Our Origin Story 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator 
with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  

-Excerpt from the Declaration of Independence 

Last November, WTVP, along with PBS stations across the country, debuted the 12-hour, six-part Ken Burns’ series, The American Revolution, bringing this masterfully researched and pristinely produced program to the American people, for free. No commercials, no noise, no advertisements. You didn’t have to buy a ticket or subscribe to a streaming service. People across the country connected through their local station platforms, on broadcast and digital, and collectively paused to reflect on our origin story. It was a shared moment of learning, reflection and connection for the American people. 

It was also a moment for PBS. The American Revolution was the first PBS title to break into the top 10 streaming titles on the Nielsen ratings, with tens of millions of people streaming the documentary during its debut week.   

In celebration of our country’s 250^th anniversary, WTVP is rebroadcasting all six episodes of The American Revolution from July 3 through July 4, with the series available to stream on demand well after Independence Day.  

Reflecting on the lessons he’s learned, Ken Burns says, “There is no them in our America, it really is just us, we the people, living in this one nation endowed with life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,and trying our best to form a more perfect union.”  

Now for a fun local fact! Ken Burns, arguably the greatest documentary filmmaker of all time, also serves as the Guest Curator for the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s exhibition, America 250: The Promise of Liberty. Museum CEO John Morris and his team have worked with Ken Burns to craft a profound exhibition featuring one-of-a-kind historical artifacts that document our shared “promise of liberty.” You won’t find another exhibition like this anywhere else in the country. Like the American Revolution, this exhibition will leave you changed, mindful of democracy's origins and deeply grateful for the liberties we share today.

Happy Independence Day! 

Jenn