PBS: 'Mercy Street' To Return for Second Season

Image: The TV series “Mercy Street” portrays the challenges faced by doctors and nurses during the Civil War (photo courtesy of PBS).

ARLINGTON, VA - PBS announced Wednesday that "Mercy Street," the TV series about life in an Alexandria hospital during the Civil War, will return for a second season.

The first episode of the series, which aired on Sunday, Jan. 17, drew a 3.85 Nielsen rating and reached an audience of more than 5.7 million viewers, PBS said. The first season of six episodes concluded on Feb. 28, and PBS did not say when the second season will air. For more background, check out the "Mercy Street" website.

The first six episodes have been streamed 2 million times, including PBS station websites, PBS.org and PBS apps for iOS, Android, FireTV, ROKU, Apple TV, Xbox 360 and Windows 10, according to PBS.

Although the first season was set in Old Town in the spring of 1862, it was actually filmed in Richmond and Petersburg.

But the City of Alexandria has seen a lot of interest from “Mercy Street” viewers, with Carlyle House Historic Parkoffering tours of a new exhibit, which recreates the days of Union occupation and tells the true stories of those who lived and worked there during the Civil War.

And Visit Alexandria is promoting tours and exhibits geared to “Mercy Street” viewers and others interested in the Civil War.