American Experience 1988
What is American Experience?
American Experience is a television series that showcases documentaries on American history. The series brings to life compelling stories from the past that inform our understanding of the world today.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1988
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 396
- Runtime
- 55 minutes
- First aired
- Oct 4, 1988
- Last aired
- Jan 6, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- US
- Networks
- PBS
- Genres
- Documentary
- Updated
Where to watch
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 396 episodes and an average 55-minute runtime.
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Overview
American Experience is a television series that showcases documentaries on American history. The series brings to life compelling stories from the past that inform our understanding of the world today. It is a PBS documentary series created by Peter McGhee, and it airs documentaries about significant historical events or figures in United States history. The series features a range of documentaries and has been referred to as TV's most-watched history series. American Experience has been presented in a variety of formats, including a podcast called American Experience Presents, which brings a fresh take on the iconic stories told on the series. The series has been hosted by various individuals, including David McCullough, and has featured a range of narrators and actors, including David Ogden Stiers, Michael Murphy, and Oliver Platt. American Experience is available to stream on the PBS website.
Should you watch it?
“This long-running documentary series explores significant historical events and figures that shaped the United States.”
- in-depth historical analysis
- authoritative storytelling
- heavy subject matter
- slow pacing
Watch it if you enjoy documentary programming focused on American history.
The series features educational content regarding historical events and figures.
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Episode guide
Spoiler-Safe Browsing Progress
Season 1 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →- E1 The Great San Francisco Earthquake Mytharc Oct 4, 1988
- E2 Radio Bikini Core Oct 11, 1988
- E3 Indians, Outlaws and Angie Debo Mytharc Oct 18, 1988
- E4 Eric Sevareid's Not So Wild A Dream Core Oct 25, 1988
- E5 The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter Core Nov 1, 1988
- E6 Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys? Core Nov 8, 1988
- E7 Kennedy vs. Wallace: A Crisis Up Close Core Nov 15, 1988
- E8 Geronimo and the Apache Resistance Core Nov 22, 1988
- E9 Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Revisited Core Nov 29, 1988
- E10 That Rhythm, Those Blues Core Dec 6, 1988
- E11 The Radio Priest Core Dec 13, 1988
- E12 Hearts and Hands Core Dec 20, 1988
- E13 Views of a Vanishing Frontier Core Dec 27, 1988
- E14 Eudora Welty: One Writer's Beginnings Core Jan 3, 1989
- E15 The World That Moses Built Mytharc Jan 10, 1989
- E16 Sins of Our Mothers Mytharc Jan 17, 1989
Season 2 · 16 episodes
- E1 The Great Air Race of 1924 Mytharc Oct 3, 1989
- E2 Demon Rum Core Oct 10, 1989
- E3 A Family Gathering Core Oct 17, 1989
- E4 The Great War: 1918 Core Oct 24, 1989
- E5 Wildcatter: A Story of Texas Oil Core Oct 31, 1989
- E6 Forever Baseball Core Nov 7, 1989
- E7 Mr. Sears' Catalogue Core Nov 14, 1989
- E8 Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven Core Nov 21, 1989
- E9 Adam Clayton Powell Core Nov 28, 1989
- E10 Journey to America Core Dec 5, 1989
- E11 Ballad of a Mountain Man Core Dec 12, 1989
- E12 Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice Core Dec 19, 1989
- E13 Orphans of the Storm Core Dec 26, 1989
- E14 Forbidden City, USA Core Jan 2, 1990
- E15 Battle for Wilderness Mytharc Jan 9, 1990
- E16 Roots of Resistance: The Story of the Underground Railroad Mytharc Jan 16, 1990
Season 3 · 13 episodes
- E1 Lindbergh Mytharc Aug 27, 1990
- E2 Nixon (1): The Quest Core Oct 15, 1990
- E3 Nixon (2): Triumph Core Oct 15, 1990
- E4 Nixon (3): The Fall Mytharc Oct 15, 1990
- E5 God Bless America and Poland, Too Core Oct 22, 1990
- E6 Insanity on Trial Core Oct 29, 1990
- E7 The Satellite Sky Core Nov 5, 1990
- E8 The Crash of 1929 Core Nov 19, 1990
- E9 The Iron Road Core Nov 26, 1990
- E10 French Dance Tonight Core Dec 10, 1990
- E11 After the Crash Core Jan 7, 1991
- E12 Los Mineros Mytharc Jan 28, 1991
- E13 Coney Island Mytharc Feb 4, 1991
Season 4 · 13 episodes
- E1 LBJ (1) Mytharc Sep 30, 1991
- E2 LBJ (2) Core Sep 30, 1991
- E3 The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry Core Oct 7, 1991
- E4 Scandalous Mayor Core Oct 28, 1991
- E5 The Johnstown Flood Core Nov 4, 1991
- E6 Pearl Harbor: Surprise and Remembrance Core Nov 11, 1991
- E7 G-Men: The Rise of J. Edgar Hoover Mytharc Feb 24, 1992
- E8 Duke Ellington: Reminiscing in Tempo Core Dec 9, 1991
- E9 The Quiz Show Scandal Core Jan 6, 1992
- E10 Love in the Cold War Core Jan 13, 1992
- E11 Wild by Law Core Feb 10, 1992
- E12 Barnum's Big Top Mytharc Oct 14, 1991
- E13 In the White Man's Image Mytharc Feb 17, 1992
Season 5 · 13 episodes
- E1 The Kennedys (1): The Father, 1900-61 Mytharc Sep 20, 1992
- E2 The Kennedys (2): The Sons, 1961-80 Core Sep 21, 1992
- E3 The Donner Party Core Oct 28, 1992
- E4 Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II Core Nov 4, 1992
- E5 George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn't Be King Core Nov 18, 1992
- E6 Last Stand at Little Big Horn Core Nov 25, 1992
- E7 If You Knew Sousa Core Jan 11, 1993
- E8 Simple Justice Core Jan 18, 1993
- E9 Knute Rockne and His Fighting Irish Core Feb 8, 1993
- E10 Sit Down And Fight Core Feb 1, 1993
- E11 Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Core Feb 15, 1993
- E12 Goin' Back to T-Town Core Mar 1, 1993
- E20 Ishi: The Last Yahi Indian Mytharc Dec 2, 1992
Frequently asked questions
What is American Experience?
It is a PBS documentary series that showcases stories about significant historical events and figures in United States history.
Who created the series?
The series was created by Peter McGhee.
When did the series premiere?
The series began airing in 1988.
What is the focus of the episodes?
Each episode focuses on compelling stories from the past that help inform an understanding of the modern world.
Is there a companion podcast?
Yes, the series includes a podcast titled American Experience Presents.