Donate

Journey through the 20th century with archival films on public affairs.

Covering American History C-SPAN style: with event coverage, eyewitness accounts, and discussions with authors, historians and teachers. Every weekend from 8am ET Saturday to 8am ET Monday on C-SPAN3.

In January, 2011, C-SPAN expanded its programming offerings with a new history-based service airing weekends on C-SPAN3. American History TV (AHTV) features programming geared toward history lovers with 48 hours every weekend of people and events that document the American story.

C-SPAN began C-SPAN3 operations in January 2001 as a digital service. C-SPAN3 is currently available in 49 million digital cable TV households and is streamed live online at C-SPAN.org.

At the time of the launch of American History TV, C-SPAN co-president Susan Swain said: "We’re hoping American History TV does for history enthusiasts what Book TV has done for non-fiction book lovers."

Most Recent Reel America Videos

September 9, 2023
Constitutional Basis for U.S. Army

This 1988 U.S. Army video explained the origins of the U.S. Constitution and specific provisions which deal with the…
September 23, 2023
First Infantry Division in WWII (1946)

This 1946 War Department film showed combat operations in the 1st Infantry Division during World War II. The 1st…
September 16, 2023
Excavation of the Donner Party Site

This 1994 U.S. Forest Service film showed an excavation of a site believed to be a Donner Party campsite. The Donner…

September 16, 2023
Airports Mean Business

This 1972 video from the Department of Transportation explained how economic development may be linked to community…
January 5, 2019
Meet Your Federal Government

This is a 15-minute classroom film from 1946 that described how the three branches of government work. In Meet Your…
September 9, 2023
Wind - An Energy Alternative

This 1980 Department of Energy video looked at the history and use of wind power for national energy resources. Reel…