One-hour special premieres Apr. 9, 2025. at 9 p.m.ET/8 p.m. CT on PBS

New special will also be available for streaming at pbs.org/nova , NOVA on YouTube , and the PBS App

BOSTON, MA – March 27, 2025 – The award-winning PBS science series, NOVA, a production of GBH, today announced the new one-hour film “REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS” will premiere Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on PBS (check local listings) and will also be available for streaming at pbs.org/nova , NOVA on YouTube , and the PBS App .

REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS uses modern technology to examine the military weaponry colonists used in their fight for freedom and how these helped them secure one of history’s most unlikely victories. In NOVA’s latest documentary, timed to the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution, archaeologists and historians uncover the real stories of innovation, skill, and strategy that determined the outcomes of decisive battles, including Yorktown, Saratoga, and Lexington and Concord. From the Brown Bess Musket to the world’s first military submarine, viewers will get an up-close look at the powerful and sometimes ingenious weapons that propelled the American war effort to victory.

“As we near the 250th anniversary of the battles of Lexington and Concord and the first shots of the American Revolution, now is an ideal moment to reflect on how much warfare has changed,” said NOVA Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt. “Grasping the mechanics of these weapons and the harm they cause will enhance people’s understanding of just how challenging our struggle for freedom was.”

REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS profiles key weapons and technology used in the conflict, including muskets, long rifles, tomahawks, gabions, cannons, and the first military submarine, the brainchild of American inventor David Bushnell, who created the technology as a way for the colonists to combat the British’s powerful naval fleet. Live demonstrations give the audience a firsthand look at how the weapons worked and pose important questions like, Is the musket or long rifle more accurate? And what vulnerabilities do they present to a soldier? The film also explores Native Americans’ splintered allegiances, the weapons they used, and how their warfare tactics influenced how this and future wars would be fought. It also discusses the role of “Freedom Seekers,” enslaved people who volunteered and were drafted into the war, typically as laborers, hoping to be granted their freedom.

“Making this film and witnessing first hand the passion and knowledge of all the experts, historians, and re-enactors who helped us make ‘Revolutionary War Weapons’ was a highlight of my career,” said director Stuart Powell. “I hope everyone who watches this film shares in my appreciation for those who keep American history alive and accessible.”

REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS premieres Wednesday, Apr. 9, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT on PBS (check local listings) and will be available for streaming at pbs.org/nova , NOVA on YouTube , the PBS Documentaries Prime Video Channel, and the PBS App, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. PBS station members can view many series, documentaries and specials via PBS Passport . For more information about PBS Passport, visit the PBS Passport FAQ website. REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS is being distributed globally by PBS Distribution.

NOVA’s Revolutionary War Weapons is part of a series of programming and events that GBH is rolling out starting this spring to commemorate and explore the 250th anniversary of the founding of America.

“REVOLUTIONARY WAR WEAPONS” is a NOVA Production by Lion Television Limited for GBH. Produced and Directed by Stuart Powell. Produced by Leo Wyard. Executive Producers for Lion Television are Richard Bradley and Sarah Sarkhel. Executive Producers for NOVA are Julia Cort and Chris Schmidt. NOVA is a production of GBH.

Funding for this program and NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies, the NOVA Science Trust with support from Margaret and Will Hearst and Anna and Neil Rasmussen, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

About NOVA
NOVA is the most popular primetime science series on American television, demystifying the scientific and technological concepts that shape and define our lives, our planet, and our universe. The PBS series is also one of the most widely distributed science programs around the world, and is a multimedia, multiplatform brand reaching more than 55 million Americans every year on TV and online. NOVA’s important and inspiring stories of human ingenuity, exploration, and the quest for knowledge are regularly recognized with the industry’s most prestigious awards. In addition, science educators across the country rely on NOVA for resources used in the classroom as well as in museums, libraries, and after-school programs. NOVA is a production of GBH; more information can be found at pbs.org/nova , or by following NOVA on Facebook , X (formerly Twitter), or Instagram .

About PBS
PBS , with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 36 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 16 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, 53 million viewers on YouTube, and 60 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on  pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app , games on the PBS KIDS Games app , and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org , one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet,  Facebook , Instagram , or through our  apps for mobile and connected devices . Specific program information and updates for press are available at  pbs.org/pressroom  or by following PBS Communications on X.

About GBH
GBH is the leading multi-platform creator for public media in America. As the largest producer of content for PBS and partner to NPR and PRX, GBH delivers compelling experiences, stories and information to audiences wherever they are. GBH produces digital and broadcast programming that engages, illuminates and inspires, through drama and science, history, arts, culture and journalism. It is the creator of such signature programs as MASTERPIECE, ANTIQUES ROADSHOW, FRONTLINE, NOVA, AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, Arthur and Molly of Denali, as well as WORLD Channel and a catalog of streaming series, podcasts and on-demand video. With studios and a newsroom headquartered in Boston, GBH reaches across New England with GBH 89.7, Boston’s Local NPR®; CRB Classical 99.5; and CAI, the Cape and Islands NPR® station. Dedicated to making media accessible to and inclusive of our diverse culture, GBH is a pioneer in delivering media to those who are deaf, hard of hearing, blind and visually impaired. GBH creates curriculum-based digital content for educators nationwide with PBS LearningMedia and has been recognized with hundreds of the nation’s premier broadcast, digital and journalism awards. Find more information at wgbh.org .