Aerial America - podcast cover
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

Russia Gave Us a Discount on Alaska

Many ridiculed Secretary of State William Seward for purchasing Alaska from Russia in 1867. But he turned out to be quite the shrewd businessman.

Apr 01, 20193 min

Scenic Enough for Jurassic Park

The waterfalls of Hawaii's Mount Wai'ale'ale are so picturesque, abundant, and untouched, Steven Spielberg shot parts of his original dino thriller there.

Apr 01, 20192 min

The Awe-Inspiring Monument Rocks

Eighty million years ago, western Kansas was underwater; the remains of what lived in the sea then turned into chalk, eventually eroding into the large rocks that now tower over the flat countryside.

Mar 25, 20191 min

Daniel Boone's Wilderness Road

Forbidding mountains were no match for Daniel Boone. When he was hired by a wealthy businessman to forge a trail through the Cumberland Gap, he emerged on the other side of the mountain two weeks later.

Mar 18, 20193 min

Vacationing on Martha's Vineyard

The breathtaking beaches and quaint seaside cottages of Martha's Vineyard make it a dream vacation destination for many of its visitors - some of which include presidents, celebrities, and even one famous, fictional shark.

Mar 18, 20193 min

In Wisconsin, Evidence of Human Sacrifice

Wisconsin's Aztalan State Park is home a mysterious pyramidal mound built by the prehistoric Native Americans who once lived there. Excavations of the site have yielded intriguing, and grisly, findings.

Mar 04, 20192 min

Why Yellowstone Can be a Magnet for Deadly Misadventures

Every year, people are injured or killed at Yellowstone with distressing regularity: from the two women who tried to take a selfie with an elk, to victims of bear attacks, to people falling into the thermal pools.

Feb 25, 20193 min

Death Valley: One of the Most Extreme Places on Earth

Southern California is home to some of the most extreme landscapes on the planet--none more so than Death Valley where, in 1913, the temperatures reached a world-record high of 134 degrees fahrenheit.

Feb 04, 20192 min

Indiana's Secret Parties and Perfect Popcorn

A large portion of Indiana's economy relies on an invaluable crop: corn. Popcorn plants like Pop Weaver have perfected the production of our favorite movie snack down to a science.

Jan 29, 20193 min

How This Man's Hobby Turned into Tabasco Sauce

Tabasco sauce got its start after the Civil War, when Edmund McIlhenny of Avery Island, Louisiana, began fermenting his red pepper plants in order to make a spicy sauce.

Jan 22, 20191 min

The Juicy Rivalry Between Georgia and South Carolina

Georgia may be known for its peaches, but this four-story water tower in Gaffney, South Carolina was designed as a giant peach to let the world know that South Carolina produces the most peaches in America.

Jan 14, 20191 min

One of the Most Remote Places in the U.S.

The northern tip of Wisconsin's Door Peninsula, less than 2 miles wide, is a secluded home to numerous wineries, wheat fields and picturesque lighthouses.

Jan 07, 20193 min

Why No One Died in the Delaware River Crossing

It's hard to imagine a better outcome than the one engineered by George Washington crossing the Delaware River in 1776 with 2,400 troops. This is how he did it, and then won the Battle of Trenton.

Jan 07, 20193 min

Obama's Favorite Beer is Made Here

Two of the most well-known Pennsylvania pioneers have become household names, with factories that continue to produce two classic American products - Hershey's chocolate and Yuengling's beer.

Dec 24, 20182 min

The Views of the Olympic Mountains Are Truly God-Like

In 1788, a British mariner passed by the majestic, snow-covered mountains of northwest Washington - the peaks seemed the perfect dwelling place for Greek gods, so he named them the Olympic Mountains.

Dec 17, 20182 min

Nebraska is the Home of Reliable Tractors

When Nebraska was a territory, Omaha had served as it's capital, but after statehood a town called Lancaster was chosen instead and renamed, Lincoln.

Dec 10, 20183 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android
Open in Metacast