The show was created partially in response to a National Geographic survey that found Americans had an alarmingly low knowledge of geography. One in four could not locate the Soviet Union or the Pacific Ocean.
According to the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the show's theme song, penned by Sean Altman and David Yazbek, is one of the most well-known themes in television history.
In the show's first season, the winning contestant could win an all-expenses paid trip to any destination in the 48 contiguous United States (i.e. any state in America except Alaska and Hawaii). Beginning in the second season, after the show proved to be popular, the Grand Prize was expanded to a free trip anywhere in North America.
This was the first game show to air nationally on PBS.
This show holds the record for the longest-running game show on PBS, and the second longest running children's game show in U.S. television history, behind Double Dare (1986), for which Greg Lee was a contestant coordinator. 'Marc Summers' also appeared as a guest star.