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
Buy
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PBS
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How long to binge?
Estimate the schedule using 396 episodes and an average 55-minute runtime.
Trailer
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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Is American Experience worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 16 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 The Great San Francisco Earthquake Oct 4, 1988
- E2 Radio Bikini Oct 11, 1988
- E3 Indians, Outlaws and Angie Debo Oct 18, 1988
- E4 Eric Sevareid's Not So Wild A Dream Oct 25, 1988
- E5 The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter Nov 1, 1988
- E6 Do You Mean There Are Still Real Cowboys? Nov 8, 1988
- E7 Kennedy vs. Wallace: A Crisis Up Close Nov 15, 1988
- E8 Geronimo and the Apache Resistance Nov 22, 1988
- E9 Let Us Now Praise Famous Men: Revisited Nov 29, 1988
- E10 That Rhythm, Those Blues Dec 6, 1988
- E11 The Radio Priest Dec 13, 1988
- E12 Hearts and Hands Dec 20, 1988
- E13 Views of a Vanishing Frontier Dec 27, 1988
- E14 Eudora Welty: One Writer's Beginnings Jan 3, 1989
- E15 The World That Moses Built Jan 10, 1989
- E16 Sins of Our Mothers Jan 17, 1989
Season 2 · 16 episodes
- E1 The Great Air Race of 1924 Oct 3, 1989
- E2 Demon Rum Oct 10, 1989
- E3 A Family Gathering Oct 17, 1989
- E4 The Great War: 1918 Oct 24, 1989
- E5 Wildcatter: A Story of Texas Oil Oct 31, 1989
- E6 Forever Baseball Nov 7, 1989
- E7 Mr. Sears' Catalogue Nov 14, 1989
- E8 Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven Nov 21, 1989
- E9 Adam Clayton Powell Nov 28, 1989
- E10 Journey to America Dec 5, 1989
- E11 Ballad of a Mountain Man Dec 12, 1989
- E12 Ida B. Wells: A Passion for Justice Dec 19, 1989
- E13 Orphans of the Storm Dec 26, 1989
- E14 Forbidden City, USA Jan 2, 1990
- E15 Battle for Wilderness Jan 9, 1990
- E16 Roots of Resistance: The Story of the Underground Railroad Jan 16, 1990
Season 3 · 13 episodes
- E1 Lindbergh Aug 27, 1990
- E2 Nixon (1): The Quest Oct 15, 1990
- E3 Nixon (2): Triumph Oct 15, 1990
- E4 Nixon (3): The Fall Oct 15, 1990
- E5 God Bless America and Poland, Too Oct 22, 1990
- E6 Insanity on Trial Oct 29, 1990
- E7 The Satellite Sky Nov 5, 1990
- E8 The Crash of 1929 Nov 19, 1990
- E9 The Iron Road Nov 26, 1990
- E10 French Dance Tonight Dec 10, 1990
- E11 After the Crash Jan 7, 1991
- E12 Los Mineros Jan 28, 1991
- E13 Coney Island Feb 4, 1991
Season 4 · 13 episodes
- E1 LBJ (1) Sep 30, 1991
- E2 LBJ (2) Sep 30, 1991
- E3 The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry Oct 7, 1991
- E4 Scandalous Mayor Oct 28, 1991
- E5 The Johnstown Flood Nov 4, 1991
- E6 Pearl Harbor: Surprise and Remembrance Nov 11, 1991
- E7 G-Men: The Rise of J. Edgar Hoover Feb 24, 1992
- E8 Duke Ellington: Reminiscing in Tempo Dec 9, 1991
- E9 The Quiz Show Scandal Jan 6, 1992
- E10 Love in the Cold War Jan 13, 1992
- E11 Wild by Law Feb 10, 1992
- E12 Barnum's Big Top Oct 14, 1991
- E13 In the White Man's Image Feb 17, 1992
Season 5 · 13 episodes
- E1 The Kennedys (1): The Father, 1900-61 Sep 20, 1992
- E2 The Kennedys (2): The Sons, 1961-80 Sep 21, 1992
- E3 The Donner Party Oct 28, 1992
- E4 Liberators: Fighting on Two Fronts in World War II Nov 4, 1992
- E5 George Washington: The Man Who Wouldn't Be King Nov 18, 1992
- E6 Last Stand at Little Big Horn Nov 25, 1992
- E7 If You Knew Sousa Jan 11, 1993
- E8 Simple Justice Jan 18, 1993
- E9 Knute Rockne and His Fighting Irish Feb 8, 1993
- E10 Sit Down And Fight Feb 1, 1993
- E11 Rachel Carson's Silent Spring Feb 15, 1993
- E12 Goin' Back to T-Town Mar 1, 1993
- E20 Ishi: The Last Yahi Indian 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.