About Us
Our American Story (OAS) is a dynamic online hub designed to support community organizations, educators, and individuals with original multiplatform content, and free and accessible resources for community engagement around history, civics, and culture.
We believe in the power of storytelling to help us understand our shared past and our roles as citizens today. That’s why we’ve built this site for bringing those stories to life in your community. Whether you’re a public media producer planning a screening, a librarian organizing a discussion series, a teacher building a lesson plan, or simply someone curious about the issues shaping the world around you, OAS gives you the tools to start meaningful conversations in your community.
What You’ll Find Here
- Original short-form and long-form content (coming soon!)
- Discussion guides and activity toolkits
- Resources designed for a range of settings—classrooms, libraries, community centers, and public events
- Materials that connect historical context to present-day questions about justice, democracy, and civic life
Our content and resources are built to be flexible and easy to adapt, so you can shape them to fit your community’s needs, whether you’re hosting a small conversation or a large public event.
Our Story Behind Our American Story
Our American Story was created by the National Productions team at WETA, the flagship public media station serving the nation’s capital. Founded in 1961, WETA is the leading public broadcasting station in the Washington, D.C. area, serving Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia with educational, cultural, news, and public affairs programs and services.
WETA is also proud to be the producing partner for renowned documentarians Ken Burns and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including recent titles like The American Revolution, Leonardo da Vinci, Black and Jewish America: An Interwoven History and Finding Your Roots. WETA has also produced acclaimed history series such as Asian Americans and Iconic America, along with health and wellness campaigns from WellBeings.org, a multiplatform initiative addressing critical health needs across the country.
WETA’s mission is to produce and distribute content of intellectual integrity and cultural merit using a broad range of media to reach audiences both in our community and nationwide. We leverage our collective resources to extend our impact, stay true to our values, and respect the diversity of views, culture, and heritage that shape the American story.
