Smithsonian Channel

A look at riverine warfare from the Civil War to Vietnam and small but powerful combat ships.

Consider the factors that inevitably cause dictatorships to crumble; look at how hubris destroys cults of personality; see how factions fracture military dictatorships; weigh the miscalculations that turn the tide against tyranny.

A look at riverine warfare from the Civil War to Vietnam and small but powerful combat ships.

Consider the factors that inevitably cause dictatorships to crumble; look at how hubris destroys cults of personality; see how factions fracture military dictatorships; weigh the miscalculations that turn the tide against tyranny.

Architects and engineers build an eco-friendly convention center on Vancouver's waterfront, a lift bridge in Bordeaux and a cocoon-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo each with unique challenges like marine habitats and massive spans.

Exceptional texts are inscribed on the walls of an obscure pyramid; experts scan the funerary chamber of Egypt's longest-reigning pharaoh to try to uncover its mysteries.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

Architects and engineers build an eco-friendly convention center on Vancouver's waterfront, a lift bridge in Bordeaux and a cocoon-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo each with unique challenges like marine habitats and massive spans.

Exceptional texts are inscribed on the walls of an obscure pyramid; experts scan the funerary chamber of Egypt's longest-reigning pharaoh to try to uncover its mysteries.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

Architects and engineers build an eco-friendly convention center on Vancouver's waterfront, a lift bridge in Bordeaux and a cocoon-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo each with unique challenges like marine habitats and massive spans.

Exceptional texts are inscribed on the walls of an obscure pyramid; experts scan the funerary chamber of Egypt's longest-reigning pharaoh to try to uncover its mysteries.

The world has its focus on the Pyramid of Khufu in Egypt, but nearby on the Giza plateau, other architectural masterpieces stand the test of time.

Egyptologists believe there was a perfect pyramid, hidden in the sands of Abu Rawash, which served as a tomb for the pharaoh Djedefre.

Tackling the grade 6 rapids and untamed waters of the Buller River on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, blessed by a Māori elder of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.

Peek at landmarks in places where they shouldn't be; wing your way over an imperial pyramid in the Netherlands, a metal sphere in remote Russia, a lion shape carved into an English hillside and a bare swath cut through an Austrian forest.

John Ward and his crew are called to salvage a massive barge upturned by a storm in a canal; Hickory Scuba Divers work to salvage a valuable sailboat that's sunk at its mooring.

Tackling the grade 6 rapids and untamed waters of the Buller River on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island, blessed by a Māori elder of the Ngāti Apa ki te Rā Tō.

Peek at landmarks in places where they shouldn't be; wing your way over an imperial pyramid in the Netherlands, a metal sphere in remote Russia, a lion shape carved into an English hillside and a bare swath cut through an Austrian forest.

John Ward and his crew are called to salvage a massive barge upturned by a storm in a canal; Hickory Scuba Divers work to salvage a valuable sailboat that's sunk at its mooring.

Follow the meteoric rise of the Macedonian conqueror who seized Egypt and built an empire that stretched from Europe to Asia; find out how founding the city of Alexandria and becoming a pharaoh transformed Alexander's life before his death at age 32.

Part 2/6. Uncover the secrets of the Old Kingdom ruler who revolutionized architecture alongside his vizier, Imhotep; piece together the mysterious life of the very first king to build a step pyramid in the heart of a grandiose and complex burial site.

Architects and engineers build an eco-friendly convention center on Vancouver's waterfront, a lift bridge in Bordeaux and a cocoon-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo each with unique challenges like marine habitats and massive spans.

Exceptional texts are inscribed on the walls of an obscure pyramid; experts scan the funerary chamber of Egypt's longest-reigning pharaoh to try to uncover its mysteries.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

Architects and engineers build an eco-friendly convention center on Vancouver's waterfront, a lift bridge in Bordeaux and a cocoon-shaped skyscraper in Tokyo each with unique challenges like marine habitats and massive spans.

Exceptional texts are inscribed on the walls of an obscure pyramid; experts scan the funerary chamber of Egypt's longest-reigning pharaoh to try to uncover its mysteries.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Exhume chilling insights into ancient rituals, legendary warriors, and brutal deaths; investigate dozens of children's skeletons in Peru, find out if Amazon warriors once lived in Russia, and see what a UK cave full of butchered remains reveals.

