Iconic America

Behind the Scenes
1m
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

David Rubenstein walks us through his inspiration for creating "Iconic America."

Preview
31s
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

The symbols in Iconic America have a lot to say about who we are and who we have become.

Iconic America Title Sequence
26s
Air Date: 04/20/23

Iconic America

Returning July 11 with the First of Four New Episodes
31s
Air Date: 07/11/23 | Rating: TV-PG

There are hundreds of historical sites across America, but how we perceive them changes.

Fenway Park Preview
S1 Ep1 | 31s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-PG

No ballpark is more iconic than Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox’ “Cursed” 1986 and 2003 Seasons
S1 Ep1 | 4m 48s
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

No game epitomizes The Curse of the Bambino more than game 7 of the 1986 World Series.

The Curse of the Bambino
S1 Ep1 | 2m 57s
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

The Red Sox committed the original sin of baseball by trading Babe Ruth to The NY Yankees.

Should Fenway be a National Monument?
S1 Ep1 | 54s
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

Fenway Park is the top attraction in Boston, and an international tourist destination.

Racism and The Red Sox
S1 Ep1 | 3m 18s
Air Date: 04/26/23 | Rating: TV-PG

In this clip, we look at checkered past and their resistance to signing black athletes.

The Curse is Lifted
S1 Ep1 | 37s
Air Date: 04/26/23

The Red Sox's World Series win in 2004 was a historic moment for the team and its fans.

The 1967 Red Sox and The Impossible Dream
S1 Ep1 | 45s
Air Date: 04/26/23

The comeback 1967 Red Sox won over fans and were known as the "Impossible Dream" team.

The Hollywood Sign Preview
S1 Ep2 | 31s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-PG

The story of how a real estate advertisement international symbol of the American dream.

Could Hollywood Be Successful Again?
S1 Ep2 | 1m 10s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-14

A once-popular genre enjoyed a renaissance and helped save Hollywood in the 60s.

Hollywood as the Ultimate LA Symbol
S1 Ep2 | 1m 14s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-14

This clip explains the role that car culture played in creating this timeless icon.

Hollywood Gets its Start
S1 Ep2 | 1m 22s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-14

This clip looks at some of the anecdotes and myths about the origin of the Hollywood.

Often Imitated, Never Duplicated
S1 Ep2 | 3m 15s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-14

From Dollywood to Bollywood & Nollywood, the Hollywood sign has inspired many imitators.

Power not Afforded Equally
S1 Ep2 | 1m 2s
Air Date: 05/03/23 | Rating: TV-14

Hollywood has bottled a kind of intangible magic that is inaccessible to most people.

The Gadsden Flag Preview
S1 Ep3 | 32s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-14

The “Don’t Tread on Me” flag has been co-opted by a range of Americans throughout history.

Flags and Meaning in America
S1 Ep3 | 4m 7s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-14

Flags are clearly an important part of what it means to be an American, but why is that?

Flags 101 – The Gadsden Flag
S1 Ep3 | 2m 57s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-14

The Continental Congress chose the Gadsden flag as the first symbol of its naval ships.

Standing Against Tyranny
S1 Ep3 | 1m 27s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-14

Former U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger tells David Rubenstein how he defines true patriotism.

The Gadsden Flag in Combat Abroad
S1 Ep3 | 33s
Air Date: 05/10/23 | Rating: TV-14

Armed forces vets discuss embracing the Gadsden flag during combat in the Middle East.

The Cowboy Preview
S1 Ep4 | 31s
Air Date: 05/17/23 | Rating: TV-14

The cowboy is the quintessential American — fiercely independent, brave and laconic.

Buffalo Bill Helps Spread the Cowboy Mystique
S1 Ep4 | 3m 12s
Air Date: 05/17/23 | Rating: TV-PG

Wild West Shows led to a skewed perspective of the role of real cowboys in America.

Why Did Cowboy Movies Leave Women Out of the Picture?
S1 Ep4 | 1m 55s
Air Date: 05/17/23 | Rating: TV-PG

Westerns downplayed the role that women and minorities played in settling The West,

The Homestead Act Spurs Westward Expansion
S1 Ep4 | 3m 35s
Air Date: 05/17/23 | Rating: TV-PG

The Homestead Act attracted thousands of settlers to The West with 160 acres of free land.

Philip Morris’ Marlboro Man Lassoes a Hit Ad Campaign
S1 Ep4 | 1m 3s
Air Date: 05/17/23 | Rating: TV-PG

The appeal and success of the Marlboro Man cigarette ad campaigns spanned decades.

