Old Faithful

Yellowstone Park, WY

Old Faithful has inspired many tales throughout history. Most recently Old Faithful has become the antagonist in many 2012 Apocalypse stories. At any rate, many Americans continue to visit this geyser and gawk at its majesty.

Dilla

Woody Allen

New York, NY

In my opinion, no filmmaker in America has had as much an impact as Woody Allen. He has made at least forty films his way with an uncompromised and singular vision, and has influenced more filmmakers than anyone else has. He has taken on many forms and styles, paid homage to his predecessors, and worked harder than any other writer and director. He's also a tragic figure - someone who hasn't overcome a scandal in the early 90s, and his reputation is always dogged by the unfounded assumption that he hasn't made a good movie in the past fifteen to twenty years. He doesn't get the respect he deserves today because this generation can't see him. He doesn't communicate with fans, he shoots with real film, he is very secretive, and is unfairly painted as a man who only makes movies for wealthy white people. Woody Allen fans like myself would love to see this icon get the Studio 360 treatment (beyond the standardized and cliched "Let's appreciate the power of Annie Hall" treatment). He deserves a whole hour on his career.

Trent

Pet Sounds

Hawthorne, CA

Like "Kind of Blue" - another American Icon from this series - "Pet Sounds" is an example of one man's creative vision resulting in a groundbreaking artistic work, unique for its time, that helped to transform an American art form. Brian Wilson's complex arrangements and studio genius produced one of the first folk-rock hits ("Sloop John B") in the mid 1960s, and several singles on the pop music charts that could probably each stand alone as American Icons - "Wouldn't it be Nice," "God Only Knows," and "Caroline, No."

Don

On the Road by Jack Kerouac

on the road

(I know this is longer than 100 words, but I had to tell you the whole story.)
I am a twenty-three-year-old Belorussian immigrant. For over ten years now I have been fighting with the feeling of loss of national identity and the unclear emotions over the event of having been moved to the States at the age of twelve. Anger at my mother, at governments, at myself, at art, at anything, really - it's a frantic kind of feeling, like an egg dropped out of the nest and going into shock - it's the kind of anger that chick would feel after the shock is over, and it's supposed to feel like a happy little egg because this new place is better, so slap on a smile and run along. I learned fast, but I could not find a sense of peace in the new identity I was supposed to sport and even though my accent went and my Russian instead got an American accent (a stab in the heart for the thirteen-year old me after I worked all summer and went back to visit and got called an "American"), I still felt like an outsider, especially in the subtle things, like humor and childhood memories that people around me could share. It's the intimacy of a common cultural identity that I lacked and that lack brought me the most pain and confusion. Nevertheless, I managed to get myself a full scholarship to BU and graduated with a double major in painting and sculpture and went along with my life, got a job. But the momentum of my migrant youth didn't let me stay put and I decided to backpack through Europe (again, but for longer this time) and go to the Balkans and see the gypsies and roam and have no home, because I was so sick of not having one on the emotional and intellectual level, of being the undercover outsider. There was a vagueness about me because I adapted so fast that I was almost American, but I held on so tight to my birthplace identity that I could never fully be inside. As I was getting ready to leave for the journey... I discovered the Blues and Woody Guthrie, then jazz, and then the whole wide mystical country rolled out before me, like a veil lifted and through the music I 'got it'. And I left for my journey with a new feeling boiling up inside - the feeling of leaving home, but one I could come back to, a wild home, and home that was itself homeless and longing and wandering and I could live there, because so was I. And somewhere along my trip I found On the Road online and listened to the whole thing in a gulp and Kerouac opened for me the last flood gate and I finally felt happy to be an American. I am planning many projects based on these new feelings- paintings, murals, documentaries, and I want to talk about home to those who feel like they don't have one, I want to talk about the Blues, about singing about storytelling. America is nothing but road and that's where I found my home.

Anya

Saturday Night Live

New York

I grew up with this show and watched everyone come and go. I wanted to be a writer for SNL-Mad Magazine and Sesame Street. They all had staying power. Of course this year everyone would probably choose Betty White and I say she is also worthy.

