As the birthplace of the Revolution, Massachusetts is at the center of a national movement to acknowledge this historic moment. GBH’s America 250 efforts have four pillars: Convening, Content, Collaboration and Community. Anchoring our America 250 initiative is the content planned across every GBH program. From ANTIQUES ROADSHOW to The World, to NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, GBH News and more — with partners in Boston and across the Commonwealth, we are creating multi-platform content that connects to themes embedded in the American Revolution and the Declaration of Independence. Explore the collection as it evolves from now until July 2026 and beyond.
From Colony to Commonwealth
From its harbors to its hills, Massachusetts ignited a revolution against the British crown 250 years ago. Our rolling series, From Colony to Commonwealth: Massachusetts and the American Revolution, reveals spectacular stories about that tumultuous path to self-governance.
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NOVA: Revolutionary War Weapons
Explore key military technologies in the American colonies’ fight for freedom.| 53:39 -
Ken Burns Brings The American Revolution Back to Concord
Acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns visited the Concord Carlisle High School and introduced a film clip from his upcoming documentary, The American Revolution, highlighting the tense and pivotal battles of Lexington and Concord that ignited the war.Partner:WGBH
Recent America 250 Updates
Coming Soon: AAPB and America 250
In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The American Archive of Public Broadcasting (AAPB) is proud to join the national effort to commemorate this milestone by reflecting on our nation’s past through the diverse stories, experiences, and accomplishments of Americans throughout history.
To mark this anniversary, the AAPB’s America 250 landing page will highlight pivotal moments in U.S. history and culture. Organized into three key themes—America’s Culture, American Innovation, and Civics, History, and America’s Future—this curated page features special collections, exhibits, and archival media materials that capture the nation’s rich and diverse legacy.
A collaboration between the Library of Congress and GBH, the AAPB was established in 2013 with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). As a national initiative to digitally preserve and provide access to historically significant public radio and television programs, the AAPB offers a growing archive of more than 200,000 programs, all freely available for streaming in the Online Reading Room.