Discovering Alexandria: The 20th Century Premieres December 1 on WETA TV 26

A new film produced by WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation’s capital, examines the historic city of Alexandria, Virginia, during the rapid cultural and technological changes of the 20th century. Discovering Alexandria: The 20th Century premieres Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 8pm on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD.

“The rich history of Alexandria has had a notable impact on life in Northern Virginia,” WETA president and CEO Sharon Percy Rockefeller notes, “As we continue to explore our local neighborhoods, WETA is proud to highlight the prominent role the city has played within Greater Washington.”

Discovering Alexandria: The 20th Century explores the people, places, and events that defined the remarkable port city of Alexandria, VA, during an era of industrial change and social progress. Stories include the ammunition-to-art evolution of the Torpedo Factory; the construction of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial; the heyday of Potomac Yard, one of the busiest railroad hubs on the Eastern Seaboard; and the significance of the Barrett Branch Library, site of one of the country’s first sit-in protests. Fondly remembering notable and favorite locations past and present, Discovering Alexandria: The 20th Century discovers the iconic sites that helped to shape the city we know today.

Following two previous documentaries Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years; and Martyrs, Mayhem & Martial Law: Life in Civil War Alexandria, this latest film joins the WETA portfolio of local productions created exclusively for television viewers in Greater Washington.

A production of WETA TV 26, Discovering Alexandria; The 20th Century features research and archival footage courtesy of the Alexandria Library and additional city resources, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives. Featured local historians and experts in the film include Jim Mackay of The Lyceum; Lance Mallamo of the Office of Historic Alexandria; Audrey P. Davis of the Alexandria Black History Museum; Susan Hellman of Carlyle House Historic Park; and author Ted Pulliam.

Visit weta.org/alexandria for additional information. Press materials and photography can be found at weta.org/press.

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About WETA
WETA Television and Classical WETA 90.9 FM are public broadcasting stations serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia with high-quality programming. Classical WETA 90.9 FM brings classical music, concerts and specials to Greater Washington. As the leading PBS station in the nation’s capital, WETA Television broadcasts on four channels: WETA TV 26, WETA HD, WETA UK and WETA Kids. WETA Television celebrates the people and history of this region through programs such as WETA Around Town, WETA Extras and WETA Arts. For national PBS audiences, WETA Washington, D.C., is one of the largest-producing stations of new content for public television in the United States, with news and public affairs programs including PBS NewsHour and Washington Week; films by Ken Burns such as The Civil War and The Roosevelts: An Intimate History; and performance specials from the White House, the U.S. Capitol, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. WETA creates leading public service websites such as www.ReadingRockets.org, www.LDOnline.org, www.ColorinColorado.org, www.AdLit.org and www.Brainline.org; and develops community outreach programs to engage people of all ages in the joy of lifelong learning. The WETA studios and administrative offices are located in Arlington, Virginia. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at www.weta.org. On social media, visit www.facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.