Look into the strange disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke in 1590, then discover how the Hope Diamond was stolen during the French Revolution; pinpoint new clues that could explain why the USS Cyclops vanished in 1918 in the Bermuda Triangle.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Exhume chilling insights into ancient rituals, legendary warriors, and brutal deaths; investigate dozens of children's skeletons in Peru, find out if Amazon warriors once lived in Russia, and see what a UK cave full of butchered remains reveals.

Look into the strange disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke in 1590, then discover how the Hope Diamond was stolen during the French Revolution; pinpoint new clues that could explain why the USS Cyclops vanished in 1918 in the Bermuda Triangle.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Follow the meteoric rise of the Macedonian conqueror who seized Egypt and built an empire that stretched from Europe to Asia; find out how founding the city of Alexandria and becoming a pharaoh transformed Alexander's life before his death at age 32.

Part 2/6. Uncover the secrets of the Old Kingdom ruler who revolutionized architecture alongside his vizier, Imhotep; piece together the mysterious life of the very first king to build a step pyramid in the heart of a grandiose and complex burial site.

The St. Lawrence River is one that forged North America, allowing ships to traverse the continent; the adventure begins in Canada's first capital city of Kingston and near Canada's second-largest city of Montreal.

Confront objects that make no sense; spot a spinning island in an Argentinian marsh, a colossal triangle stuck in the Arizona desert, mysterious multicolored pools across northern Ethiopia and a huge human figure hidden in the Australian outback.

Salvor and treasure seeker Phil Risko sets out to retrieve valuable 80-year-old hardwood logs from the bottom of the sea; a multi-million dollar cruise vessel undergoes emergency repairs in Panama.

The St. Lawrence River is one that forged North America, allowing ships to traverse the continent; the adventure begins in Canada's first capital city of Kingston and near Canada's second-largest city of Montreal.

Confront objects that make no sense; spot a spinning island in an Argentinian marsh, a colossal triangle stuck in the Arizona desert, mysterious multicolored pools across northern Ethiopia and a huge human figure hidden in the Australian outback.

Salvor and treasure seeker Phil Risko sets out to retrieve valuable 80-year-old hardwood logs from the bottom of the sea; a multi-million dollar cruise vessel undergoes emergency repairs in Panama.

Ramesses II reigns for 66 years and builds monuments and temples.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Exhume chilling insights into ancient rituals, legendary warriors, and brutal deaths; investigate dozens of children's skeletons in Peru, find out if Amazon warriors once lived in Russia, and see what a UK cave full of butchered remains reveals.

Look into the strange disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke in 1590, then discover how the Hope Diamond was stolen during the French Revolution; pinpoint new clues that could explain why the USS Cyclops vanished in 1918 in the Bermuda Triangle.

The first great empire of the Akkadians, led by Sargon the Great, dominated the Fertile Crescent, replacing the Sumerians and extending its influence as far north as Syria and south as Oman.

Exhume chilling insights into ancient rituals, legendary warriors, and brutal deaths; investigate dozens of children's skeletons in Peru, find out if Amazon warriors once lived in Russia, and see what a UK cave full of butchered remains reveals.

Look into the strange disappearance of the Lost Colony of Roanoke in 1590, then discover how the Hope Diamond was stolen during the French Revolution; pinpoint new clues that could explain why the USS Cyclops vanished in 1918 in the Bermuda Triangle.

A countdown of the most influential and impactful military planes of the Cold War, from America's B-2 to the Soviet's MiG-15.

Delve into the deceptive tactics used to outsmart an enemy. Unmask Nazi commandos who sowed chaos in stolen uniforms, marvel at the radar evasion powers of a stealth bomber, and ride the waves as Britain relentlessly chases a German flagship.

A countdown of the most influential and impactful military planes of the Cold War, from America's B-2 to the Soviet's MiG-15.

Delve into the deceptive tactics used to outsmart an enemy. Unmask Nazi commandos who sowed chaos in stolen uniforms, marvel at the radar evasion powers of a stealth bomber, and ride the waves as Britain relentlessly chases a German flagship.

A countdown of the most influential and impactful military planes of the Cold War, from America's B-2 to the Soviet's MiG-15.

