Dear , ValleyPBS Viewer

Beginning this week, ValleyPBS is airing a series of documentary programs in observance of the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War. Ken Burns' epic documentary THE CIVIL WAR, is the focal point of this commemorative lineup of shows. For five consecutive nights at 8pm, this award-winning series brings to life America's most destructive - and defining – conflict.

THE CIVIL WAR, which first aired in 1990, remains the highest-rated series in the history of American public television. The series has been honored with more than 40 major film and television awards, including two Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, Producer of the Year Award from the Producers Guild, People's Choice Award, Peabody Award, duPont-Columbia Award, D.W. Griffith Award and the Lincoln Prize, among dozens of others.

THE CIVIL WAR was a milestone in the history of documentary film and television," notes John F. Wilson, chief TV programming executive at PBS. "When THE CIVIL WAR premiered, the nation became increasingly riveted by the story and the filmmaking. Twenty-one years later, the re-mastered film remains relevant and modern. The storytelling and use of music, experts and personal narratives, along with a stunning collection of period photographs, are just as poignant today as when it premiered."

"I think the interest in THE CIVIL WAR grew out of Americans longing to understand their past, the pretty and the ugly, and the desire to tap into the past to create a better sense of who we are as a people and a place," Ken Burns said. "Today, as we reflect on the Civil War on the 150th anniversary of the start of battle, I'm very proud that our small film continues to help us understand the magnitude of that conflict, the impact it had on individuals, families and towns large and small, and the ongoing place it holds in our collective memory."

ValleyPBS gives viewers of all ages the opportunity to embark on great adventures, stepping into other times and places – THE CIVIL WAR is one of the finest examples of what makes public television so special.

Michelle Epstein
Chief Development Officer
& ValleyPBS Member

P.S. What do Nubian goats, Raiders season tickets, a kitchen remodel, Lasik surgery, a stay at the Hilton San Francisco, and a 2011 Chevy Cruze LT all have in common? They are all up for bid at a fraction of the retail price during the annual ValleyPBS Spring Auction at valleypbs.org/auction. Bid high and bid often to support the shows that you enjoy on ValleyPBS!