Plot Synopsis

In this eight-episode documentary series, David Rubenstein explores America's 400-year history through a close examination of iconic national symbols: indelible artifacts, places, and archetypes. Each one-hour episode tells the story of an American symbol to reveal its origins, significance and the arc of its resonance. Episode subjects include Fenway Park, the Hollywood Sign, American cowboys, Gadsden Flag ("Don't Tread On Me"), American Bald Eagle, Stone Mountain, Statue of Liberty, and the Golden Gate Bridge. The series spotlights how these icons were created and how the perception of them formed and changed. These manifestations of cultural history are sometimes highly contested as different groups invest them with distinct meanings. The symbols that endure speak to what a society values and how people see themselves -- and they help us to contextualize a nation's shared past in the present moment.

On his journey, Rubenstein invites historical experts and community members to examine myriad ways the American public engages with these subjects. He conducts interviews with historians and history makers from the worlds of sports, politics, entertainment, and academia, including David "Big Papi" Ortiz (former Red Sox player) and Lake Iolani Stevens (Women's Ranch Bronc Champion); Rep. James E. Clyburn (D-SC) and former Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL); Sylvester Stallone (actor, screenwriter, and filmmaker) and Melissa Rivers (writer, host, and producer); Hasan Kwame Jeffries (associate professor of history at The Ohio State University) and Michael Boulware Moore (chief executive officer of the International African American Museum).

Episodes include:

"Fenway Park" (Premiered Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): 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.

"The Hollywood Sign" (Premiered Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): 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.

"Gadsden Flag" (Premiered Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): In this episode, viewers will discover how the "Don't Tread on Me" flag, once a potent symbol of independence, has been co-opted by a variety of Americans over its long history.

"The Cowboy" (Premiered Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): The cowboy is the quintessential American -- fiercely independent, brave and laconic. The episode examines the myths and realities of this archetype, which remains as powerful as ever in the 21st century.

"The Statue of Liberty" (Premieres Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): This episode surveys the evolving meaning the Statue of Liberty has 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.

"American Bald Eagle" (Premieres Tuesday, July 18, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): In this episode, discover 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.

"Stone Mountain" (Premieres Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): This episode considers the fate of the Monument at Stone Mountain in Georgia, revealing a nation wrestling with its past as Confederate statues are being removed across the country.

"The Golden Gate Bridge" (Premieres Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 10pm on PBS): The Golden Gate Bridge is an engineering marvel that symbolizes America's can-do spirit. This episode explores if America can continue to execute bold and ambitious infrastructure projects in the 21st century.