About this episode

This episode explores American history through the lens of music, highlighting its role in the country's evolution.

There are many ways to look at and understand American history. In this series, we’ve shared stories about how this country was founded and how it continues to evolve over time. Today, a journey through American history, with the sounds of music. To access bonus episodes and listen to Throughline sponsor-free, subscribe to Throughline+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org/throughline . See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences. NPR Privacy Policy

More episodes of Throughline

• The Chinafication of Walmart · July 21, 2026 · 17 min
• Listen to "We Keep Us Safe" on NPR's Embedded podcast · July 19, 2026 · 3 min
• Route 66 and the quest to connect America · July 16, 2026 · 50 min
• How wheelchairs, a river, and a spaceship challenged the status quo · July 14, 2026 · 20 min
• The ongoing battle over asylum in America · July 9, 2026 · 54 min
• The story of July 4th is messier than you remember · July 2, 2026 · 34 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Throughline podcast page.