American Learning Library Overview

Austin - Capitol building Shows the outside and some of the inside of the Capitol building in Austin, the state capital of Texas, including the Alamo Memorial, Civil War memorials, and whispering gallery. Playing time: 3 min
Austin - Congress Avenue A drive along Congress Avenue towards the Capitol building in Austin, the state capital of Texas, showing the different types of buildings you find in a major settlement like Austin. Playing time: 7 min
Austin - historic buildings This video focuses on historica buildings (mostly from the 19th century) in Austin, Texas, and asks students to identify and count them while watching the footage. The video makes a good case study for the way settlements develop and where you can find historic buildings in major settlements today. Playing time: 6 min
Fort Worth A drive through downtown Fort Worth. The video uses old maps and images to tell the story of the settlements development from its beginnings as a series of trading posts to its time as a cattle buyers' headquarters and the importance of the railroad and link to the Chisholm Trail cattle drive. Playing time: 8 min
Fort Worth Stockyards Fort Worth was known as 'where the West begins' because it was established as a series of trading posts between the Republic of Texas and Native American lands on its borders in the mid-19th century. It was later a place for military defense and an important place in the cattle industry for people driving cattle towards the Chisholm Trail and the railroad. Playing time: 5 min
The Battle of the Alamo Tells the story of the Alamo, from the founding of the mission, through its role as a fort during Mexico's fight from independence from Spain and the Texas revolution that founded the Republic of Texas, to the Battle of Alamo in 1836. During this famous last stand, frontiersman including Jim Bowie, William Travis, and Davy Crockett, fought to the last to try to defend the Alamo from Santa Anna's Mexican army. Playing time: 10 min
Alamo Memorial Shows the cenotaph and memorial commemorating those who fell at the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, including Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett, in their last stand against Santa Anna's Mexican army. Playing time: 3 min
The history of America An introductory video about the history of America, from Native American peoples to the present day, through early settlers, colonial times, revolution and independence, Civil War, the Gilded Age, Immigration, the Great Depression, and more. Designed to support our 'History of America' book. Playing time: 15 min