In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America

In Pursuit: Philadelphia and the Making of America is a multi-part documentary series exploring American history, democracy, and identity through the story of one city. From its founding to the present day, Philadelphia offers a unique lens on the forces that shaped the nation.

Featuring more than 200 scholars, journalists, artists, activists, and community voices, the series includes perspectives from Ursula Rucker, Allen Guelzo, David McCullough, Marcus Anthony Hunter, Lenape/Delaware educator Jeremy Johnson, Sophia Rosenfeld, and Andrea Mitchell.

In Pursuit examines Philadelphia’s role during the Civil War, the promise of Reconstruction, the Great Migration, and the rise of industry driven by railroads and robber barons. The series continues into the twentieth century, tracing Urban Renewal, deindustrialization, and the ongoing struggles for civil rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and women’s rights in a city constantly redefining its future and its place in America.