Smithsonian Channel Documentaries
Season 2009
The content of these documentaries are inspired by the Smithsonian Institution’s museums, research facilities and magazines – and feature original non-fiction programming that cover a wide range of historical, scientific and cultural subjects.
Where to Watch Smithsonian Channel Documentaries • Season 2009
10 Episodes
- Footprints on the Water: The Nan Hauser StoryE1
Footprints on the Water: The Nan Hauser StoryHer dream job happens to be one of the most dangerous pursuits on earth. Meet Nan Hauser: whale expert, conservationist, and champion to the giants of the deep. From grueling days on the ocean, to taking on the U.S. Navy, to swimming with the graceful but highly unpredictable ten-ton cetaceans, she's made it her life's work to understand and preserve the whales and dolphins of Oceania. Her groundbreaking work and dedication prove that one person can make a difference. - Mission to Murder HitlerE4
Mission to Murder HitlerHe was a shining light, a beacon of hope, in the German resistance movement. The bomb he placed at Hitler’s headquarters could have put an end to war and genocide. But like most German army officers, Claus Schenk, Count von Stauffenberg, was at first a fascinated observer of Hitler’s rise and his early military successes. He, too, was carried away by the triumph of the French campaign. It was a long road for this loyal follower of his commander-in-chief to become the man who tried to kill the Fuhrer on 20 July 1944. How did it happen? What turned an ambitious officer from an old aristocratic family into the mastermind of a coup d’etat? What did he know about the crimes committed under the Nazi regime? - Batwomen of Panama
E5Batwomen of PanamaA 600-acre patch of forest in Panama where 72 species of bats co-exist - more than in the whole of Europe or the USA. German scientist Elisabeth Kalko spent over 10 years working in the dark on Barro Colorado Island, gathering a group of the world's most adventurous and daring women scientists - the batwomen of Panama. - Making the MonkeesE7
Making the MonkeesA look at the rise and fall of the Monkees, pop's first manufactured sensation. Two child actors, a folk singer, and a country guitarist answered a newspaper advertisement casting "4 insane boys, age 17–21," and quickly found themselves TV and music superstars in the late 1960s, before it all came to a screeching halt. - Picturing the President: George WashingtonE9
Picturing the President: George WashingtonDiscover the hidden symbolism of the Landsdowne, a familiar full-length portrait of George Washington that hangs in the National Gallery. Examine Gilbert Stuart's unforgettable portrait, which captures the spirit of this victorious general, stalwart leader, and pioneering president of the United States of America. The story of the painting reverberates to present times. - 9/11 Phone Calls from the TowersE10
9/11 Phone Calls from the Towers September 11th 2001 is the most terrifying and enduring tragedy of our time. The images of that day stay with us for all of us, but for many, the most powerful legacy of that fateful day is the voices calling from inside the towers, whether telling loved onesthey were safe, saying goodbyewhen all hope was lost, or even seeking confort from strangers in a desperate call for help.