The West / Ken Burns presents ; directed by Stephen Ives ; written by Geoffrey C. Ward & Dayton Duncan ; produced by Stephen Ives, Jody Abramson, Michael Kantor ; executive producer, Ken Burns ; a co-production of Insignia Films and WETA-TV Washington ; in association with Florentine Films and Time-Life Video & Television ; The West Film Project, Inc., Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, Inc.
Individual episodes of this program are indexed by the PBS Video database of America's history & culture merged index. The index is available in print and online. Program notes on set container include episode summaries and a message from Ken Burns & Stephen Ives ("New perspectives on the West".) Special feature (disc 3): "The West" trivia quiz (10 questions.) Special feature (disc 4): "The West" trivia quiz (10 questions.) Special features (disc 1): making-of featurette (9 min.); interview with Burns & Ives (originally broadcast on The Charlie Rose Show, 22 min.); 4 interactive maps; "The West" trivia quiz (10 questions); "Did you know ...? Frontier facts" (10 entries.) "Presented in a format preserving the aspect ratio of its original television exhibition"--Container. Originally produced as a documentary television program in 1996. Special feature (disc 5): "The West" trivia quiz (10 questions.) Special feature (disc 2): "The West" trivia quiz (10 questions.) Narrated by Peter Coyote.
Contents:
disc 1. Ep. 1, The people (82 min.) -- disc 2. Eps. 2 & 3, Empire upon the trails (84 min.) ; The speck of the future (84 min.) -- disc 3. Eps. 4 & 5, Death runs riot (84 min.) ; The grandest enterprise under God (84 min.) -- disc 4. Eps. 6 & 7, Fight no more forever (85 min.) ; The geography of hope (84 min.) -- disc 5, Eps. 8 & 9, Ghost dance (58 min.) ; One sky above us (62 min.)
Summary:
Chronicles the history of the American West, starting with the first European explorations and ending with the beginning of the 20th century. Examines the impact of the white settlers on the lives of the Native Americans and the land. Also discusses the Gold Rush, the Civil War, the building of the transcontinental railroad, the battle of Little Bighorn, and the massacre at Wounded Knee.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.