Key Takeaways
The new CNN Originals Series, This Land, dramatically reframes the story of how the United States was shaped.
Each episode features interviews with descendants of historical figures who lived through pivotal moments in U.S. history, whom Ancestry helped identify using its unparalleled collection of historical records and public family trees.
These personal stories convey powerful, emotional connections between past and present.

CNN Originals Series This Land, a new weekly series exploring the history of U.S. expansion through six defining points of encounter and transformation, will premiere on Sunday, June 7 at 9pm ET/PT. Produced by October Films, the series will air two episodes weekly on Sundays at 9pm and 10pm ET/PT on CNN. Episodes will be available to stream the next day at CNN.com/watch and on the CNN app.

Timed to commemorate the country’s anniversary, This Land explores how the United States transformed from a collection of Atlantic colonies into a continental power, navigating a landscape of contested territories and deeply rooted Indigenous nations. By surfacing extraordinary sacrifices and untold personal accounts, the series dramatically reframes the story of how this land was shaped. Powerful, personal interviews with descendants of historical figures who lived through these pivotal moments offer direct, emotional connections between past and present. Through these voices, the series examines how ambition, conflict and power redrew the map of North America, and how those legacies are still felt today.

Across six episodes, This Land traces the seismic shifts following the Louisiana Purchase, follows the consequences of migration and displacement in the push to California, and explores the ripple effects of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It then moves to the fight over Texas and the shifting U.S.-Mexico border, examines the complex geopolitical purchase of Alaska, and charts the rise of New York into a global powerhouse. Throughout, descendants of key figures, from Tribal citizens and immigrant laborers to explorers and politicians, offer intimate, firsthand perspectives that connect these turning points to the present day.

“At its core, This Land is about connection between past and present,” said Amy Entelis, executive vice president of talent, CNN Originals and creative development for CNN Worldwide. “It brings history to life through the voices of those still connected to it, making these stories feel urgent, personal and very much alive.”

Ancestry story producers Jennifer Utley, Lisa Elzey, and Nicka Sewell-Smith tapped into the unparalleled collection of historical records and public family trees on Ancestry to identify and connect the production with various descendants featured throughout the series. Ancestry is a sponsor of This Land.

Executive producers for the series are Showrunner Fred Hepburn, Matt Robins, Jos Cushing and John Marks for October Films; Amy Entelis, Lyle Gamm and Katie Hinman for CNN.

Watch the trailer!

***This Land* Episode Schedule***

6/7 PREMIERE | Episodes 1 (Louisiana) & 2 (California)

6/14 | Episodes 3 (Rockies) & 4 (Texas)

6/21 | Episodes 5 (Alaska) & 6 (New York)

This Land will be available on demand beginning Monday, June 8 to CNN’s streaming subscribers via CNN.com/Watch and CNN connected TV and mobile apps. It will stream live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN connected TV and mobile apps on Sunday, June 7.

Ancestry invites viewers to explore the tools and resources that can help everyday people—including those featured in each episode—discover how their family made their mark on the U.S. over the past 250 years at Ancestry.com/Stories-of-US.

* Episode order subject to change.

Key Takeaways

This Land Episode Schedule*

***This Land* Episode Schedule***

CNN Original Series “This Land” Premieres Sunday, June 7 at 9pm ET/PT