A new streaming series blends modern footage, historical reenactments, and interviews to tell the story of America through the lens of its birthplace, Philadelphia, writes Mike Newall for The Philadelphia Inquirer.
History Making Productions released the first episode of In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America, directed by Andrew Ferrett and written by historian Nathaniel Popkin, February 20. Timed to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary, the Semiquincentennial, the series explores several topical questions, from how the American experiment unfolded to how it can endure.
“Philadelphia is not just the birthplace of American democracy — it has been its proving ground,” said Sam Katz, series creator and executive producer. “This series looks honestly at how ideals were formed, challenged, expanded, and sometimes betrayed, and why that history matters so urgently.”
The series covers 400 years of Philadelphia history, from its Indigenous roots to the MOVE Bombing. It premiered February 19 at the National Constitution Center. The first episode is now streaming on the In Pursuit website, with another screening scheduled for February 26 at the Bok Building in South Philadelphia. New installments will roll out throughout the year as the nation celebrates its birthday.
Read more about what to expect from the In Pursuit series and how the project came about in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on PHILADELPHIA Today in February 2026.