Ramesses II reigns for 66 years and builds monuments and temples.

Delve into the history of the Fourth Dynasty monarch responsible for one of the great pyramids; examine the tyrannical reputation of this ancient leader and decipher the complex strategies he used to guide such a massive building project.

Navigating the historic Potomac River from West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay, passing through Washington, D.C. and the national monuments and ending at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate.

Take a deep dive into watery enigmas; glide over a sunken Italian city; a unique underwater cemetery in the Florida Keys; a yellow brick road to nowhere in the depths of the North Pacific; puzzling rocky constructions off the coast of Australia.

Responding to an emergency call, Northstar marine sets out to salvage a sunken tug in the Delaware Bay; following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sally, Capt. Chris Ward and his crew work to salvage sunken sailboats and wrecked powerboats.

Navigating the historic Potomac River from West Virginia to Chesapeake Bay, passing through Washington, D.C. and the national monuments and ending at George Washington's Mount Vernon estate.

Take a deep dive into watery enigmas; glide over a sunken Italian city; a unique underwater cemetery in the Florida Keys; a yellow brick road to nowhere in the depths of the North Pacific; puzzling rocky constructions off the coast of Australia.

Studies are currently under way looking for evidence of dark energy in the movement of galaxies.

Paid programming.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom; examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatra's fate.

Part 6/6. Unearth the dramatic final days of the Twentieth Dynasty's great warrior king, Ramses III; view a rare judicial papyrus that recounts the story of an assassination plot hatched in the royal harem; see what the monarch's mummy reveals today.

Salute the Boeing 747, a massive airliner designed to carry more passengers than was ever thought possible in the 1960s. Discover the engineering innovations and the high-stakes risks it took to bring the aptly named Queen of the Skies to life.

A countdown of the most influential and impactful military planes of the Cold War, from America's B-2 to the Soviet's MiG-15.

Delve into the deceptive tactics used to outsmart an enemy. Unmask Nazi commandos who sowed chaos in stolen uniforms, marvel at the radar evasion powers of a stealth bomber, and ride the waves as Britain relentlessly chases a German flagship.

Salute the Boeing 747, a massive airliner designed to carry more passengers than was ever thought possible in the 1960s. Discover the engineering innovations and the high-stakes risks it took to bring the aptly named Queen of the Skies to life.

A countdown of the most influential and impactful military planes of the Cold War, from America's B-2 to the Soviet's MiG-15.

Delve into the deceptive tactics used to outsmart an enemy. Unmask Nazi commandos who sowed chaos in stolen uniforms, marvel at the radar evasion powers of a stealth bomber, and ride the waves as Britain relentlessly chases a German flagship.

Blinded in one eye in the battle for Normandy, a defiant French-Canadian sniper sets out to liberate a Dutch city in the final days of the war.

Blinded in one eye in the battle for Normandy, a defiant French-Canadian sniper sets out to liberate a Dutch city in the final days of the war.

Blinded in one eye in the battle for Normandy, a defiant French-Canadian sniper sets out to liberate a Dutch city in the final days of the war.

Part 5/6. Chart the turbulent reign of a brilliant strategist who allied herself with powerful Roman leaders in the hopes of saving her kingdom; examine the battle against Octavian that ended three millennia of Egyptian history and sealed Cleopatra's fate.

Part 6/6. Unearth the dramatic final days of the Twentieth Dynasty's great warrior king, Ramses III; view a rare judicial papyrus that recounts the story of an assassination plot hatched in the royal harem; see what the monarch's mummy reveals today.

A journey down one of the wild rivers in the world, the Yukon; the unusual trip starts in an aircraft piloted by a painter and the odyssey ends with a visit to a graveyard of disintegrating rear-wheel steamers.

Psychedelic swirls in the Utah wastelands; a bizarre configuration of circles in the Sahara; hidden lines with the help of a drone; a remote polka-dot lake in Canada.

A mysterious object is raised from the depths of the ocean; a stranded speedboat; an elite crew works to salvage America's biggest shipwreck before hurricane season.

A journey down one of the wild rivers in the world, the Yukon; the unusual trip starts in an aircraft piloted by a painter and the odyssey ends with a visit to a graveyard of disintegrating rear-wheel steamers.

