Iconic America

202355m

Examining the history of America through iconic symbols, objects and places; host David Rubenstein.

Production

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Exploring Our Nation's Symbols | Iconic America | PBS

Exploring Our Nation's Symbols | Iconic America | PBS

Seasons

8 Episodes • Premiered 2023

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 1: Fenway Park

1. Fenway Park

The story of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, and the city's loyalty to its team and love for its ballpark.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 2: The Hollywood Sign

2. The Hollywood Sign

A real estate advertisement erected in 1923 becomes an international symbol of fame, fortune and the American dream.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 3: The Gadsden Flag

3. The Gadsden Flag

The “Don’t Tread on Me” flag is such a potent symbol of independence that it has been co-opted by a wide variety of Americans over its long history.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 4: The Cowboy

4. The Cowboy

The cowboy is the quintessential American — fiercely independent, brave and laconic. This episode examines the myths and realities of this archetype, which remains as potent as ever in the 21st century.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 5: The Statue of Liberty

5. The Statue of Liberty

This episode explores the evolving meaning of The Statue of Liberty as symbol for a “nation of immigrants,” and how it embodies our values and our conflicts, from abolition and women’s suffrage to the treatment of refugees

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 6: The American Bald Eagle

6. The American Bald Eagle

The story of how the American Bald Eagle soared to its vaunted perch in American iconography, a symbol not only of patriotism but also of environmental activism and Native American traditions.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 7: Stone Mountain

7. Stone Mountain

As Confederate statues are torn down across the country and the nation wrestles with its past, there are heated arguments about the fate of the Monument at Stone Mountain, Georgia, the Confederate Mount Rushmore.

Still image for Iconic America season 1 episode 8: The Golden Gate Bridge

8. The Golden Gate Bridge

The Golden Gate bridge is an engineering marvel that symbolizes America’s can-do spirit. Can America continue to execute bold and ambitious infrastructure projects in the 21st century?

Cast

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