America: A Personal History of the United States

(BBC and NBC, 1972-1973) documentary series

Here's an odd one—who knew that a documentary series about the history of the United States could survive more than a few episodes on network television? This one apparently did, and even managed a complete run of thirteen episodes, "ending with the social upheavals and counter-culture revolutions of the 1960s and 70s," according to IMDb. Rhode Island made an appearance in one of the episodes—probably episode 9, "Money on the Land," about the rise of wealth in the United States—with scenes shot at Marble House in Newport.

Narrated and co-written by Alistair Cooke, this series still occasionally shows up on PBS.