In tandem with the eight-part PBS broadcast from Thirteen/WNET New York, premiering Monday, May 1, 2006 at 8 p.m. (ET), the companion Web site brings the fascinating experience of life and work on an 1867 cattle ranch directly into the homes and classrooms of Web site visitors.  Now live online at www.pbs.org/wnet/ranchouse, the Web site offers visitors exclusive access to mulitmedia activities that enhance the experience and understanding of Texas ranch life, and introduces the 15 rugged individuals selected to time-travel back to 1867 to run a viable ranch in authentic period conditions. 

“Meet the Adventurers” introduces the colorful cast of TEXAS RANCH HOUSE characters, providing details about their pre-ranch lives and their positions and responsibilities on the ranch.  To find out how well they would survive life at TEXAS RANCH HOUSE, Web site visitors can take the interactive quiz “Test Your True Grit,” complete with video on ranch survival from the cowboys themselves.  “Visit the Cooke Ranch” provides a close-up tour of the site of the ranchers’ hard life with panoramic views of the ranch house, the cowboys’ bunkhouse, the corral, tack shed and more.  In “Lead a Cattle Drive,” visitors assume the role of ranch owner and make decisions that will yield profit or loss, while “Stock a Chuckwagon” tests their knowledge of appropriate food-and-supplies planning during the era.

A series of multimedia essays, written by historians and featuring streaming audio and photographs, elaborate on such topics from the broadcast series as the Mexican influence on ranching, the roles played by Comanche Native Americans, the lives of African-American cowboys, and the roles of women in ranch life.  Three lesson plans, targeting grades five to eight, are provided to help teachers bring to life some of the key issues from the series in their classrooms. 

Finally, after the eighth and final episode of TEXAS RANCH HOUSE, viewers can visit the companion Web site to see how the “Adventurers Take Stock” of their experiences.  The participants reflect on lessons learned on the ranch and how they feel returning to the 21st century.  A comprehensive multimedia “About the Series” feature, complete with producer interviews, will also appear after the initial broadcast.

“TEXAS RANCH HOUSE ONLINE is chock-full of engaging activities for all ages,” said Mary Hope Garcia, producer of the companion Web site.  “Not only is it a great resource for viewers at home to enhance their enjoyment of the series and gain a deeper appreciation of life in the era, but the host of vibrant multimedia learning tools will benefit teachers and students in the classroom as well.” 

TEXAS RANCH HOUSE is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York and Wall To Wall Television.  Luis Barreto is series producer; Jody Sheff for Thirteen and Leanne Klein and Diane Best for Wall To Wall are executive producers.  William R. Grant is executive in charge for Thirteen.  TEXAS RANCH HOUSE ONLINE is a production of Thirteen/WNET New York’s Thirteen Online.  Mary Hope Garcia is producer; Anthony Chapman is executive producer and director of Thirteen Online. 

Thirteen/WNET New York is one of the key program providers for public television, bringing such acclaimed series as Nature, Great Performances, American Masters, Charlie Rose, Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, Wide Angle, Secrets of the Dead, and Cyberchase – as well as the work of Bill Moyers – to audiences nationwide.  As the flagship public broadcaster in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut metro area, Thirteen reaches millions of viewers each week, airing the best of American public television along with its own local productions such as The Ethnic Heritage Specials, The Thirteen Walking Tours, New York Voices, and Reel New York.  Thirteen extends the impact of its television productions with educational and community outreach projects – including the Celebration of Teaching and Learning in Spring 2006.  And as broadcast and digital media converge, Thirteen is blazing trails in the creation of Web sites, enhanced television, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, educational software, and other cutting-edge media products.  More information about Thirteen can be found at www.thirteen.org.

Press Contacts:
Caroline Oman, Thirteen/WNET New York - - oman(-at-)thirteen.org 
Deirdre Branley, Thirteen/WNET New York - - branley(-at-)thirteen.org 

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