Smithsonian Channel Documentaries
Season 2015
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 2015
33 Episodes
- Lincoln's Last DayE1
Lincoln's Last DayWe all know the main story of Abraham Lincoln's death, how he was killed, where it took place, and who pulled the trigger. But what exactly happened during the last day of his life? Relive April 14, 1865, as we track the hours of the day that shocked the world, following both assassin and victim on separate paths that would ultimately converge at the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre. We'll also look at the objects, like Lincoln's hat and John Wilkes Booth's gun, that witnessed the crime that changed the course of American history forever. - The Spy in the Hanoi HiltonE2
The Spy in the Hanoi HiltonIn 1973, 591 American POWs returned home from the Vietnam War, bringing with them harrowing tales of survival. But there was an even more remarkable -- and secret -- story to tell: a feat of incredible spycraft that remained classified for decades...until now. This is the unbelievable story of James Stockdale and his fellow prisoners at the notorious "Hanoi Hilton." Their clandestine communications with U.S. intelligence alerted the CIA and Pentagon to the horrors of the Vietnamese POW camps and prompted a daring, top-secret rescue mission. - World War II Spy School
E3World War II Spy SchoolBefore there was the CIA, there was the OSS, a top-secret spy agency hatched by Roosevelt and Churchill in the darkest hours of World War II. The goal: help Britain get back into occupied territory by building an army of highly trained super spies. Discover the origins of modern espionage at Camp X, the first secret agent training school in North America, and pore over the manual that served as its bible. Through declassified items and firsthand accounts, we reveal the untold stories behind the covert war in history's largest conflict. - Nepal Quake: Terror on EverestE5
Nepal Quake: Terror on EverestA massive earthquake rocks Nepal on April 25, 2015. In Kathmandu, centuries of culture are destroyed. In Langtang, an entire village is wiped out of existence. On Mount Everest, base camps and climbers are buried in a tsunami of ice. Thousands are dead, untold numbers are injured, and half a million homes are lost. Witness it firsthand, through personal footage and accounts of the survivors. Then discover the science behind this deadly force, and what, if anything can be done to prevent such a disaster from happening again. - Islands of CreationE6
Islands of CreationIn the jungles of a remote archipelago in the South Pacific, a biologist is attempting to do something Charles Darwin and Ernst Mayr never accomplished: catch evolution in the act of creating new species. Albert Uy is on the verge of an amazing discovery in the Solomon Islands, but there's a threat looming on the horizon. The islands' resources are being exploited, putting all local wildlife at risk. It's a race against time to gather the evidence necessary to prove the existence of a new species before it's lost forever. - Siege of MasadaE7
Siege of MasadaFirst told at the dawn of Christianity and at a moment of crisis for the Jews, the story of Masada has long fired the imagination of believers and non-believers alike. Yet, for most of recorded history, it’s been little more than a legend. Then, in the middle of the 20th century, everything changed. A mounting body of archeological evidence emerged – a ruined mountain fortress, a siege ramp threatening its walls, a series of ancient Roman camps. Taken together, they pinpoint Masada on the map. This is the indisputable site of an epic fight between the Roman army and a besieged community of Jews. But as the siege wall rose and their enemies prepared a final attack, did they really choose mass suicide and martyrdom over surrender? - 21st Century ElephantE9
21st Century ElephantElephants live a privileged life in the wild, surrounded by a strong family unit and threatened by very few predators. However, in areas where they live side by side with humans, it's a much different story. We track land's biggest mammal around the globe to see how they cope in our modern world, and how man impacts their lives in both negative and positive ways. From the giant bulls of the African bushveld to the timber elephants of Asia, we follow these gentle giants and the dedicated men and women helping them to change with the times. - Elephant KingE10
Elephant KingMayhem is about to break out in Namibia's Etosha National Park. This sprawling, arid land plays host to the highest concentration of elephants on Earth, and they've recently lost their leader. The quest to become the new elephant king is on, and the candidates are all six-ton giants, willing to throw their weight around. Join ecologist Caitlin O'Connell as she documents the pachyderm politics and unlocks the secrets of this elephant society. From her hidden bunker, mere feet from the turbulent battle, O'Connell will decipher the meaning of their actions as the fight for the crown unfolds. - King Tut's Final MysteryE11
