Smithsonian Channel

Challenges beset a sculptural new transportation hub for New York's World Trade Center; Amsterdam gains a building inspired by a mountain valley; a new launchpad for space travel prepares for liftoff in the New Mexico desert.

At Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Mike embeds with the talented teams that maintain the amazing machines behind Cirque du Soleil's stage shows.

Witness amazing buildings, bridges, lifts, and other structures that pushed structural concrete engineering to the edge.

Mike joins the U.S. Marines' Heavy Haulers helicopter squadron and gets inside their battle to keep a fleet of souped-up Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion choppers flying as they prepare for intense war games in the desert and mountains.

Going under one of the world's largest lakes for a multi-million dollar tunnel boring project in one of the fastest growing cities on Earth.

Witness amazing buildings, bridges, lifts, and other structures that pushed structural concrete engineering to the edge.

Mike joins the U.S. Marines' Heavy Haulers helicopter squadron and gets inside their battle to keep a fleet of souped-up Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion choppers flying as they prepare for intense war games in the desert and mountains.

Going under one of the world's largest lakes for a multi-million dollar tunnel boring project in one of the fastest growing cities on Earth.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

A journey across Central Italy from the air reveals the ancient Rome, the bloody medieval battles of Tuscany and the colossal marble quarries of Carrara.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

A journey across Central Italy from the air reveals the ancient Rome, the bloody medieval battles of Tuscany and the colossal marble quarries of Carrara.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

Challenges beset a sculptural new transportation hub for New York's World Trade Center; Amsterdam gains a building inspired by a mountain valley; a new launchpad for space travel prepares for liftoff in the New Mexico desert.

At Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas, Mike embeds with the talented teams that maintain the amazing machines behind Cirque du Soleil's stage shows.

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.

Unlock an abandoned site on a remote Antarctic isle and check out mysterious shapes in the Finnish snow. Puzzle over an inexplicable monolith in the far reaches of Norway, then get shocked by a blood-red frozen waterfall at the bottom of the world.

Veteran salvor Paul Hay and his team rescue a clam-dredging crew's harvest lost in a storm off the New Jersey coast; following an annual cleanup operation in New Zealand that salvages fishing equipment gone astray.

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.

Unlock an abandoned site on a remote Antarctic isle and check out mysterious shapes in the Finnish snow. Puzzle over an inexplicable monolith in the far reaches of Norway, then get shocked by a blood-red frozen waterfall at the bottom of the world.

Veteran salvor Paul Hay and his team rescue a clam-dredging crew's harvest lost in a storm off the New Jersey coast; following an annual cleanup operation in New Zealand that salvages fishing equipment gone astray.

Exploring the engineering and architectural masterpieces like The Copper in Manhattan to Gardens By the Bay in Singapore.

With wildfire season ahead, Mike works with an aerial firefighting company as they fix and convert aircraft into firefighting machines, including the transformation of a 1960's C130 plane from aged military aircraft into a stateofthe art waterbomber.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

A journey across Central Italy from the air reveals the ancient Rome, the bloody medieval battles of Tuscany and the colossal marble quarries of Carrara.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

A journey across Central Italy from the air reveals the ancient Rome, the bloody medieval battles of Tuscany and the colossal marble quarries of Carrara.

The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.

Take a deeper look at the Aztec religion and ritual human sacrifice. Tap into the profound spiritual logic that led priests to offer blood and human hearts in exchange for protection from the gods, who could destroy the universe at any moment.

Dictators often attempt to expand their jurisdiction beyond the borders of their country; this usually means armed invasion and the death of large numbers of soldiers and civilians.

The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.

Take a deeper look at the Aztec religion and ritual human sacrifice. Tap into the profound spiritual logic that led priests to offer blood and human hearts in exchange for protection from the gods, who could destroy the universe at any moment.

Dictators often attempt to expand their jurisdiction beyond the borders of their country; this usually means armed invasion and the death of large numbers of soldiers and civilians.

The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.

Take a deeper look at the Aztec religion and ritual human sacrifice. Tap into the profound spiritual logic that led priests to offer blood and human hearts in exchange for protection from the gods, who could destroy the universe at any moment.

Exploring the engineering and architectural masterpieces like The Copper in Manhattan to Gardens By the Bay in Singapore.

With wildfire season ahead, Mike works with an aerial firefighting company as they fix and convert aircraft into firefighting machines, including the transformation of a 1960's C130 plane from aged military aircraft into a stateofthe art waterbomber.

A journey along Ireland's longest river, the Shannon, through an emerald green landscape of rolling hills and sparkling waters; how Vikings, monks and kings have all made their mark.

The view from above reveals baffling behavior from one of the ocean's fastest fish; whales with a strange, aquatic accessorizing habit; a confounding congregation of sharks down under; a perplexing collection of circles decorating the seabed.

