Washington Crossing Park To Preview Ken Burns' 'The American Revolution'

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — A special preview screening of the new Ken Burns PBS documentary series, "The American Revolution," will be shown at the Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center this month.

The exclusive preview on Thursday, Oct. 23 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. is being presented by the Friends of Washington Crossing Park, in partnership with the Princeton Battlefield Society.

“Washington Crossing Historic Park and Princeton Battlefield are central to America’s Revolutionary story,” said Jennifer Martin, Executive Director of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park. “We’re honored to partner with the Princeton Battlefield Society as part of their Cadwalader Lectures to host this exclusive preview and panel discussion. The event will emphasize the vital role of reenactors and how the power of storytelling, whether through film, interpretation, or reenactment, deepen our understanding of this pivotal moment in history.”

Guests will enjoy a 45-minute curated preview reel from the series, introduced by Director Sarah Botstein, followed by a panel discussion moderated by Martin. The discussion will explore how documentary filmmakers, reenactors, and living-history interpreters collaborate to bring the Revolutionary era to life. The evening will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Panelists will include Sarah Botstein, Director and Producer of The American Revolution; Megan Ruffe, Co-Producer; Buddy Squires, Emmy-winning Cinematographer and founding member of Florentine Films; and James McKane, Living History Interpreter and Commander of the Third
New Jersey Regiment.

“Our film tells the remarkable history of the people who lived through the American Revolution, their everyday concerns, and their hopes, fears and failings,” said Sarah Botstein (The U.S. and the Holocaust [2022], Hemingway [2020], The Vietnam War [2017]). “Washington Crossing is one of those special places where you can experience the history where it happened. We’re so grateful to the team who welcomed us on-site and couldn’t be more excited to bring an early look at the series back to this historic location.”

The American Revolution is a six-part series that explores America’s fight for independence through the eyes of soldiers and civilians, Patriots and Loyalists, Native peoples, and African Americans. The series brings to life a defining moment in world history while highlighting the diversity of experiences that shaped the nation’s founding.

Several scenes were filmed at Washington Crossing Historic Park, reinforcing the site’s enduring role as a living classroom for Revolutionary history. The 12-hour series explores the Revolution as a war for independence, a civil war, and a world war that transformed millions of lives across North America and beyond. This program will celebrate that connection and provide audiences with a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film and its sweeping portrayal of America’s founding struggle.

The Washington Crossing Historic Park Visitor Center is located at 1112 River Road in Washington Crossing. Tickets are $20 for members of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park and the Princeton Battlefield Society, and $40 for general admission. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.