Iconic America — Season 1
Our Symbols and Stories With David Rubenstein
About this season
Examining the history of America through iconic symbols, objects and places; host David Rubenstein.
Episodes (8)
1. Fenway Park
Aired 26 April 2023 • 55 min
The story of Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox, and the city's loyalty to its team and love for its ballpark.
2. The Hollywood Sign
Aired 3 May 2023 • 55 min
A real estate advertisement erected in 1923 becomes an international symbol of fame, fortune and the American dream.
3. The Gadsden Flag
Aired 10 May 2023
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.
4. The Cowboy
Aired 17 May 2023 • 55 min
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.
5. The Statue of Liberty
Aired 11 July 2023 • 55 min
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
6. The American Bald Eagle
Aired 18 July 2023 • 55 min
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.
7. Stone Mountain
Aired 25 July 2023 • 55 min
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.
8. The Golden Gate Bridge
Aired 1 August 2023 • 55 min
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?