Oh how I loved this series when it first aired. We just recently ordered it from Netflix to supplement our continuing American History studies. While not perfect, it really brought to life some aspects of frontier life and how the Homestead Act and the railroads shaped our nation.
I did have to monitor, skipping over a scene here or there for the sake of my delicate children. And I do find some of the participants unbearably obnoxious, but the scenery was so beautiful I could have watched it on mute and been happy. Oooh, PBS even has some lesson plans here.
Thank you for this!!! We love Netflicks for history!
Posted by: Jordin | April 28, 2011 at 07:10 AM
Oh, I loved that too when we watched it a few years back. Totally agree with your assessment: mostly entertaining, but with a few awkward moments and one obnoxious character in particular.
Posted by: Theresa | April 28, 2011 at 12:45 PM
We loved Frontier House. I really loved the British 40's house too. We learned so much!
Posted by: Amy Caroline | April 29, 2011 at 07:23 PM
I'm patiently awaiting Victorian Farm and Edwardian Farm to come to netflix, I've watched bits and pieces on Youtube and it sounds like they'd be right up your alley too!
Speaking of railroads, my dad used to tell me stories of the long gone smaller railroads t and the gypsy groups that used to arrive in the summers and camp by the tracks... not a story I'd guess came from the cornfields of Iowa.
Posted by: Molly | May 17, 2011 at 12:05 AM