History - Footage Vault

Historic Jamestown settlement and church site linked to Virginia's first representative assembly in 1619

Jamestown 1619: The First Representative Assembly in English America

On July 30, 1619, elected burgesses met at Jamestown. See why that small assembly became an early step toward representative government in English America.

By Footage Vault

July 19, 2026September 13, 2026

Historic New Jersey constitution manuscript and Revolutionary era imagery representing the state’s 1776 move to self-government

History

New Jersey’s 1776 Constitution: Self-Rule Before July 4

New Jersey adopted its first state constitution on July 2, 1776. See how a five-day charter helped turn a colony into a state during the Revolution.

By Footage Vault

July 17, 2026September 13, 2026

Historic Detroit River waterfront showing the waterway that shaped Detroit’s founding and growth

History

Detroit Founded in 1701: How the River Built the City

Detroit was founded beside the Detroit River in 1701. See how water, trade, Native nations, and location helped shape the city’s rise.

By Footage Vault

July 15, 2026September 13, 2026

Roanoke Island coastline representing the 1587 Lost Colony settlement in North Carolina

History

Roanoke Lost Colony: What Happened on the North Carolina Coast?

The Roanoke Lost Colony remains one of early America’s great mysteries. Learn what happened, what “Croatoan” may mean, and why the case is still open.

By Footage Vault

July 13, 2026September 13, 2026

Civil War soldiers fighting near Atlanta during the 1864 Atlanta Campaign

History

Battle of Atlanta: The July 1864 Fight for the City

The Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, was a key fight in Sherman’s campaign for the city. Learn why Atlanta mattered, what happened in the battle, and how it shaped the Civil War.

By Footage Vault

July 11, 2026September 13, 2026

Historic view of early Cleveland beside Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River

History

Cleveland Founded in 1796: How a Great Lakes City Began

Cleveland began in 1796 when Moses Cleaveland led a survey team to Lake Erie. Learn why the site mattered, how the city grew, and what shaped its early history.

By Footage Vault

July 9, 2026September 13, 2026

Historic Kaskaskia site tied to George Rogers Clark's 1778 Revolutionary War campaign

History

Kaskaskia 1778: George Rogers Clark Takes the Frontier Town

On July 4, 1778, George Rogers Clark captured Kaskaskia without a major battle. The small frontier move helped weaken British control in the West and shaped later American claims.

By Footage Vault

July 7, 2026September 13, 2026

Gettysburg battlefield landscape where Union and Confederate forces fought in July 1863

History

Gettysburg: The Three July Days That Changed the Civil War

The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863. See why the Union victory mattered, what the battle cost, and why the fields still draw visitors today.

By Footage Vault

July 5, 2026September 13, 2026

Portrait of John Quincy Adams, sixth U.S. president and longtime public servant

History

John Quincy Adams: A Life Built on Public Service

John Quincy Adams spent most of his life in public service. See how his early years, diplomacy, presidency, and long career in Congress shaped his legacy.

By Footage Vault

July 3, 2026September 13, 2026

Historic illustration tied to New York's 1788 ratification of the U.S. Constitution

History

New York Ratifies the Constitution: The Close 1788 Vote

New York ratified the U.S. Constitution on July 26, 1788. See why the close vote mattered, how the debate shaped the Union, and why the Bill of Rights followed.

By Footage Vault

July 1, 2026September 13, 2026