American Experience

History Series / 15 Seasons

American Experience, TV's most-watched history series, brings to life the compelling stories from our past that inform our understanding of the world today.

52m 54s

The Impact of Grand Coulee Dam

1m 13s

Eight years after beginning construction, the Grand Coulee Dam was dedicated in front of a crowd of 8,000 on March 22, 1941. The dam's success created an insatiable demand for electricity, and the dam, along with others that were erected on the Columbia in the years following, served as the fuel for the growth of the metropolitan areas of the American West.

Grand Coulee Dam: Pouring the Concrete

1m 56s

On December 6, 1935, the first bucket of concrete was poured onto the dam site. To prevent the possibility of cracking, concrete was poured into hundreds of 50 foot square blocks every 72 hours. After each pour, workers would scrub the concrete with wide brushes to remove scum. Millions of cubic yards were poured, and in February 1938, the foundation was completed 14 months ahead of schedule.

Grand Coulee Dam: Engineering Challenges

2m 46s

Thousands of men began arriving at the Grand Coulee Dam construction site in June 1933, enticed by the promise of jobs. Located hundreds of miles from the nearest big city, there was no easy way to get to the construction site. The dam would have to span beyond the width of the river -- almost a mile across -- and would need to rise 500 feet in the air to stop up the river to build the reservoir.

Grand Coulee Dam - Preview

30s

Of the many public works projects of the New Deal, Grand Coulee Dam loomed largest in America's imagination during the darkest days of the Depression. It promised to fulfill President Franklin Roosevelt's vision for a "planned promised land" where hard-working farm families would finally be free from the drought and dislocation caused by the elements.

Grand Coulee Dam's Open Spillways

15s

More than a mile long, the Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure in the U.S. In the fall of 2011, dam operators agreed to open the spillway just for American Experience. "It was very exciting that they agreed to spill for us for a short period specifically for the film," said Associate Producer Lauren DeFilippo. "We ran to the top and bottom [of the dam] in about 30 minutes."

Panama Canal Preview

30s

On August 15, 1914, the Panama Canal opened connecting the world's two largest oceans and signaling America's emergence as a global superpower. The story of the canal features a delightful cast of colorful characters ranging from an indomitable President to visionary engineers to tens of thousands of workers from around the world, rigidly segregated by race.

Grand Coulee Dam Chapter 1

13m 16s

Of the many public works projects of the New Deal, Grand Coulee Dam loomed largest in America's imagination during the darkest days of the Depression. It promised to fulfill President Franklin Roosevelt's vision for a "planned promised land" where hard-working farm families would finally be free from the drought and dislocation caused by the elements.

Into the Deep: American Experience - Preview

30s

Chart the rapid rise and precipitous decline of the American whaling industry, which powered the start of the industrial revolution and laid the groundwork for a global economy in the 18th and 19th centuries. 3/20/2012

The Amish Chapter 1

12m 30s

An intimate portrait of contemporary Amish faith and life, this film examines how such a closed and communal culture has thrived within one of the most open, individualistic societies on earth. What does the future hold for a community whose existence is so rooted in the past? And what does our fascination with the Amish say about deep American values?

Amish at Work: Harvesting

2m 29s

This video from the 1940s shows the Amish Huyard family harvesting wheat and tobacco using traditional methods. The film was taken by friend of the family Charles Noss, a photographer who worked at the nearby Hershey chocolate factory in Pennsylvania. Shortly after this was taken, most Amish groups were forbidden from posing for photographs and videos.

The Amish - Preview

30s

A preview of "The Amish," an intimate portrait of contemporary Amish faith and life. The film examines how such a closed and communal culture has thrived within one of the most open, individualistic societies on earth. What does the future hold for a community whose existence is so rooted in the past? And what does our fascination with the Amish say about deep American values?

Candy Makers

2m 55s

This 1940s footage from Lancaster County shows Pennsylvania Dutch candy makers rolling and molding hard candy. Not all Pennsylvania Dutch are Amish, and the flowery and colorful clothing of these candy makers confirm their non-Amish status.

Cradling Wheat

1m 47s

This 1940s bonus video shows a Pennsylvania Dutch family in Lancaster County working in a field with no modern machinery. Not all Pennsylvania Dutch are Amish, and this family does not seem to be Amish due to their head coverings and clothing.

Clinton and Policing the World: Bosnia

2m 56s

When Bosnian Serb soldiers murdered thousands in July 1995, Clinton initiated a massive NATO military response. "He didn't blink," National Security Coordinator Richard Clarke said. "We knew that day that we had a commander-in-chief who was rational and comfortable with the use of force."

Clinton's First Lady: Hillary

2m 26s

First Lady Hillary Clinton was blamed for the poor showing during the 1994 midterm elections. "Voters thought that it was a zero sum game, that for Hillary to be strong Bill would have to be weak, and as a result the perception of Hillary's strength became a perception of Bill's weakness," says Political Consultant Dick Morris.

Clinton and the Economy: Battle over the Budget

2m 50s

Clinton's "triangulation" strategy was an attempt to take control of the budget from the Republicans in Congress. "Once you accept that we're going to balance the budget, now let's have a fight about what we're going to protect," says Clinton's Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers. "That's a fight we can win."

Clinton and Crisis: The Oklahoma City Bombing

2m 47s

After the Oklahoma City Bombing, Clinton's ability to reach Americans on a personal level did much to help the nation's grief. "It's kind of a throwaway line now, I feel your pain, but he literally could," says Robert McNeely. "I mean he could take people and just hug them and connect to them in a way and really listen to them."

Clinton and Unity: Passing the Budget Bill

2m 55s

The vote on the budget bill came down to a Freshman Democrat, Marjorie Margolis Mezvinsky. Senator Tom Daschle described Clinton's resolve to get the budget passed: "There wasn't anything he wasn't willing to do. He would call, he would meet. He would grovel, he would strong-arm. He would use every tactic any leader has at his disposal to try to get this thing done."

Clinton and Lying: the Lewinsky Scandal

2m 11s

Clinton understood how the allegations of a sexual relationship with a White House intern could derail his presidency. He asked Dick Morris if he should lie to the American people. "They will forgive the adultery, but they won't easily forgive that you lied." Morris concludes.

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