Look back at the founding of the United States, nearly 250 years ago. In the struggle between American colonists and the British Empire, how did Indigenous people and the Spanish Empire play a role? And what was happening in what’s now Arizona while a war for independence was raging in the east?
Join us for an “America @ 250: What Happened In AZ?” screening and panel discussion on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Prochnow Auditorium, 317 W. Dupont Ave., Flagstaff, AZ 86011. Doors will open at 1 p.m. with the program beginning at 2 p.m.
We’ll explore Indigenous voices of the late eighteenth century, east and west – including stories of American revolutions that predate the Revolutionary War – as well as the state of Spanish exploration in the Southwest around 1770.
Featuring selections from Arizona PBS’s new digital series “What Happened in AZ” and excerpts of the new documentary series by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt, “The American Revolution.”
Register to join us, learn more about our panelists or view a map with parking details below.
Meet our panelists
Dr. Eric Vaughn Meeks
As a Professor in the Department of History at Northern Arizona University, Dr. Meeks’ research and teaching focus primarily on the history of the US-Mexican borderlands and on the history of race and ethnicity in North America. His first book was “Border Citizens: The Making of Indians, Mexicans, and Anglos in Arizona” (Austin: University of Texas Press, 2020 [2007]). He has published essays on the history of Indigenous peoples, ethnic Mexicans, trans-American borderlands, race and labor.
Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin
Dr. Hays-Gilpin is the Edward Bridge Danson, Jr. Chair of Anthropology at the Museum of Northern Arizona (MNA) and also Professor of Anthropology at NAU. She holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Arizona and has nearly 40 years of experience studying rock art, pottery and other visual arts in the Southwest. Her current research focuses on the histories and arts of Hopi and Zuni communities and their relationships with land and water.
Carol Yancho
Our moderator for the evening will be Carol Yancho, Senior Director of Content at Arizona PBS.
A six-time Michigan Regional Emmy® Award winner, Yancho joined our team in 2024 after spending eight years at WKAR where she served as a senior producer and director. Prior to her time in public media, Yancho spent time producing content for national networks, including HGTV, A&E, CNN and more.
Where to park
Here is a link to view the parking maps online for the Northern Arizona University campus. You may also view or download a pdf where the Prochnow Auditorium is circled at the top of the map and arrows point to parking places.
Please note:
• Prochnow Auditorium is building 3A.
• P58 is the parking garage directly across the street from Prochnow Auditorium, which would require guests to pay to park there.
• P3 is a lot that is closest to Prochnow Auditorium that would be free. Any other available parking spot on campus would be free as well.
We look forward to seeing you at this special event!
Thank you to our event partners
• KNAU
• Arizona Daily Sun
• Arizona Historical Society
• Arizona Genealogical Advisory Board
• Sons of the American Revolution
• Daughters of the American Revolution
Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation; and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
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