King Tut's Final MysteryKing Tut's death at the age of 19 has been debated ever since his tomb was discovered. Why did he die so young? Was he murdered? To solve this ancient mystery, a team of scientists will perform a virtual autopsy on the king, using modern technology. - Lethal AttractionsE14
Lethal AttractionsIn the African wilderness, there's no such thing as a free lunch. It's a world where predator and prey are equally matched. And a worthwhile meal means going up against gut-gouging horns, venomous fangs, stampeding hooves, and sharp canines. Take a front row seat and witness the bouts of lion vs. Cape buffalo, mongoose vs. mamba snake, leopard vs. baboon, and other wild clashes. Here, the odds of success are just 50/50, but in the age-old contest between hunter and hunted, the reward is well worth the risk. - Great White Code RedE15
Great White Code RedShark specialist Dr. Geremy Cliff and sensory biologist Dr. Craig O'Connell have joined forces to unlock the hunting secrets of the ocean's perfect predator, the great white shark. To do so, they'll go beneath its skin, dissecting the giant to reveal the six incredible senses that drive this powerful creature to the ultimate attack. Enter the operating room and see how the great white is not a cold-blooded killer to fear, but an evolutionary marvel that should be respected and revered. - Hippo GanglandsE16
Hippo GanglandsThere's a gang war happening in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia, a battle among hippos for territory, dominance, mating rights, and survival. The reason? Dry season: a seven-month drought that forces over 30,000 hippos to the deepest part of the river to stay wet and cool. Follow these three-ton beasts as they fight lions, crocodiles, and other hippo gangs, struggling to stay alive until the next rainfall. Only then can they return to the lush paradise they once called home. - Soul of a People: Writing America's StoryE17
Soul of a People: Writing America's StoryIn the grip of the Great Depression, WPA writers searched for America and discovered the Soul of a People. This show explores one of the most controversial public assistance programs of its time and shows nothing less than the creation of America's first ever self-portrait. - Samurai Warrior Queens
E19Samurai Warrior QueensIn ancient Japan, honor and glory were reserved for male soldiers only, which makes the story of Takeko Nakano so remarkable. Not only was she a female Japanese warrior, but she was joined by several hundred other samurai warrior women, whose complete dedication and extensive suffering remains one of the world’s great untold stories. Discover Nakano’s rise to become a martial arts master, her epic battle for her clans’ independence, and how in today’s martial arts schools, the spirit of Japan’s female warriors continues to thrive. - Secrets of the HiveE20
Secrets of the HiveHoneybees are in a crisis. Every year we lose about a third of these endangered creatures, which we rely on to pollinate most of the world's daily food. But as farmers face devastating losses, scientists are finding hope in the huge and barely tapped world of the 20,000 species of wild bees. These are the innovative methods and unusual experiments biologists are working on in their race to end this global calamity. - The Day Hitler DiedE21
The Day Hitler DiedAs Russian and Allied forces surrounded Berlin in 1945, Hitler took refuge in a bunker beneath the crumbling city. What exactly happened in that claustrophobic labyrinth has long been a mystery, until now. Relive Hitler's final days, detailed through never-before-seen interviews with the men and women who were with him during those last desperate moments. These recordings, lost for decades, but recently found in an archive in Pittsburgh, tell the untold story of the Fuhrer's final days, in the words of the people who were there. - The Codebreaker Who Hacked HitlerE22
The Codebreaker Who Hacked HitlerMeet Gordon Welchman, a key member of the British team that took on the Nazis, decoded the Enigma machine, and changed the course of World War II. An outcast in the very world he helped to build, the true legacy of his contributions to military intelligence are only now emerging. Discover his story told through recently released interviews from coworkers and letters from "The Forgotten Genius of Bletchley Park" himself. - Moby Dick: Heart of a Whale
E23Moby Dick: Heart of a WhaleHerman Melville’s epic ocean adventure “Moby Dick” is an American masterpiece. But was this stirring tale of violence and revenge simply an allegory, or were there real giants of the deep deliberately attacking whaling ships? With the help of centuries old witness accounts and modern day science, we explain how the legend of the great white whale came to be. Then we determine if the multiple sperm whale assaults on ships in the 19th century were indeed premeditated and coordinated. - The Day The Bomb Dropped
