A new podcast series, A History of the United States in 100 Objects, launches today in a collaboration between the BBC and the popular design podcast 99% Invisible. The series will explore American history through 100 overlooked or misunderstood artefacts, from a humble screw to a gold coin that nearly sank the economy.
Unlike the original 2010 BBC series A History of the World in 100 Objects, which focused on museum pieces, this new version deliberately seeks objects hidden in attics, basements, and everyday life. Host Roman Mars, creator of 99% Invisible, says the aim is to 'paint an audio portrait of the US with objects that are overlooked, mundane, thrown away, or misunderstood.'
Over 100 weeks, each episode will delve into a single object's story. Examples include an American screw that revolutionised global machinery, a gold coin from the California gold rush that ended up at the bottom of the Atlantic, and a ceramic dalmatian from the set of Wheel of Fortune. Mars promises that even the sober accounts will have 'a little bit of drunk history.'
The series features a roster of historians, journalists, and audio storytellers, each bringing their personality to the objects they obsess over. The collaboration was sparked when BBC producers kept finding that 99% Invisible had already covered potential objects, making the partnership 'undeniable,' says Mars.
New episodes are released weekly. The series aims to celebrate what the US does best while tackling tough issues with a sense of fun and discovery.
