00:00As you walk this land, it's impossible not to feel a profound connection to our ancestors.
00:08250 years ago, for early American settlers, the country is new and unknown.
00:15What our ancestors accomplished transformed America in ways that they never could have imagined.
00:20The obstacles were colossal. Everybody said that this was impossible.
00:26The Donner Party came within a day's travel of making it over the mountains.
00:32This is where they had to hunker down and try to survive.
00:35They had to blast their way through rock. Nitro-glisten was tried out.
00:39It was incredibly dangerous. They gave their lives for America.
00:44These histories together, they all made this country.
00:48I am the direct descendant of Sacagawea. I am a descendant of an escaped slave.
00:54I am a direct descendant of President James Monroe.
00:57It's an amazing story of persistence and grit and survival and optimism.
01:03All of our ancestors made possible what we have today.
01:06We stand on their shoulders.
01:08This land premieres June 7th on CNN and next day on the CNN app.
