A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park

A Place Called Yellowstone: The Epic History of the World’s First National Park

Author: The New York Historical December 15, 2025 Duration: 29:52
Covering 2.2 million acres, Yellowstone National Park is a geographic behemoth and, as the birthplace of America’s national park system, a cultural giant as well. But since its official establishment in 1872, the bucolic lands have been the source of frequent conflict: between Native Americans and Europeans, and tourism and environmental conservation. In this episode, prizewinning author Randall K. Wilson explores the complex history of the park, from its geological roots to its role in our u...

David M. Rubenstein sits down with some of the most insightful historians and writers working today for conversations that feel less like a lecture and more like a discovery. For the Ages: A History Podcast, from The New York Historical, digs into the events and figures that define not just the American experience, but world history. Each episode is built around a genuine dialogue, where presidential legacies, the ideas of the founding era, and the often-overlooked individuals who propelled change are examined with fresh perspective. You’ll hear stories that challenge simple narratives, finding the unexpected connections and human complexities behind the dates and names. This podcast thrives on the depth and nuance that these expert guests bring, moving from broad societal shifts to intimate personal histories. It’s for anyone who believes the past is never truly settled and that understanding it requires listening to those who have dedicated their lives to its study. The production emphasizes clarity and substance, allowing the conversations to unfold at a pace suited for thoughtful reflection, whether you're a longtime history enthusiast or just curious about how we got here. Tune in for a series of engaging discussions that make history feel immediate and remarkably relevant to our contemporary world.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

For the Ages: A History Podcast
Podcast Episodes
American Republics, 1783–1850: Democracy and Empire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:07
Contrary to the popular narrative of a confident and stable young republic, the United States emerged from its constitution as a fragile, internally divided union of states still contending with European empires and othe…
American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:56
In 1961, as the Cold War cast a shadow across the globe, John F. Kennedy inspired Americans to look up to the sky as he announced his goal of putting a man on the moon by the end of the decade. Presidential historian Dou…
Flora MacDonald: Journey to the New World and the Revolutionary War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:37
Flora MacDonald’s life continued to be marked by dramatic political upheaval following her involvement in the escape of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. In this second conversation with David M. Rubenstein, Flora Fraser det…
Flora Macdonald: The Escape of “Bonnie” Prince Charlie [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:30
Biographer Flora Fraser tells the thrilling story of the young Scotswoman who helped Prince Charles Edward Stuart evade capture following the defeat of the Jacobite army at Culloden, Scotland, which marked the end of the…
Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944–1945 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:11
World War II in the Pacific entered its endgame in June 1944, after the U.S. waged a crushing assault on the Japanese navy in the Battle of the Philippine Sea. In a conversation that explores the conflict’s harrowing fin…
American Happiness and Discontents: The Unruly Torrent, 2008-2020 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:15
For decades, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and journalist George F. Will has been regarded as one of this country’s leading columnists and public intellectuals. In an expansive conversation that encompasses American hist…