Skip to main content
Back to Show
Iconic America

The Bald Eagle Appears in the First Great Seal of the U.S.

Eva Diaz, associate professor of art history at Pratt University, explains the cultural and allegorical significance of the Founding Fathers' decision to use the bald eagle as the prominent symbol in the Great Seal of the United States.

Support Provided By
Iconic America
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:11
The Golden Gate bridge is an engineering marvel that symbolizes America’s can-do spirit.
Stone Mountain
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:38
As the nation wrestles with its past, the fate of Stone Mountain stands in question.
The American Bald Eagle
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:08
The story of how the Bald Eagle soared to its vaunted perch in American iconography.
The Statue of Liberty
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:11
A look at The Statue of Liberty's evolving meaning as symbol for a “nation of immigrants."
The Cowboy Preview
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:24
The cowboy is the quintessential American — fiercely independent, brave and laconic.
The Gadsden Flag
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:11
The Gadsden flag has been co-opted by a wide variety of Americans over its long history.
The Hollywood Sign
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:35
A look at the L.A. landmark that became an international symbol of the American dream.
Fenway Park
Unlock with PBS Passport
55:27
No ballpark is more iconic than Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox
Active loading indicator