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

November 9, 2019
The Wall

This 1962 U.S. Information Agency film produced by Hearst Metrotone News showed the situation before the construction…
January 21, 2023
1943 WWII Army Spy Cartoon

This animated short film was a cautionary tale designed to instruct service personnel about security. Part of a series,…
January 17, 2016
Martin Luther King Press Conference

Martin Luther King, Jr., was interviewed by four journalists for “Press Conference U.S.A.,” a U.S. Information Agency (USIA)…

January 14, 2023
Voyager II's Rendezvous with Saturn

This U.S. Information Agency video from 1986 showed discoveries photographed by Voyager II as the satellite made its…
January 14, 2023
Inside Lehman Caves National Monument

This 1971 National Park Service video described the unique limestone formations of the Lehman Caves in Great Basin…
December 10, 2022
History of American Dance - 1956

This 1956 video from the U.S. Information Agency showed the evolution and various styles of American dance throughout the…