Ken Burns is giving a sneak peek of his newest documentary, “The American Revolution,” at Colonial Williamsburg on March 25. The preview event will take place at 8 p.m. in front of the Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area. Burns will kick off the free, public event with live remarks about the project before showcasing excerpts from the film on an outdoor screen.
“It’s a thrill to share the film with Virginians, especially in Colonial Williamsburg, which appears many times in our film,” said Burns. “As the capital city of Virginia, Williamsburg played a critical role on the road to revolution and around 250 years later, it was an essential resource and filming location for us to capture the look and feel of colonial life.”
Co-directors and producers Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt will join Burns at the event. Schmidt, who grew up in the Williamsburg area and previously worked at The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, will also speak.
“Colonial Williamsburg is very special to me, and I’m grateful for this full-circle moment to bring our film back home to this extraordinary place that inspired my love for history,” said Schmidt. Filming for “The American Revolution,” which has been in production for eight years, took place in over 100 locations across the nation.
Ken Burns previews documentary at Williamsburg
The filmmakers shot more footage in Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area than anywhere else. Viewers will recognize landmarks such as Raleigh Tavern, the grounds of the Governor’s Palace, the Capitol, the blacksmith shop, and nearly 20 additional Colonial Williamsburg locations. While admission to the screening is free, attendees are encouraged to register to receive event updates, including inclement weather notices.
Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets. For more information on inclement weather and parking options, visit Colonial Williamsburg’s website. The public screening is part of the third annual convening of nationwide organizers of the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
Previews of “The American Revolution” in Richmond and Williamsburg will kick off a series of screenings and associated events held across the country leading up to the premiere of the six-part, 12-hour documentary series on Sunday, Nov. 16 on PBS.
Photo by; Sam McGhee on Unsplash
