The Bigger Picture

History Series / 1 Season

Images can tell powerful stories. One iconic photograph can symbolize an entire era. But if we expand the frame and examine the moment in which it was taken, a very different story can emerge. In this series of documentary shorts, Harvard University historian Dr. Vincent Brown meets with curators, photographers and other experts to challenge common assumptions about iconic American images.

Watch: S1 E1

11m 22s

A chronicle of three members of the most influential family in American politics.

The story of the Second World War, told via personal accounts from four American towns.

Discover hidden gems through a thoughtful exploration of the world's greatest cemeteries.

Explore the revolutionary life of one of the 18th century's most consequential figures.

Exploring the remarkable life and legacy of James J. Hill who built a transportation empire.

Ken Burns and Lynn Novick explore the writer and his enduring influence.

An illuminating portrait of a man who is one of the greatest writers in American history.

The dramatic story of the American Buffalo's near extinction—and the people who saved it.

Discover how an innovative ad campaign made Springmaid sheets a household name.

An American epic overflowing with heroes and hopefuls, scoundrels and screwballs.

Trace the bridge's transformation from a feat of heroic engineering to an honored symbol.

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE brings to life the compelling stories from our past!

Supported by

The Bigger Picture

The Roosevelts

The War

World's Greatest Cemeteries

Benjamin Franklin

The Empire Builder James J. Hill and the Great Northern Railway

Hemingway

Mark Twain

The American Buffalo

Miss Springmaid

Baseball

Brooklyn Bridge

American Experience