diff --git a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.css b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.css
index 1803491..18111da 100644
--- a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.css
+++ b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.css
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@
   vertical-align: middle;
   width: 180px;
 }
-.bootgrid-header .search .glyphicon,
-.bootgrid-footer .search .glyphicon {
+.bootgrid-header .search .fa-solid,
+.bootgrid-footer .search .fa-solid {
   top: 0;
 }
 .bootgrid-header .search .fa,
-.bootgrid-footer .search .fa {
+.bootgrid-header .search .fa-solid,
+.bootgrid-footer .search .fa,
+.bootgrid-footer .search .fa-solid {
   display: table-cell;
 }
 .bootgrid-header .search.search-field::-ms-clear,
diff --git a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
index d8b6e72..5b3769d 100644
--- a/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
+++ b/dist/jquery.bootgrid.js
@@ -728,12 +728,15 @@ function renderSearchField()
             var that = this,
                 tpl = this.options.templates,
                 timer = null, // fast keyup detection
-                currentValue = "",
+                currentValue = this.searchPhrase,
                 searchFieldSelector = getCssSelector(css.searchField),
                 search = $(tpl.search.resolve(getParams.call(this))),
                 searchField = (search.is(searchFieldSelector)) ? search :
                     search.find(searchFieldSelector);
 
+            // populate search field if initial search phrase provided
+            $(searchField).val(currentValue);
+
             searchField.on("keyup" + namespace, function (e)
             {
                 e.stopPropagation();
@@ -1000,7 +1003,7 @@ var Grid = function(element, options)
     this.converter = null; // The converter for the column that is marked as identifier
     this.rowCount = ($.isArray(rowCount)) ? rowCount[0] : rowCount;
     this.rows = [];
-    this.searchPhrase = "";
+    this.searchPhrase = this.options.initialSearchPhrase || "";
     this.selectedRows = [];
     this.sortDictionary = {};
     this.total = 0;
@@ -1239,6 +1242,9 @@ Grid.defaults = {
               return value ? moment(parseInt(value)*1000) : "";
            },
            to: function (value) {
+              if (!moment.isMoment(value)) {
+                  value = moment(parseInt(value)*1000);
+              }
               return value ? value.format("lll") : "";
            }
         },
diff --git a/src/internal.js b/src/internal.js
index 0cebaf7..98a648e 100644
--- a/src/internal.js
+++ b/src/internal.js
@@ -718,12 +718,15 @@ function renderSearchField()
             var that = this,
                 tpl = this.options.templates,
                 timer = null, // fast keyup detection
-                currentValue = "",
+                currentValue = this.searchPhrase,
                 searchFieldSelector = getCssSelector(css.searchField),
                 search = $(tpl.search.resolve(getParams.call(this))),
                 searchField = (search.is(searchFieldSelector)) ? search :
                     search.find(searchFieldSelector);
 
+            // populate search field if initial search phrase provided
+            $(searchField).val(currentValue);
+
             searchField.on("keyup" + namespace, function (e)
             {
                 e.stopPropagation();
diff --git a/src/public.js b/src/public.js
index b5b3e88..62bd50a 100644
--- a/src/public.js
+++ b/src/public.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ var Grid = function(element, options)
     this.converter = null; // The converter for the column that is marked as identifier
     this.rowCount = ($.isArray(rowCount)) ? rowCount[0] : rowCount;
     this.rows = [];
-    this.searchPhrase = "";
+    this.searchPhrase = this.options.initialSearchPhrase || "";
     this.selectedRows = [];
     this.sortDictionary = {};
     this.total = 0;
@@ -264,6 +264,9 @@ Grid.defaults = {
               return value ? moment(parseInt(value)*1000) : "";
            },
            to: function (value) {
+              if (!moment.isMoment(value)) {
+                 value = moment(parseInt(value)*1000);
+              }
               return value ? value.format("lll") : "";
            }
         },
@@ -324,12 +327,12 @@ Grid.defaults = {
         dropDownMenuText: "dropdown-text", // must be a unique class name or constellation of class names within the actionDropDown
         footer: "bootgrid-footer container-fluid",
         header: "bootgrid-header container-fluid",
-        icon: "icon glyphicon",
-        iconColumns: "glyphicon-th-list",
-        iconDown: "glyphicon-chevron-down",
-        iconRefresh: "glyphicon-refresh",
-        iconSearch: "glyphicon-search",
-        iconUp: "glyphicon-chevron-up",
+        icon: "icon fa-solid",
+        iconColumns: "fa-list",
+        iconDown: "fa-chevron-down",
+        iconRefresh: "fa-arrows-rotate",
+        iconSearch: "fa-magnifying-glass",
+        iconUp: "fa-chevron-up",
         infos: "infos", // must be a unique class name or constellation of class names within the header and footer,
         left: "text-left",
         pagination: "pagination", // must be a unique class name or constellation of class names within the header and footer