6 best streaming historical dramas for genealogy fans

Nicole and I want to share some of our favorite historical dramas available on streaming services. We love them not only for the great acting and costumes, but also for the way they can transport us back in time, to places and periods where our ancestors may have roamed.

1. Shogun

We loved James Clavell’s original novel as well as the 1980 TV series. Season 1 of the new Hulu series is even better, with top-notch acting (including Anna Sawai, who won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, as Mariko) and attention to historical detail in everything from armor to the tea ceremony. Clavell did his research well, basing most of the primary characters on real historical figures, such as Tokugawa Ieyasu, Akechi Tama, and William Adams. (Hulu)

2. John Adams

Do you have Revolutionary War ancestors? Most Americans know the broad outline of the conflict, but John Adams surfaces stories and details that make this war more real and compelling, including the 1770 Boston Massacre which turned many colonists against the British. Paul Giamatti excels in the title role. (HBO)

3. The Crown

Most readers will be familiar with Queen Elizabeth and Lady Di, but we were also intrigued by the portrayals of lesser-known and outcast Royals such as Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, and the Duke of Windsor, as well as the conflicts involving prime ministers Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, and Tony Blair. (Netflix)

4. Rome

According to one of the consultants on the British series, “We did everything we could to make these episodes historically authentic, which meant researching and incorporating every kind of detail we could about the way our characters behaved, the way they interacted, how they dressed and gestured, the kind of streets they walked down, the way they conducted their private and public lives.” The results are stunning, not only from a historical perspective, but also the stories of people - and an empire - in conflict. (HBO)

5. Wolf Hall

The court of Henry VIII is brought to life in this rich period drama based on Hilary Mantel's novels. Royal fixer Thomas Cromwell quietly served as Henry VIII’s hatchet man when problems with the Church and his wives arose. While not available for free on Prime, it is worth the small cost (about $11) to stream the entire series. It's also available to PBS subscribers. (Amazon)

6. The Gilded Age

If you’ve ever wondered about life in the late 1800s, The Gilded Age will transport you to New York and Newport as “new money” struggles to overturn the old political and social hierarchy. Besides the costumes and architecture, we loved the actors which include some familiar faces … isn’t that Cynthia Nixon from Friends? (HBO)

Six other streaming historical dramas you may like

1. Reign (Mary Queen of Scots) (Amazon Prime)
2. Pachinko (Apple TV)
3. Vikings (Netflix)
4. Downton Abbey (Amazon Prime)
5. Podark (Amazon Prime)
6. Deadwood (HBO)