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The newest installment in PBS Wisconsin’s ongoing local history project, Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit, premieres in a statewide broadcast 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 on PBS Wisconsin.

Area residents will have a chance to see the full documentary ahead of the broadcast at a free community screening, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17 at The Eclipse Event Center in Beloit. At the screening, the film’s producers Kyra Lyons and Holly De Ruyter will offer insights into the making of the documentary and participate in a Q&A session with the audience.

“My favorite part about making the documentary was working with the people in the Beloit community,” said De Ruyter. “The passion and pride that the residents of Beloit have is wonderful, and their willingness to share their knowledge and resources with us is really exciting. We could not have made this program and tell the city’s story without their partnership.”

Enjoy music from the award-winning Beloit Memorial High School Jazz Combo when the doors open at 7 p.m. The band will play until the program begins at 7:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit uses film, archival images, aerial footage and interviews with historians and community members to tell the story of a diverse city strengthened by its ability to adapt and reinvent itself with each generation.

Known as the “Gateway to Wisconsin,” the City of Beloit began as a center of trade for the Ho-Chunk Nation and continued to grow with the arrival of the New England Emigrating Company, bringing with them settlers, agriculture and industry. The city later transformed with the founding of Beloit College, Wisconsin’s first interstate railroad, and burgeoning industry, which fueled innovation.

Learn more about Wisconsin history at pbswisconsin.org/hometownstories.

Admission is free, but seating is limited and available on a first come, first seated basis.

The Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit screening will be presented in English, along with Spanish and English closed-captioning on additional screens. Viewers can also access Spanish subtitles during broadcast.

Este programa se presenta con subtítulos en español.

Wisconsin Hometown Stories is produced as a partnership of the Wisconsin Historical Society and PBS Wisconsin.

Funding for Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Beloit is provided by the Wooden Nickel Fund, Alliant Energy, the Jim & Cheryl Caldwell Foundation, the Hendricks Family Foundation, Charles R. & Anita B. Williams in memory of William D. & Marie B. Williams, Agrace, the Stateline Community Foundation, Keith & Diane Wilson, Mary Alice & Jim Van Gemert and Anne & John Murphy in memory of Jeanne Murphy Haase, Rick Dexter, Charles H. & Prudence Harker, Western Container Corporation, Thomas & Marline Holmes, donors to the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin. Wisconsin Hometown Stories: Youth Media support provided by John and Becky Wong.

PBS Wisconsin is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

PBS Wisconsin is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.

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