E24The Day The Bomb DroppedThe key scientists of the Manhattan Project. The pilot who navigated Enola Gay over its target. The man who broke the news to Truman that the bomb had been dropped. And the citizens of Hiroshima who somehow survived to see their city obliterated. These are the stories of August 6, 1945, the day that launched the atomic age, told by the people who were there. Through their heroic, harrowing, and heartbreaking accounts, we relive the tragic day that hastened the end of a war and changed the world forever. - Legend of Lead Belly
E26Legend of Lead BellyHuddie Ledbetter was born into poverty, battled racism, and did time, but in spite of his early hardships, or perhaps because of them, he became one of the great musicians of the 20th century. We trace the life and career of Lead Belly, a man praised by critics and revered by artists, whose unique music crossed a host of genres and influenced countless industry legends, from The Beatles to Led Zeppelin to Nirvana and beyond. See how his talent, humanity, and determination defeated all that stood in his way to make his voice heard, then and now. - Napoleon's Waterloo
E27Napoleon's WaterlooIt lasted only one day on a small piece of land, but the impact the Battle of Waterloo had on history is massive and far-reaching. This is the definitive account of the fight that ended Napoleon's rule as emperor and altered the destinies of France, Europe, and the world. Based on testimonies of those involved, we reveal the tactical decisions and human dramas that transpired on both sides of the battle to give you an unprecedented look of one of history's most epic conflicts. - The Secrets of Shark Island
E28The Secrets of Shark IslandThe Revillagigedo Islands, about 200 miles off the coast of Mexico, may not look like much on the surface, but beneath is one of nature's best-kept secrets: a home to some of the greatest concentrations of fish in the world. This is the only natural juncture for miles in an otherwise empty Pacific Ocean, and a crucial area for migrating sharks and other apex predators. Enter a world where whitetip sharks, giant lobsters, and moray eels share living quarters, humpback whales breed, and mantas and tuna feast on bait in this land of plenty. - Castro's Secret ReefE29
Castro's Secret ReefCuba's enforced isolation has resulted in the unlikeliest of marine reserves: a huge, rambling archipelago known as Jardines de la Reina, or "Gardens of the Queen." Stretching around 140 miles along the southern coast of Cuba, it's one of the longest barrier reef systems in the world. Get an up-close look at Fidel Castro's diving playground, a forgotten ocean paradise unseen for half a century, and witness exotic species rarely seen elsewhere in the region. It's the lost jewel of the Caribbean, but how long can this pristine wilderness survive? - V2: Nazi Rocket
E30V2: Nazi RocketThe Nazis knew it was their last chance. The British knew it was the deadliest threat they'd ever face. And the Americans knew it could fall into the wrong hands. The V2 rocket quickly became Hitler's greatest deadly weapon and beacon of hope to turn the course of World War II in his favor. Watch Nazi Germany's desperate attempt at victory as the Allies race to stop them and see how the V2 miraculously went from deadly weapon to amazing feat of space technology. - Electric AmazonE32
Electric AmazonThe Amazon is one of the wildest and least explored parts of the planet. Encompassing 6 countries and 2 million square miles of forest, river and floodplain, it has the highest diversity of life on the planet, but what lies below it is truly shocking. In its deep muddy rivers, clear streams and expansive floodplains a freak-show of fish life has exploded, with some of the strangest shapes and weirdest adaptations on Earth. Hiding in the vast rivers and streams is an electric grid, a bizarre community of fish with a highly sophisticated electric sixth sense. Using electricity, these "Super" fish can communicate wirelessly, control each other remotely and emit shocks that can stop a human heart. This cryptic world has mystified scientists throughout the ages. Now an intrepid scientist, Will Crampton ventures back into the dark jungles where the inspiration for our technology driven world first emerged, in an attempt to unravel their secrets and unlock the electric code. - World's Biggest BeastsE33
World's Biggest BeastsA bird as big as a fighter plane. A snake the size of a school bus. A shark 100 times heavier than an average great white. Before the time of humans, our planet was ruled by a land of giants, with fish that could swallow you whole and land predators tall enough to peek into the top floor of the White House. But which of these mega-monsters was the largest of them all? Join us as we reveal the Top 10 biggest beasts to walk the Earth, swim the seas, and soar the skies. - Hippos: After DarkE34
Hippos: After DarkGet up close and personal with a hippo who's the king of his territory: mighty leader by day, defender of his clan by night. After the sun goes down, the greatest threat to his hippo family is a ruthless pride of 12 lions. These magnificent animals share the same territory in the cool of the night, and it can become dangerous for this hippo clan to feed. Using thermal and infrared imaging, witness the age-old battle for survival and dominance play out between huge hippos and their predators.
