As 2026 approaches and America prepares to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, many individuals and groups have undertaken efforts to spotlight North Carolina’s role in the American Revolution. I wanted to highlight two of these for you below.
Ken Burns interview previews “The American Revolution” documentary
Tonight at 7 p.m., PBS North Carolina’s David Crabtree will interview Ken Burns, co-director of a new six-part documentary about the American Revolution, and discuss North Carolina’s vital role in the War for Independence.
Watch the program, “Focus on: An Interview with Ken Burns,” tonight, Thursday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. on PBS NC or stream it on the PBS app.
You may know Ken Burns from his numerous well-done documentary films — ranging from “The Civil War” and “Baseball” to “Country Music,” “The Vietnam War” and “Jazz.” Tonight’s interview is a precursor to his new “The American Revolution” documentary series, the first episode of which will premiere on PBS on Nov. 16, with consecutive episodes running nightly through Nov. 21.
We strongly urge you to watch tonight’s interview, which should begin to establish the backdrop for the discussion of our country’s 250th (semiquincentennial) celebration of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
We hope that you and your family will join us in watching this interview tonight and make plans to watch “The American Revolution” starting Nov. 16.
JLF’s “Revolutionary Roads” podcast highlights NC’s role in Revolution
Let me introduce you also to the John Locke Foundation’s “Revolutionary Roads” podcast, which you can find on Locke’s website or YouTube channel.
The podcast is part of Locke’s NC 250 project, which is dedicated to educating North Carolinians about the importance of the American Revolution to our country and bringing to life the role that everyday colonists from North Carolina had on our country’s founding.
Launched on Oct. 15, “Revolutionary Roads” is a 10-episode podcast. Hosted by Locke President and CEO Donald Bryson, it features guests with expertise on the American Revolution in North Carolina who answer questions such as: Is the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence real or just a myth? Who were the women of the Edenton Tea Party? And why did North Carolina take years to sign the U.S. Constitution?
We highly recommend that you watch these episodes and give us feedback. We hope they provide educational opportunities for teachers and professors to dig into North Carolina’s experience in the American Revolution and that North Carolinians who are interested in our state’s history will share them with their friends and family.
To watch “Revolutionary Roads,” visit Locke’s YouTube channel. (To select a specific episode, go to the list in the top right corner.) You can also listen to the episodes anywhere that you get your podcasts.
