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The American Buffalo: A Film by Ken Burns

"The American Buffalo," a film by Ken Burns, is the biography of the continent's most magnificent species, an improbable, shaggy beast that nonetheless has found itself at the center of many of our nation's most thrilling, mythic, and sometimes heartbreaking tales. It is a quintessentially American story, filled with a diverse cast of fascinating characters. But it is also a morality tale encompassing two important and historically significant lessons that resonate today.

"The American Buffalo," was directed and executive produced by Ken Burns, written by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Julie Dunfey and Burns. The documentary premiered on Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17 on Panhandle PBS.

In coordination with "The American Buffalo," Panhandle PBS produced "Strong Spirit," a two-part series that explores bison and Native Americans in the Texas Panhandle. Episode one features the Goodnight Herd at Caprock Canyon and how bison impact the ecosystem. Episode two explores the way Native Americans use stories to pass down tribal knowledge and traditions.

For more information about "The American Buffalo," visit pbs.org/kenburns/the-american-buffalo.

Local Content

Events

Resources

Local Content

Native American Voices

Native American Voices

Alex Gregory, Curator of Art at the Amarillo Museum of Art, discusses the current AMoA exhibit "In Our Own Words: Native Impressions" and the shift in how Indigenous people are portrayed in media. Comanche Nancy Boles explores some of the misconceptions people have about Native Americans.

Native American Voices 2

Explore the deeper meaning behind artifacts on display in the Amarillo Museum of Art and the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum, and how those meanings are uncovered.

Strong Spirit: Segments

Behind the Scenes with Andrew Hay

During production of "The American Buffalo," filmmakers and researchers from Florentine Films visited several Texas Panhandle Locations, including Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. Here's a little behind-the-scenes insight from PPHM Executive Director Andrew Hay. 

Behind the Scenes with Donald Beard

We met with Park Superintendent Donald Beard to discuss all things bison as well as Ken Burns and crew visiting Caprock Canyons State Park to film for "The American Buffalo."

Behind the Scenes with Alex Hunt

Check out this behind the scenes look with Alex Hunt, Director for the Center for the Study of the American West at West Texas A&M University. This special look comes from wen we interviewed him about his knowledge on Bison and his meeting with Ken Burns and crew for their documentary "The American Buffalo."

Benny Tahmahkera – Quanah Parker Day

Benny Tahmahkera has played Quanah Parker in the "TEXAS" outdoor musical drama since 2012. It's fitting since he is a descendant of the last Comanche chief.

Eldrena Douma: Bison Jumps

Have you heard the story of the bison jumps? We had Native American storyteller Eldrena Douma in our studio tell us all about it.

Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum: "The Fall and Rise of an American Icon"

We talked with PPHM Executive Director Andrew Hay to learn more about the interactive exhibit, "The Fall and Rise of an American Icon." Both film and exhibit chronicle the near-extinction and resurgence of the National Mammal — with much of that history having occurred right here in the Texas Panhandle.

Donald Beard: Bison Jumps

Listen as Caprock Canyons Sate Park Superintendent Donald Beard tells us what he knows about the bison jumps in the canyon.

Goodnight Herd: Charles Goodnight

Here is a little information about the Charles Goodnight bison herd that flourish in Caprock Canyons State Park. 

Ken Burns' "The American Buffalo" premieres October 16 and 17 at 7 p.m. on Panhandle PBS!

Strong Spirit: Bison and the Ecosystem

Let's take a trip to Caprock Canyons State Park to see what we can learn about the bison living there. "Strong Spirit" will air after the premiere of Ken Burns' "The American Buffalo" October 16 and 17 at 9 p.m. on Panhandle PBS.

Strong Spirit: Indigenous Origin

Quanah Parker Descendant Lesley Pike discusses the range of emotions she experiences when wearing her regalia.

Strong Spirit: Bison & the Ecosystem

Doctoral Research Fellow Joseph Gazing Wolf discusses what it means to be a keystone species.

Strong Spirit: Bison & the Ecosystem

In this segment of "Bison & the Ecosystem," Tim Steffens, Rangeland Management Specialist for WTAMU & Texas Agrilife, shares some of his knowledge with us.

Strong Spirit: Indigenous Origin

Quanah Parker descendants discuss the importance of preserving the Comanche language.

Strong Spirit: Indigenous Origin

Quanah Parker descendants talk about participating in powwows and how that makes them feel more connected to their heritage.

Strong Spirit: Storytelling

Native American storyteller Eldrena Douma talks about living on the Hopi Reservation in Arizona and how that time shaped her love of storytelling.

Strong Spirit: Storytelling

Explore the "magic number" in Native American storytelling.

Strong Spirit: Full Episodes

Strong Spirit: Episode One

Descendants of the buffalo Charles and Mary Ann "Molly" Goodnight preserved roam Caprock Canyon State Park today. Learn about the bison's impact on the ecosystem and hear local Native Americans' perspectives on connecting with their own history.

Strong Spirit: Episode Two

As in other cultures, Native Americans use stories to pass down tribal knowledge and traditions. Experts discuss the power of storytelling and how to use it.

