In North Carolina, the American Revolution looked more like a civil war—with neighbors fighting neighbors and families torn apart. This history is rarely in the textbooks. Homegrown History visits rural counties throughout the state, goes deep into local archives and listens to communities who share their stories for the first time. Join us as we uncover Revolutionary War stories unlike any we’ve ever heard.
Watch Homegrown History, premiering Thursday, 7/16, 8 PM on PBS NC, the PBS app and online. Find additional airtimes across PBS NC & the North Carolina Channel on our TV Schedules page. Stories from Homegrown History will also be available on YouTube.
The American Revolution was North Carolina’s first civil war, with families making difficult decisions on whether to support the patriots or the British crown. Through primary-source evidence, heart-wrenching journal entries and fieldwork with descendants of ancestors who fought on opposite sides, we discover the human cost behind one of history’s most celebrated victories.
Premiering Thursday, 7/16, 8 PM on PBS NC and the PBS app.
Two heroes of the American Revolution—enslaved mariner Currituck Jack and free soldier of color Zachariah Jacobs Holmes—helped build a nation, but their stories were nearly lost. Join us as we work with community members and descendants to uncover their courageous contributions to the patriot cause.
Premiering Thursday, 7/23, 8 PM on PBS NC and the PBS app.
North Carolina’s natural resources fueled the American Revolution and helped define the new nation. Join us as we explore how a prehistoric pine forest built the British Empire, how a forgotten coalfield powered our fight for independence and how communities are writing the next chapter of our natural history.
Premiering Thursday, 7/30, 8 PM on PBS NC and the PBS app.
Working with members of the Lumbee and Sappony Tribes, we uncover two extraordinary stories: the mysterious account of a chief, Captain Sweat, and his horsemen; and a warrior who survived Valley Forge, helped free a nation and helped build an enduring Native American community in North Carolina.
History belongs to all of us, and PBS North Carolina wants to hear all about your local history, from family lore to stories about the people, places and events that have shaped your community. Your knowledge and insights will help guide us as we develop new content about our state's history.
Homegrown History is also a multiyear public history initiative exploring the state’s rich past. This ambitious project will include community engagement events throughout North Carolina, new broadcast and digital content exploring local history and resources for students and educators.
