What do you get when one of our favorite Spiders is on national TV? A whole lot of #SpiderPride, of course! But don’t take our word for it. You can see for yourself, because historian Ed Ayers is the host of a new PBS show, “The Future of America’s Past.”

Ayers, who also is our Tucker-Boatwright Professor of the Humanities, presents a fresh approach to how history is presented by traveling to places that define the most misunderstood parts of America’s past.

“I’ve learned that history isn’t only found in archives,” Ayers said. “I want to introduce the people on the front lines to the public because they are the ones who help us understand the past and why it matters so much today.” 

We’re excited to follow along as he learns from National Park Service interpreters, museum educators, artists, and activists about how they engage a diverse public with the fullness of our nation’s history. Plus, filming for the second season is already underway!