The Machines That Built America

1 season available

The stories behind innovations such as television, radio, phones, airplanes, motorcycles and power tools, as well as the inventors, including Nikola Tesla, William Harley, Alexander Graham Bell, Duncan Black and Alonzo Decker.

Tractor Revolution

S1 E1

Harvesting crops is grueling, back-breaking work, and farmers must walk miles behind horse-drawn plows to get food on American tables.

Plane Pioneers

S1 E2

In 1910, airplanes are a novelty, fragile wooden concoctions that float in the air--and crash.

Titans of Television

S1 E3

A ruthless mogul takes on a little-known inventor in a high stakes battle that will change the world forever, whether a farm-boy can beat a titan with endless resources.

Motorcycle Kings

S1 E4

William Harley and Arthur Davidson have a bold vision for a new form of transportation.

Telephone Wars

S1 E5

When communication giant Western Union offers a colossal cash prize to anyone who can improve its network, two daring inventors go head-to-head in a fight that will forever change the way humans connect.

Power Tool Showdown

S1 E6

With a growing need for speed and efficiency, a few visionary companies, Black and Decker, Milwaukee and DeWalt, create the power tools that revolutionize how America is built.

Tesla vs. Marconi

S1 E7

Two rival inventors have the same idea for improving things: wireless communication.

Home Tech Revolution

S1 E8

With America plugging in to electric power, a flood of innovation is not only changing industry, it's revolutionizing the home; the new technology makes housework easier and gives women opportunities to work outside the home.