Psychedelic swirls in the Utah wastelands; a bizarre configuration of circles in the Sahara; hidden lines with the help of a drone; a remote polka-dot lake in Canada.

Lunar and solar eclipses.

Paid programming.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

At the heart of Saqqara, the largest necropolis in Egypt, is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2600 BC.

Blinded in one eye in the battle for Normandy, a defiant French-Canadian sniper sets out to liberate a Dutch city in the final days of the war.

Blinded in one eye in the battle for Normandy, a defiant French-Canadian sniper sets out to liberate a Dutch city in the final days of the war.

In Oklahoma, a sacred spiral mound rises on a former oilfield, honouring 39 tribes. London's crumbling Battersea Power Station is reborn with two million new bricks. And in Spain, Frank Gehry crowns a historic winery.

Mike works with the Army Corps of Engineers on a massive project to restore essential flow of fresh water to the Florida Everglades; he also joins scientists, python hunters and the Miccosukee Tribe to eliminate invasive species in these wetlands.

In Oklahoma, a sacred spiral mound rises on a former oilfield, honouring 39 tribes. London's crumbling Battersea Power Station is reborn with two million new bricks. And in Spain, Frank Gehry crowns a historic winery.

Mike works with the Army Corps of Engineers on a massive project to restore essential flow of fresh water to the Florida Everglades; he also joins scientists, python hunters and the Miccosukee Tribe to eliminate invasive species in these wetlands.

In Oklahoma, a sacred spiral mound rises on a former oilfield, honouring 39 tribes. London's crumbling Battersea Power Station is reborn with two million new bricks. And in Spain, Frank Gehry crowns a historic winery.

Mike works with the Army Corps of Engineers on a massive project to restore essential flow of fresh water to the Florida Everglades; he also joins scientists, python hunters and the Miccosukee Tribe to eliminate invasive species in these wetlands.

The Pyramid of Khufu is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World which can still be seen in its original state.

At the heart of Saqqara, the largest necropolis in Egypt, is the Step Pyramid of Djoser, built around 2600 BC.

Meandering through the black waters of a primordial river immortalized in a folk song.

Learning why an important urban center is sinking toward oblivion; soaring over sprawling ruins buried under Saharan sands; learning the modern secret of an ancient fortress; eyeing a ghost town on the edge of the Gobi.

A salvage maestro returns to raise more valuable tropical hardwood trying not to wreck his own boat in the process; the multimillion dollar operation to salvage America's biggest shipwreck.

Meandering through the black waters of a primordial river immortalized in a folk song.

Learning why an important urban center is sinking toward oblivion; soaring over sprawling ruins buried under Saharan sands; learning the modern secret of an ancient fortress; eyeing a ghost town on the edge of the Gobi.

A salvage maestro returns to raise more valuable tropical hardwood trying not to wreck his own boat in the process; the multimillion dollar operation to salvage America's biggest shipwreck.

When a body is discovered in a bombed-out London church, investigators race to determine if it was caused by the Nazi Blitz or a local killer.

The story of "America's first serial killer," who stalked Chicago in the 1890s, and how the police departments of two major cities finally brought him to justice.

In Oklahoma, a sacred spiral mound rises on a former oilfield, honouring 39 tribes. London's crumbling Battersea Power Station is reborn with two million new bricks. And in Spain, Frank Gehry crowns a historic winery.

Mike works with the Army Corps of Engineers on a massive project to restore essential flow of fresh water to the Florida Everglades; he also joins scientists, python hunters and the Miccosukee Tribe to eliminate invasive species in these wetlands.

In Oklahoma, a sacred spiral mound rises on a former oilfield, honouring 39 tribes. London's crumbling Battersea Power Station is reborn with two million new bricks. And in Spain, Frank Gehry crowns a historic winery.

Mike works with the Army Corps of Engineers on a massive project to restore essential flow of fresh water to the Florida Everglades; he also joins scientists, python hunters and the Miccosukee Tribe to eliminate invasive species in these wetlands.

Explore 125 years of aviation by uncovering how iconic aircraft have radically reshaped our world and revealing the ingenious engineering behind its success.

A damaged plane plunges Anchorage Airport into an emergency; a leak on a Coast Guard helicopter jeopardizes emergency cover; rain turns the Fairbanks runways into ice rinks and a dog-sled racing prodigy flies with furry teammates.