The Statue of Liberty Preview
S1 Ep5 | 31s
Air Date: 07/11/23 | Rating: TV-PG

It's hard to argue that there's a more iconic symbol of America than the Statue of Liberty

A Poem for All Americans, About Immigration
S1 Ep5 | 55s
Air Date: 07/11/23 | Rating: TV-PG

A look at how the poem, "The New Colossus" came to be engraved on the Statue of Liberty.

“Their Immigration Story Becomes the Story of Their Life”
S1 Ep5 | 2m 45s
Air Date: 07/11/23 | Rating: TV-PG

David Rubenstein visits Ellis Island with Atlantic writer Caitlin Dickerson.

A Symbol of America
S1 Ep5 | 47s
Air Date: 07/11/23

David Rubenstein asks Professor Ed Berenson why Lady Liberty is a symbol of America.

A Catalyst for Reflection on Our Past Transgressions
S1 Ep5 | 1m 6s
Air Date: 07/11/23

Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith reflects on Lady Liberty's potential as an agent of change.

How the Statue of Liberty’s Anti-Slavery Origins Evolved
S1 Ep5 | 3m 41s
Air Date: 07/11/23

A look at how Lady Liberty's anti-slavery origins and design changed over time.

The French Connection
S1 Ep5 | 3m 56s
Air Date: 07/11/23

America's greatest symbol has its roots in a small town in France, 300 miles from Paris.

The American Bald Eagle Preview
S1 Ep6 | 31s
Air Date: 07/18/23

The story of how the Bald Eagle soared to its vaunted perch in American iconography.

The Infamous Bird’s 1000 Pound Nest
S1 Ep6 | 45s
Air Date: 07/18/23

This clip features a Bald Eagle's nest that is estimated to weigh around 1000 pounds.

The Bald Eagle Appears in the First Great Seal of the U.S.
S1 Ep6 | 1m 49s
Air Date: 07/18/23

Why did the Founding Fathers decide to use the bald eagle in the Great Seal of the U.S.?

Restoring and Hacking Bald Eagles in NY
S1 Ep6 | 3m 52s
Air Date: 07/18/23

David talks to Peter Nye, the biologist who saved the bald eagle population in New York.

Bald Eagles Gather in the Pristine Alaskan Ecosystem
S1 Ep6 | 4m 55s
Air Date: 07/18/23

The greatest bald eagle migration on Earth happens in the Alaskan village of Haines.

Endangered National Symbol
S1 Ep6 | 31s
Air Date: 07/18/23

The effect of DDT on the Bald Eagle population in the northeastern U.S. was devastating.

Stone Mountain Preview
S1 Ep7 | 31s
Air Date: 07/25/23 | Rating: TV-PG

Should Confederate leaders remain on places like Stone Mountain, or should they be erased?

United Daughters of the Confederacy’s Lost Soldiers
S1 Ep7 | 1m 59s
Air Date: 07/25/23

United Daughters of the Confederacy had a pivotal role memorializing Confederate soldiers.

An Alternative Rationalization for the Civil War
S1 Ep7 | 3m 2s
Air Date: 07/25/23

Hasan Jeffries explains why some Southerners try to reframe the causes of the Civil War.

Pushback in the Immediate Aftermath of Integration
S1 Ep7 | 23s
Air Date: 07/25/23

Gloria Brown discusses the unfulfilled promises of integration.

Confederate Monuments as a Constant Reminder of Separatism
S1 Ep7 | 27s
Air Date: 07/25/23

Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith discusses Stone Mountain's psychological toll on Black people

Meet Stone Mountain Memorial Association’s Black Chairman
S1 Ep7 | 5m 38s
Air Date: 07/25/23

The head of Stone Mountain Memorial Association discusses plans for the monument's future.

The Golden Gate Bridge Preview
S1 Ep8 | 32s
Air Date: 08/02/23

The Golden Gate Bridge is an engineering marvel that symbolizes America’s can-do spirit.

Overcoming Construction Challenges and Skeptics
S1 Ep8 | 1m 47s
Air Date: 08/01/23

The plan to construct the Golden Gate Bridge was met with scores of skeptics.

Hidden tolls: The Impact of Freeways on BIPOC Communities
S1 Ep8 | 2m 1s
Air Date: 08/01/23

BIPOC communities bear the brunt of the environmental cost of U.S. highway development.

Bridging Times: An Icon of American Innovation
S1 Ep8 | 2m 34s
Air Date: 08/02/23

Does America have the can-do spirit for another Golden Gate-level engineering achievement?