Think Earth Day was started by a group of tree-hugging hippies? That’s just part of the story. In this hour-long special, we explore the history of Earth Day—from the man who came up with the name to a clever bit of marketing that played a key role in bringing millions of people to the environmental movement.
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Stories in this episode
Memories from Pittsburgh’s First Earth Day in 1970 - Millions of people celebrated Earth Day across the country in 1970. So how did Pittsburghers break in the new holiday? We asked two women who were there to share their memories.
How a Rag-Tag Crew of Hippies, Housewives and Politicians Created Earth Day - The beauty—and power—of the first Earth Day is that everyone from politicians to activists, housewives to unions, came together to make it what it was. 
How a Mad Men Ad Exec Helped ‘Brand’ the First Earth Day - In 1970, more than 20 million people helped celebrate an obscure new holiday known as Earth Day. And a storied Madison Avenue copywriter was a huge part of its success.
How a Burning River Helped Create the Clean Water Act - When Cleveland's Cuyahoga River actually caught fire in 1969, it became a national rallying cry for the country to confront its long-neglected water pollution problems.
