The entire HEC Media team is saddened to learn of the passing of Jim Althoff.
Jim was the host of the long-running HEC-TV program Frames, for which he will be fondly remembered by our local film making community. We at HEC consider ourselves very fortunate to have had him both as a colleague and as a friend. Our thoughts are with his family in this difficult time.
You can learn more about Jim's incredible life here.
The Art of a Parade
For many, the America’s Birthday 4th of July Celebration parade is a highlight of the summer. Now you can witness the process that goes into making the extravagant floats featured every year.
Our First Civil War
Historian H.W. Brands explores how the Revolutionary War pitted neighbors against one another. He also gives insights into the motivations of major historical figures like George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, as well as the enslaved and indigenous people who found themselves pulled into the conflict.
Welcome to Cannon School
While most people today are thinking of fireworks, some would rather explore a different kind of explosion. Once a year, people with interests ranging from the revolutionary war to pirates gather at an old fort in Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois to learn the in and outs of how to fire a cannon safely.
The Rise of George Washington
David O. Stewart discusses his newest historical book George Washington: The Political Rise of America's Founding Father. Learn how this military man became the single most dominant force in the creation of the United States of America.
Finding Eliza Hamilton's Voice
Eliza Hamilton, wife of the first U.S. Treasurer Alexander Hamilton, famously burned most of her letters leaving much of her personal details shrouded in mystery. But a pair of researchers have managed to piece together her remarkable story in the book My Dear Hamilton.
A Declaration and a Mystery
On July 4th, 1776 a printer in Philadelphia produced 200 copies of the Declaration of Independence, and that was sent throughout the colonies to Great Britain to let everyone know about the founding of a new nation. Now, one of these historic prints is housed at Washington University in St. Louis.
Watch Spotlight every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on Channel 11
In this week’s episode we celebrate the 4th of July with the St. Louis Symphony dedicating a song to the crew & families of the USS St. Louis, go behind the scenes of America’s Birthday 4th of July Celebration parade, hear from author David O. Stewart about the political rise of George Washington, author H.W. Brands illuminates the intensely personal nature of early Americans’ ideas about independence, discover Eliza Hamilton’s role as a founding mother from authors Stephanie Dray & Laura Kamoie, learn the story behind a broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence housed here in St. Louis, and have a blast at cannon school.
St. Louis’ four time winner of the Station Excellence Emmy Award and the world's foremost creator of distance learning, HEC Media is the metropolitan area's leading producer of education, arts, and cultural programming. HEC can be seen on Spectrum 989, AT&T U-verse channel 99, over-the-air digital channel 2.2, and anytime on www.hecmedia.org.
HEC Media's mission is to "Strengthen and promote the education, arts, and cultural communities in theSt. Louis metropolitan area."
