Season 1

New York City's Grand Central Station is spotlighted. Included: the heroic building's blend of architecture and functionality; how it spurred midtown development; the court case that saved it from destruction.

DEAR HOME: LETTERS FROM WWI chronicles the experiences of American soldiers and supply clerks, pilots and postal workers from draft day to homecoming, how they clung to pen and paper as their only connection to home, and how the war left them forever changed.

This program, narrated by Roger Mudd, offers an interesting look at the history of the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key's poem confirming a young nation's sense of self. The particular flag Key saw came about through the herculean efforts of a seamstress to meet a request by Captain Amistad, commander of Ft. McHenry outside of Baltimore. The captain wanted a large symbol of American pride to wave in the face of the British fleet as it bombarded his post during the War of 1812. Most likely, the good Captain had no suspicions as to just how wildly successful his efforts would be--after Key's poem was published in 1814, it was paired with a tune from a drinking song (everybody knew the melody already so it was easy to remember) and became quite popular. In addition to tracing the song and flag's history, the program also looks at present-day intricate efforts to preserve what is left of the original fabric.

Steve Thomas visits ghost towns from the American gold-rush era in Montana and California to examine preservation efforts, and innovative technology and methods used by miners. Towns include Garnet and Bannock in Montana; and Bodie, Cal. Also: A tour of the Knight Foundry in Sutter Creek, Cal.