Main content

Mexico to America

Dan Cruickshank's travels take him from ancient Mayan tombs and the giant warriors of Tula in Mexico to Thomas Jefferson's home in Virginia and the Statue of Liberty.

In episode two of Dan Cruickshank's global journey to find the top 80 man-made treasures in history, we travel from the mysteries of ancient Mayan tombs to that great symbol of the modern age - the Statue of Liberty, while taking in the drama of the giant warriors at Tula and the refinement of Thomas Jefferson's elegant home in Virginia. Dan also reveals his first dark treasures of this monumental journey - the ruthlessly efficient killer, the 1851 Navy Colt – the handgun that 'won' the west for the white man – and comes face to face with the 'Controller of the Universe' in Mexico City.

Elsewhere in Mexico, deep inside the pyramids of Palenque, Dan finds the great tomb of King Pacal. Even more surprising is the early civilisation of North America at Mesa Verde, where the clifftop people created a brilliant landscape that looks like something from outer space. From there it's an extraordinary leap to the high rise drama of Manhattan and the skyscraper that changed the world.

Available now

59 minutes

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:33

    Robbie Robertson

    Coyote Dance (24-Bit Digitally Remastered 02)

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Dan Cruickshank
Executive Producer Basil Comely
Producer Tim Dunn

Broadcasts