History

Iconic America

In this new eight-episode documentary series, David Rubenstein explores America’s 400-year history through a close examination of iconic national symbols such as the Hollywood Sign, Fenway Park, American cowboys and the Statue of Liberty: indelible artifacts, places, and archetypes. Each episode tells the story of an American symbol to reveal its origins, significance and the arc of its resonance.

The Golden Gate Bridge

55m 11s

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?

Episodes

  • The Golden Gate Bridge: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Golden Gate Bridge

    S1 E8 - 55m 11s

    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?

  • Stone Mountain: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Stone Mountain

    S1 E7 - 55m 38s

    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.

  • The American Bald Eagle: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The American Bald Eagle

    S1 E6 - 55m 8s

    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.

  • The Statue of Liberty: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Statue of Liberty

    S1 E5 - 55m 11s

    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

  • The Cowboy: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Cowboy

    S1 E4 - 55m 24s

    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.

  • The Gadsden Flag: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Gadsden Flag

    S1 E3 - 55m 11s

    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.

  • The Hollywood Sign: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Hollywood Sign

    S1 E2 - 55m 35s

    The Hollywood Sign episode examines the history of the Los Angeles landmark, which was erected in 1923 originally as a real estate advertisement, and went on to become an international symbol of fame, fortune, and the American dream.

  • Fenway Park: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Fenway Park

    S1 E1 - 55m 27s

    Baseball is a favorite American pastime and obsession, and no ballpark is more iconic than Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. This episode tells the story of a city’s loyalty to its team and love for its ballpark through thick and thin.

Extras + Features

  • The American Bald Eagle Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The American Bald Eagle Preview

    S1 E6 - 31s

    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.

  • The Bald Eagle Appears in the First Great Seal of the U.S.: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Bald Eagle Appears in the First Great Seal of the U.S.

    S1 E6 - 1m 49s

    Eva Diaz, associate professor of art history at Pratt University, explains the cultural and allegorical significance of the Founding Fathers' decision to use the bald eagle as the prominent symbol in the Great Seal of the United States.

  • The Infamous Bird's 1000 Pound Nest: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Infamous Bird's 1000 Pound Nest

    S1 E6 - 45s

    An American Bald Eagle's nest, also known as an eyrie, is an awe-inspiring structure that reflects the grandeur and strength of these majestic birds. Typically located in tall trees near bodies of water, the nest is an expansive platform constructed with meticulous care and precision. In this clip, David Rubenstein is show a Bald Eagle's nest that is estimated to weigh around 1000 pounds.

  • Restoring and Hacking Bald Eagles in NY: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Restoring and Hacking Bald Eagles in NY

    S1 E6 - 3m 52s

    David Rubenstein talks to Peter Nye, an esteemed eagle biologist, retired from the Department of Environmental Conservation in New York. Nye gained national recognition for his expertise in eagle research, and he developed a technique called hacking which played a pivotal role in reviving the bald eagle population following a drastic decline caused by the pesticide DDT.

  • A Catalyst for Reflection on Our Past Transgressions: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Catalyst for Reflection on Our Past Transgressions

    S1 E5 - 1m 6s

    "A monument isn't a policy, but it's an object for which our vocabulary, and our feelings, our hopes and even our anxieties can be projected." United States Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith reflects on the Statue of Liberty's potential as an agent of change. Smith wrote “Harbor” to celebrate the 2019 opening of the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island in New York City.

  • A Poem for All Americans, About Immigration: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Poem for All Americans, About Immigration

    S1 E5 - 55s

    Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus" was not originally chosen to be engraved at the base of the Statue of Liberty, it was actually added to the statue several years after its dedication. Here's the story behind its inclusion.

  • How the Statue of Liberty's Anti-Slavery Origins Evolved: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    How the Statue of Liberty's Anti-Slavery Origins Evolved

    S1 E5 - 3m 41s

    In this clip, Alan Kraut, Chair of the Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island History Advisory Committee and Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, explain the statue’s anti-slavery historical roots to David Rubenstein, and how their representation on the statue changed over time.

  • "Their Immigration Story Becomes the Story of Their Life": asset-mezzanine-16x9

    "Their Immigration Story Becomes the Story of Their Life"

    S1 E5 - 2m 45s

    David Rubenstein visits Ellis Island with Atlantic writer Caitlin Dickerson and discusses the history of the facility, from immigration hub to detention center, and the daunting reality facing many of the immigrants who left everything they had known to seek out a better existence in America.

  • The French Connection: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The French Connection

    S1 E5 - 3m 56s

    America's greatest symbol has its roots in a small town in France, about 300 miles from Paris, where Bartholdi was born and first conceived of his vision for the statue. There is no better way to understand the statue's evolution than to go where it all began.

  • The Statue of Liberty Preview: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Statue of Liberty Preview

    S1 E5 - 31s

    It's hard to argue that there's a more iconic symbol of America today than the Statue of Liberty. For people around the world, The Statue of Liberty stands for freedom. 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

  • A Symbol of America: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    A Symbol of America

    S1 E5 - 47s

    The statue's official name, "Liberty Enlightening the World," embodies the ideals of liberty, democracy, and enlightenment. It stands as a beacon of hope, welcoming immigrants and symbolizing the United States as a land of freedom and opportunity. In this clip, David Rubenstein asks Ed Berenson, Chair and Professor of History at New York University, why Lady Liberty is a symbol of America.

  • Returning July 11 with the First of Four New Episodes: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Returning July 11 with the First of Four New Episodes

    S1 - 31s

    There are hundreds of historical monuments across America. These markers are one way a nation tells it’s story, but how we perceive them
    changes over time. In each episode of Iconic America, David Rubenstein (co-founder of the Carlyle Group and acclaimed philanthropist) explores a symbol from history — using them as a gateway to understanding to understanding America's past and present.

Schedule

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