Tammy

The Brill Building

NYC

Some of the best popular music of the 20th century came out of the Brill - there is even something called a Brill Sound. Name a popular music songwriter from the 30s to the present and they probably worked in a ratty little office in the Brill.

Frances

Norman Rockwell

Stockbridge, MA

He is iconic because he held a lens up to us that showed us who we were, and who we could be: not rose-tinted, but sunshine-colored. The one of the girl on the bench outside the principal's office is a favorite Rockwell of mine; she's so pleased, she doesn't care about being in trouble... much.

Gina

Gone With The Wind

Atlanta, Georgia

Gone With The Wind is the gold standard in books for showing us the true effects of the Civil war in the South. It also does a wonderful job of comparing and contrasting "before" and "after" scenarios of the Deep South in the Civil War Period of our history.

Maureen

Will Rogers

Citrus Heights, CA

Will Rogers was an American cowboy,
comedian, humorist, social commentetor,
vaudeville performer of the Ziegfeld
follies and actor. Hw was Cherokee.
I love his humor-philosophy so much.

Chaz

Dr Seuss (Theodore Geisel)

all over the anglophone world

Geisel was a political cartoonist, his children's books are beat poetry with strong moralistic and democratic ideals, he was somewhat of a racist and has been translated into Spanish and Latin (as far as I know). He is considered outside the US to represent the very best of American ideals and values, and he is promoted from generation to generation by the fond memories of parents.

Ricardo

Arlington National Cemetary

Arlington, VA

The final resting place of those who gave all to defend our great country. Located at the former estate of General Robert E. Lee, this hallowed ground is where you can find common soldiers lying next to medal of honor recipients as well as former presidents. What is more american then a place to honor those who fought for our freedoms.

Donna

Leonard Bernstein

Mr. Bernstein represents the highest achievement in American music. As conductor, pianist, or composer, Mr. Bernstein has given us so much wonder that he is a true American Icon.

James

Ben Franklin

Unknown

The "Father of our Country" & its greatest statesman & philosopher..Think about HIS contributions...An AWESOME man & talent.

J.J.O'Connor

Eleanor Roosevelt

NY, NY

More than any other woman, she set the bar for First Ladies that were to follow upcoming presidents. She became the voice and even the face of the new consciousness of poverty in America, particularly Appalachia.

Lauren

JFK'Inaugural Address

Washington, DC

It was the greatest inaugural address in U. S. hisotory. It gave us hope during dark times, optimism in a time of fear and a call for sacrifice which Americans responded.

Bryan

John Wayne

Winterset,Iowa

John epitomized what made a Great American and a Real Man.He was no sissy and He loved both GOD and Country.

Kevin

George Washington Carver

Tuskeegee Alabama

Though I am white, Dr. Carver had an attitude toward racism that all Americans would do well to discover and emulate. He is the American Icon that I most admire. It is my belief that his attitude is part of what inspired greatness of the kind that showed in the Tuskeegee Airmen. They were outstanding soldiers and Dr. Carver was the outstanding American that began the institute that produced them and many others that excelled against great odds.

William

Rush Limbaugh

Ft. Lauderdale Florida

Rush Limbaugh is the father of American political talk radio, which has become the modern town square, a place for indiviuals to voice their ideas and opinions about the big events of the day. Until Rush came along, there had been a void in society for many decades where peple could discuss politics with other interested people. Limbaugh's impact has been felt by politicians and media giants alike, who have felt the need to respond to his statments or try to humiliate or take government action against him. Rush Limbaugh is the embodimemnent of free speech in America.

John

Independence Hall and Independence National Park

Philadelphia, PA

One Dictionaly defines history as:

his·to·ry, n.
1. A usually chronological record of events, as of the life or development of a people or institution, often including an explanation of or commentary on those events.

Independence Hall and Independence National Park - the site where the written, chronology and defining identity of our nation, composed by our Founding Fathers, was first formalized into a written and defining historical document.

Charles

Hank Williams

Montgomery, Alabama

Hank Williams Sr is considered the major influence behind modern country music. Country music has changed it's sound over the years, but still maintains its storytelling magic.

Gus