Why History? puts the viewer in the passenger seat for an adventurous field trip through the heartland of the United States. Traveling highways and byways through six states, our host visits a variety of people and places in search of the true meaning of history. Why History? dispels the myth that history is limited to the study of names, dates, and events from the distant past. Instead, it reveals how analyzing and interpreting history is an integral part of understanding the past, present, and future of human activity—including social, political, scientific, economic, and cultural endeavors.

From South Dakota to Oklahoma, heading across Missouri and over to Tennessee, the host stops to interview professors, historians, curators, and many others who offer insight on the nature of history and its place in our lives. This traveling classroom visits such places as Mark Twain’s home; the Truman Library; Sun Studios (birthplace of rock and roll); Graceland; the National Civil Rights Museum; as well as old cow towns, rodeos, and the site of the Oklahoma City bombing. As the host and viewers discover the history of the Heartland, they also come to a broader understanding of history and how it relates to their own lives, their own communities, and the world.

A Cambridge Educational Production.

One 35-minute video.