The Dust Bowl (2012–2012)
pbs
Plot
Chronicles the worst man-made ecological disaster in American history, in which the frenzied wheat boom of the Great Plow-Up, followed by a decade-long drought during the 1930s nearly swept away the breadbasket of the nation.
Before you go
Never miss The Dust Bowl
We'll email you the moment The Dust Bowl is renewed, cancelled or gets a premiere date. No account, one-click unsubscribe.
Highest-rated episodes all ranked
- 01
The Great Plow UpThe grasslands of the southern Plains were rapidly turned into wheat fields. Then following the early years of the drought, storms killed crops and livestock and literally rearranged the landscape. The worst storm of them all was on April 14, 1935—Black Sunday—a searing experience for everyone caught in it, including a young songwriter from Pampa, Texas, named Woody Guthrie. - 02
Reaping the WhirlwindBlack Sunday was only halfway through the decade-long crisis. The storms continued. The Great Depression still affected people. Government programs were instituted to help. Learn what FDR’s administration did to try to keep the southern Plains from becoming a North American Sahara desert. Find out why some residents finally decided they had to give up and move somewhere else and how some held on.
Episodes by season
Season01
- S01E01The Great Plow UpNovember 18, 2012The grasslands of the southern Plains were rapidly turned into wheat fields. Then following the early years of the drought, storms killed cr
- S01E02Reaping the WhirlwindNovember 19, 2012Black Sunday was only halfway through the decade-long crisis. The storms continued. The Great Depression still affected people. Government p
Cast
Photos
View all
The Dust Bowl
Poster · 1 of 9
Shows like The Dust Bowl all similar shows
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01DocumentaryMysteries at the Museum2010Don Wildman unearths relics from the world's greatest institutions to reveal secrets from the past.Compare
- 02DocumentaryHow It's Made2001Have you ever wondered how the products you use every day are made?Compare
- 03DocumentaryThe Nineties2017Hit rewind and explore the most iconic moments and influential people of The Nineties, the decade that gave us the Internet, DVDs, and other cultural and political milestones.Compare
- 04DocumentaryThe F Word2005The F Word is a British food magazine and cookery programme featuring chef Gordon Ramsay.Compare
- 05DocumentaryAmerican Experience1988TV's most-watched history series brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.Compare
- 06DocumentaryBaseball1994The history of the sport of baseball in America, told through archival photos, film footage, and the words of those who contributed to the game in each era.Compare
Head-to-head pick any opponent
Stack The Dust Bowl's full episode-rating history against a rival, on one chart.
Keep exploring top shows
Short on time? The pilot-to-finale shortcut, only the episodes that matter.
MatchupCompare with another showTwo shows' episode ratings on one chart — settle it.
NetworkBest PBS showsMore from the same network, ranked by rating.
GenreBest documentary shows & filmsThe top of the documentary pile, across both mediums.