The islands of Italy come in all shapes and sizes; they are home to volcanoes, ancient civilizations and some of the bluest waters on Earth.

Explore 125 years of aviation by uncovering how iconic aircraft have radically reshaped our world and revealing the ingenious engineering behind its success.

A damaged plane plunges Anchorage Airport into an emergency; a leak on a Coast Guard helicopter jeopardizes emergency cover; rain turns the Fairbanks runways into ice rinks and a dog-sled racing prodigy flies with furry teammates.

The islands of Italy come in all shapes and sizes; they are home to volcanoes, ancient civilizations and some of the bluest waters on Earth.

Explore 125 years of aviation by uncovering how iconic aircraft have radically reshaped our world and revealing the ingenious engineering behind its success.

A damaged plane plunges Anchorage Airport into an emergency; a leak on a Coast Guard helicopter jeopardizes emergency cover; rain turns the Fairbanks runways into ice rinks and a dog-sled racing prodigy flies with furry teammates.

When a body is discovered in a bombed-out London church, investigators race to determine if it was caused by the Nazi Blitz or a local killer.

The story of "America's first serial killer," who stalked Chicago in the 1890s, and how the police departments of two major cities finally brought him to justice.

A journey on Scotland's River Spey, traveling from its source in the Highlands, winding by boat through the mountains to where the river meets the North Sea.

Get petrified by cryptic rock structures normally hidden from view; look inside curious dwellings in the Peruvian Andes; visit a sacred monolith in Wyoming's Black Hills; haunt a Turkish stone village; spot an immovable waterfall in Mexico.

The team must remove thousands of wrecked cars from the hull before it becomes an environmental disaster; repairing a vessel before the waters of the River Solent flood the hull.

A journey on Scotland's River Spey, traveling from its source in the Highlands, winding by boat through the mountains to where the river meets the North Sea.

Get petrified by cryptic rock structures normally hidden from view; look inside curious dwellings in the Peruvian Andes; visit a sacred monolith in Wyoming's Black Hills; haunt a Turkish stone village; spot an immovable waterfall in Mexico.

The team must remove thousands of wrecked cars from the hull before it becomes an environmental disaster; repairing a vessel before the waters of the River Solent flood the hull.

When a woman is found dead in the cellar of an Edinburgh doctor in 1828, police uncover a murky world where murders are being committed for money.

While Nazi Germany attempts to cover up the brutal murders of a serial killer, a brilliant detective uses early forensic methods to bring him to justice.

Traverse the Czech countryside in search of the fabled, elusive Amber Room.

A damaged plane plunges Anchorage Airport into an emergency; a leak on a Coast Guard helicopter jeopardizes emergency cover; rain turns the Fairbanks runways into ice rinks and a dog-sled racing prodigy flies with furry teammates.

The islands of Italy come in all shapes and sizes; they are home to volcanoes, ancient civilizations and some of the bluest waters on Earth.

Explore 125 years of aviation by uncovering how iconic aircraft have radically reshaped our world and revealing the ingenious engineering behind its success.

A damaged plane plunges Anchorage Airport into an emergency; a leak on a Coast Guard helicopter jeopardizes emergency cover; rain turns the Fairbanks runways into ice rinks and a dog-sled racing prodigy flies with furry teammates.

The islands of Italy come in all shapes and sizes; they are home to volcanoes, ancient civilizations and some of the bluest waters on Earth.

Following American M18 Hellcat tank destroyers as they sweep to victory across Europe and watch flamethrower tanks help the Allies claim island after island in Japan; then see how WW II's lessons culminated in the modern main battle tank.

Exploring maritime heroes who left their mark on history through their bravery and skill, including Larry Chambers, Ernest Evans, and Robert Smalls.

Tease out the common denominators that lead to tyranny; map the rise of some of the 20th century's dictators and discover how they seized power, exploited governing systems and gutted existing power structures to gain total control.

Following American M18 Hellcat tank destroyers as they sweep to victory across Europe and watch flamethrower tanks help the Allies claim island after island in Japan; then see how WW II's lessons culminated in the modern main battle tank.

Exploring maritime heroes who left their mark on history through their bravery and skill, including Larry Chambers, Ernest Evans, and Robert Smalls.