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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

May 27, 2023
Teaching Combat Surgery - 1958

This 1958 Department of Defense video, using simulated combat conditions, showed how surgeons were taught to handle wounds. It was…
May 27, 2023
Atomic Bomb Safety for Students

American students learned safety and preparedness in case of an atomic bomb explosion in this 1951 public awareness…
November 9, 2020
Movies at War

This “Film Bulletin” produced by the U.S. Army Signal Corps shows how training, informational, and Hollywood films were…

May 13, 2023
Logging in the 1930s

This early documentary showed lumbering operations. The silent film, later reconstructed with voice, was created by the…
May 11, 2019
President Nixon Address on Vietnam War

In his first address to the nation on Vietnam, President Richard Nixon proposed the withdrawal of U.S. forces from…
May 6, 2023
Army Recreation - 1968

This 1968 U.S. Army video described recreation activities available for military personnel as was released as “To Serve a…