Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein

Published on July 10, 2023

Iconic America: Our Symbols and Stories with David Rubenstein

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesdays, July 11–Aug. 1, at 10 PM
Wednesdays, July 12–Aug. 2, at 3 AM
Saturdays, July 15–Aug. 5, at 1 PM

Fusion (WNEO 45.2 / WEAO 49.2):

Saturdays, July 15–Aug. 5, at 8 PM

In this new documentary series, David Rubenstein—co-founder of The Carlyle Group, patriotic philanthropist and lifelong student of history—explores America’s 400-year history through a close examination of iconic national symbols.

Each episode tells the story of an American symbol to reveal its origins and significance, and the arc of its resonance. Rubenstein invites historical experts and community members to examine myriad ways the American public engages with these subjects.

The Statue of Liberty

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, July 11, at 10 PM

Wednesday, July 12, at 3 AM
Saturday, July 15, at 1 PM

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, July 15, at 8 PM

The evolving meaning of this 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 American Bald Eagle

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, July 18, at 10 PM
Wednesday, July 19, at 3 AM
Saturday, July 22, at 1 PM

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, July 22, at 8 PM

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.

Stone Mountain

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, July 25, at 10 PM
Wednesday, July 26, at 3 AM
Saturday, July 29, at 1 PM

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, July 29, at 8 PM

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 Golden Gate Bridge

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 10 PM
Wednesday, Aug. 2, at 3 AM
Saturday, Aug. 5, at 1 PM

PBS WESTERN RESERVE (WNEO 45.1 / WEAO 49.1):

Saturday, Aug. 5, at 8 PM

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?

Past Episodes

Watch past episodes of ICONIC AMERICA on PBS Western Reserve Passport.

Fenway Park

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

Learn 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.

The Gadsden Flag

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

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