A series of weekly library watch parties spotlighting Ken Burns’ new documentary, “The American Revolution,” starts today (Wednesday).
The six-part PBS series focuses on the Revolutionary War and the “ideals and complexities of America’s founding.” The Alexandria Library plans to host episode watch parties on consecutive Wednesdays through March 11.
Tonight’s watch party is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. in the large meeting room of the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, located at 5005 Duke Street. The first episode dives into escalating tensions and violence leading up to the start of the Revolutionary War.
The documentary aired on PBS in November after Burns unveiled it at Mount Vernon, hosting a preview and panel alongside co-directors, producer Sarah Botstein and historian Rick Atkinson.
“Learning your history helps you understand where you are and make the future brighter,” Botstein said in the panel. “These are really instructive, exciting, inspiring, useful stories to understand who we are as a people, good, bad and ugly.”
The rest of the Alexandria Library’s watch party schedule is available, below.
- Episode 2: Feb. 11 from 2-5:30 p.m. at James M. Duncan, Jr. Branch Library, 2501 Commonwealth Avenue
- Episode 3: Feb. 18 from 5-7 p.m. in the Sprouse Rare Book Room at the Kate Waller Barrett Branch Library, 717 Queen Street
- Episode 4: Feb. 25 from 5-7 p.m. at the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street
- Episode 5: March 4 from 2-4 p.m. at the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road
- Episode 6: March 11 from 2-4 p.m. at the Ellen Coolidge Burke Branch Library, 4701 Seminary Road
