Reading Road Trip Pennsylvania

The 250th anniversary of our nation is rapidly approaching. To celebrate, PBS Books has teamed up with the Library of Congress (LOC) and LOC's Centers for the Book to document the important literary heritage of our nation through American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. The vision of this series stemmed from conversations where LOC and PBS Books wanted to spark dialogue in local communities about the important literary heritage of our nation—we hope this episode can be a tool to do that for you!

PBS Books is pleased to share that Pennsylvania will be featured on Tuesday, May 26 at 8pm ET. As one of the original 13 colonies, this episode is captivating and ties the historic past with contemporary literary authors. Since you may be interested in watching it, here’s a bit more about the upcoming episode.

👉Streaming Tuesday, May 26, 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT on Facebook, YouTube, pbsbooks.org and the PBS App!

About This Episode

Pennsylvania’s story is steeped in history, from Pittsburgh through the Appalachians to Philadelphia and beyond.

Home to literary and cultural trailblazers like Benjamin Franklin (Poor Richard’s Almanack), Nellie Bly (Around the World in Seventy-Two Days), Bayard Rustin (Time on Two Crosses), August Wilson (Fences), and Fred Rogers (It’s You I Like), the Keystone State has long shaped the American experience through storytelling, journalism, activism, and the arts.

Today, writers including Jennifer Weiner (Good in Bed), Marjorie Maddox (Seeing Things),Eric Smith (With or Without You), and Dr. Raina J. León (Black God Mother This Body), continue that tradition with bold, contemporary voices.

Explore Pennsylvania’s rich literary landscape through its historic libraries, iconic bookstores, and remarkable museums on American Stories: A Reading Road Trip — an American250 digital experience from PBS Books and the Library of Congress — premiering May 26 at 8 PM ET | 5 PM PT.

👉Click here for the full line-up of historic and contemporary authors, libraries, bookstores, and landmarks featured in this episode.