On this episode of Our American Stories, before she became First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was a lifelong New Yorker who deeply believed America’s historic landmarks were worth saving. So when developers threatened to demolish Grand Central Terminal in the 1970s, much like they had already destroyed the original Penn Station, Jackie stepped into the fight to preserve one of New York City’s most recognizable buildings.
Natasha Wing, author of the children’s book When Jackie Saved Grand Central, shares the story of how Jackie Kennedy Onassis helped rally public support to save the historic rail terminal, turning a local preservation battle into a national movement. The fight eventually reached the Supreme Court and helped reshape the future of historic preservation across America.
Support the show (https://www.ouramericanstories.com/donate)
(00:28) Grand Central Terminal

Bass Reeves: The Former Slave Who Tamed the Wild West
38:17

What Lee Iacocca and Henry Ford II Taught a 23-Year-Old Newbie
10:49

Thomas Mundy Peterson: The First Black Voter Under the 15th Amendment
09:29