Panel Discussion

Panhandle PBS

"The American Buffalo" Producers Panel

On September 13, 2023, Panhandle PBS Senior Content Producer Karen Welch moderated a panel discussion with "The American Buffalo" producers Julie Dunfey and Julianna Brannum with Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum Executive Director Andrew Hay. Panhandle PBS captured the discussion, which took part on the campus of West Texas A&M University. 

Past Events

Screening series with Amarillo Museum of Art

Wednesday, February 21, 11:45 a.m. 

Amarillo Museum of Art, third-floor library, 2200 S. Van Buren 

Join Amarillo Museum of Art and Panhandle PBS for a lunchtime screening of "Homecoming," a new PBS film directed by Julianna Brannum extending the story of "The American Buffalo" to the present by examining the return of buffalo to Indigenous lands today. Lunch will start at 11:45 and the screening will begin at 12, followed by a 12:30 gallery talk on the exhibit "In Our Own Words: Native Impressions," which is on view at the museum until March 17.

Screening series with Amarillo Museum of Art

Wednesday, February 14, 11:45 a.m. 

Amarillo Museum of Art, third-floor library, 2200 S. Van Buren 

Join Amarillo Museum of Art and Panhandle PBS for a lunchtime screening of episode one of "Strong Spirit." This local Panhandle PBS production features the Goodnight buffalo herd at Caprock Canyons State Park and how bison impact the ecosystem. Lunch will start at 11:45 and the screening will begin at 12, followed by a 12:30 gallery talk on the exhibit "In Our Own Words: Native Impressions," which is on view at the museum until March 17.

Screening series with Amarillo Museum of Art

Wednesday, February 7, 11:45 a.m. 

Amarillo Museum of Art, third-floor library, 2200 S. Van Buren 

Join Amarillo Museum of Art and Panhandle PBS for a lunchtime screening of "The American Buffalo." Segments of the Ken Burns film tracing the mammal's evolution, its significance to the Great Plains, and its relationship to the Indigenous People of North America will be shown. Lunch will start at 11:45 and the screening will begin at 12, followed by a 12:30 gallery talk on the exhibit "In Our Own Words: Native Impressions," which is on view at the museum until March 17.

Screening series with Amarillo Museum of Art

Wednesday, February 28, 11:45 a.m. 

Amarillo Museum of Art, third-floor library, 2200 S. Van Buren 

Join Amarillo Museum of Art and Panhandle PBS for a lunchtime screening of episode two of "Strong Spirit," a local Panhandle PBS production that explores the way Native Americans use storytelling. Lunch will start at 11:45 and the screening will begin at 12, followed by a 12:30 gallery talk on the exhibit "In Our Own Words: Native Impressions," which is on view at the museum until March 17.

Preview screening of excerpts from "The American Buffalo"

Thursday, October 12, 5:30 p.m.

Southwest Branch Library, 6801 SW 45th Ave, Amarillo, TX

Amarillo Public Library and Panhandle PBS are hosting a free preview screening of excerpts from the new Ken Burns film, "The American Buffalo," the story of the decline and resurrection of bison through a Native American perspective. The event will take place at the Southwest Branch Library in Amarillo on October 12, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m. and the film preview starting at 6. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, visit amarillolibrary.org or call (806)378-3054.

"The American Buffalo" watch party

Monday, October 16 and Tuesday, October 17, 7 – 9 p.m.

Mulkey Theatre, 106 Kearney St, Clarendon, TX

Panhandle PBS is excited to co-host an in-person Watch Party for Ken Burns' new two-part documentary "The American Buffalo." This event will take place at the historic Mulkey Theatre in Clarendon at the same time the series is premiering on Panhandle PBS on October 16 and 17 from 7 – 9 p.m. This event is FREE and open to the public!

Program details:

October 16: Episode One  – "Blood Memory"

7 – 9 p.m.

A look at how America's national mammal, once numbering in the tens of millions, was driven to the brink of extinction with startling swiftness.

October 17: Episode Two  – "Into the Storm"

7 – 9 p.m.

By the late 1880s a diverse and unlikely collection of Americans start a movement that rescues the mammal from extinction – a lesser-known part of the story.

For more information on the event, please contact the Mulkey Theatre at (806)874-2421.

Resources

Explore more about the American bison and Indigenous culture:

Support provided by:

Support for "The American Buffalo" and related local content is provided by the Carol K. Engler Foundation, West Texas A&M University and the Jason Roselius Memorial Foundation. Corporate funding for "The American Buffalo" was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and by the Better Angels Society and its following members: The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation fund at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierly; The Keith Campbell Foundation for the Environment; John and Catherine Debs; Kissick Family Foundation; Fred and Donna Seigel; Jacqueline Mars; John and Leslie McQuown; and Mr. and Mrs. Paul Tudor Jones. Funding was also provided by the Volgenau Foundation. 

This program was made possible in part with a grant from Humanities Texas, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed at these events does not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or Humanities Texas. 

"In Our Own Words: Native Impressions" is one in a series of American art exhibitions created through a multi-year, multi-institutional partnership formed by the Amon Carter Museum of American Art as part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program. 

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