worsley Investigates: The American Revolution
Part 2 of 2: A Messy Divorce—Lucy Worsley investigates how The American Revolution affected Britain, with sabotage, espionage and political unrest reshaping the empire.Wednesday, July 1, 2026 • 9 PM
NOVA: Revolutionary War Weapons
Discover the key military technologies that helped propel the colonies to victory, from the Brown Bess musket to the world’s first military submarine.Thursday, July 2, 2026 • 9 PM
Amerigo: The Search For The American Dream
As America approaches its 250th birthday, this sweeping and deeply human documentary goes in search of the American Dream through 1,000 voices, 50 states and one timeless question: What happened to the American Dream?Friday, July 3, 2026 • 8 PM
A Capitol Fourth: 250th Weekend Celebration
Country music icon Trace Adkins will be headlining the event and debuting a new patriotic song, “American Made.” Adkins will be joined by the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Jack Everly and conclude with live coverage of the biggest fireworks display ever held at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.Friday, July 3, 2026 • 10PM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 1 – In Order to be Free
Opposition in colonial North America to British policies over taxes, land, and sovereignty escalates into violent confrontation.Saturday, July 4, 2026 • 9:30 AM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 2-An Asylum For Mankind
As New Englanders work to force the British Army from Boston, Congress puts George Washington in command of a new Continental Army. In July 1776, Congress declares American independence.Saturday, July 4, 2026 • 11:35 AM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 3: The Times That Try Men’s Souls
British General Howe soundly defeats General Washington at Long Island and in Manhattan. Washington’s army regroups before attacking an outpost at Trenton.Saturday, July 4, 2026 • 1:35 PM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 4: Conquer By A Drawn Game
After beating General Washington in battle, General Howe takes Philadelphia, forcing Congress to flee the city. But the Americans’ surprising victory over General Burgoyne at Saratoga encourages France to openly support the United States.Saturday, July 4 2026 • 3:35 PM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 5: The Soul of All America
After Valley Forge and Monmouth, the French-American alliance changes the war and moves it to other theaters. The British take Charleston, South Carolina.Saturday, July 4, 2026 • 5:35 PM
The American Revolution, a film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt
Episode 6: The Most Sacred Thing
British General Cornwallis struggles to pacify the southern states. Supported by the French, Washington wins the decisive victory at Yorktown. With Independence secured, Americans aspire for a more perfect union.Saturday, July 4, 2026 • 8 PM
America Made in Virginia: 250 Years Together
Celebrate America’s 250th from revolutionary Colonial Williamsburg, where the path to independence began, in a star-studded live tribute featuring performances, immersive historical interpretations and dazzling fireworks.This schedule is available online.
About PBS Fort Wayne
PBS Fort Wayne is the northeast Indiana region’s only locally owned and operated full power television service and its only public television resource. Totally locally funded, PBS Fort Wayne broadcasts six channels, 24 hours a day: Its main channel on 39.1; PBS KIDS on channel 39.2; Create TV on channel 39.3; The WORLD Channel on channel 39.4 (Documentaries, international news, public affairs, arts and culture programming), PBSFWx on channel 39.5, providing our northeast Indiana’s only freely broadcast National Weather Service Doppler radar, weather warnings and National Weather Service audio, and finally, channel 39.6, providing a live broadcast of the Allen County Public Library’s Audio Reading Service. In addition, PBS Fort Wayne live streams its main channel (39.1), channel 39.2-PBS KIDS, channel 39.3/CreateTV, and now, 39.5/PBSFWx and the NHK network in the northeast Indiana region on its website, pbsfortwayne.org, through the PBS app and the PBS Fort Wayne app.
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