Capt. John Ward and his crew are called to raise a sunken houseboat near Pensacola, Fla.; the owner of the boat wants it back, but the current occupiers of the boat living in it don't want John's services; there've been reports of gunfire too.

A journey along Ireland's longest river, the Shannon, through an emerald green landscape of rolling hills and sparkling waters; how Vikings, monks and kings have all made their mark.

The view from above reveals baffling behavior from one of the ocean's fastest fish; whales with a strange, aquatic accessorizing habit; a confounding congregation of sharks down under; a perplexing collection of circles decorating the seabed.

Capt. John Ward and his crew are called to raise a sunken houseboat near Pensacola, Fla.; the owner of the boat wants it back, but the current occupiers of the boat living in it don't want John's services; there've been reports of gunfire too.

Exploring the engineering and architectural masterpieces like The Copper in Manhattan to Gardens By the Bay in Singapore.

Mike works with the U.S. Army in Germany inside the massive fix facility the MAK, Maintenance Activity Kaiserslautern, as teams repair over one hundred Bradley fighting vehicles, then embeds with troops in a massive two-week-long battle exercise.

The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.

Take a deeper look at the Aztec religion and ritual human sacrifice. Tap into the profound spiritual logic that led priests to offer blood and human hearts in exchange for protection from the gods, who could destroy the universe at any moment.

Dictators often attempt to expand their jurisdiction beyond the borders of their country; this usually means armed invasion and the death of large numbers of soldiers and civilians.

The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.

Take a deeper look at the Aztec religion and ritual human sacrifice. Tap into the profound spiritual logic that led priests to offer blood and human hearts in exchange for protection from the gods, who could destroy the universe at any moment.

Dictators often attempt to expand their jurisdiction beyond the borders of their country; this usually means armed invasion and the death of large numbers of soldiers and civilians.

A missing mummy could rewrite the history of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination; mummy expert Ramy Romany investigates a potential government cover-up that allowed John Wilkes Booth to escape capture after murdering President Lincoln.

A discovery of a fracture in Tutankhamun's skeleton, signalling the injury that led to his death.

A missing mummy could rewrite the history of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination; mummy expert Ramy Romany investigates a potential government cover-up that allowed John Wilkes Booth to escape capture after murdering President Lincoln.

A discovery of a fracture in Tutankhamun's skeleton, signalling the injury that led to his death.

A missing mummy could rewrite the history of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination; mummy expert Ramy Romany investigates a potential government cover-up that allowed John Wilkes Booth to escape capture after murdering President Lincoln.

A discovery of a fracture in Tutankhamun's skeleton, signalling the injury that led to his death.

Exploring the engineering and architectural masterpieces like The Copper in Manhattan to Gardens By the Bay in Singapore.

Mike works with the U.S. Army in Germany inside the massive fix facility the MAK, Maintenance Activity Kaiserslautern, as teams repair over one hundred Bradley fighting vehicles, then embeds with troops in a massive two-week-long battle exercise.

The journey down the attraction-packed Niagara River is filled with adventure and beauty; navigating the fascinating history and engineering of this border river between Canada and the United States, arriving at the world-famous Niagara Falls.

The view from above reveals a derelict complex of pod-like structures with seemingly alien origins; a bewildering concrete construction in the mountains of Bosnia; a puzzling collection of out of place shapes discarded in the wilds of Greenland.

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.

The journey down the attraction-packed Niagara River is filled with adventure and beauty; navigating the fascinating history and engineering of this border river between Canada and the United States, arriving at the world-famous Niagara Falls.

The view from above reveals a derelict complex of pod-like structures with seemingly alien origins; a bewildering concrete construction in the mountains of Bosnia; a puzzling collection of out of place shapes discarded in the wilds of Greenland.

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.

A dazzling new 1400 foot tapering skyscraper is built right next to New York's Grand Central. A curving wine museum requires ingenious engineering in Bordeaux, France. And possibly the world's most glamorous parking garage.

Nevada has over 40,000 abandoned mines posing dangers; Mike joins contractors for a week to secure five sites; alongside biologists, they explore and document wildlife; reaching these isolated mines requires barges, helicopters and bulldozers.

The Airbus BelugaXL is a gravity-defying giant; its incredible engineering allows it to fly oversized cargo across Europe, and it remains one of the biggest aircraft in commercial service.

Bush aviators push the limit of their plane to deliver a two-ton generator; in Fairbanks, slippery runways threaten the International Ice Carving Championship and a high-tech airframe inspection on a Boeing 737 uncovers a potential issue.

A journey across Central Italy from the air reveals the ancient Rome, the bloody medieval battles of Tuscany and the colossal marble quarries of Carrara.

A missing mummy could rewrite the history of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination; mummy expert Ramy Romany investigates a potential government cover-up that allowed John Wilkes Booth to escape capture after murdering President Lincoln.

A discovery of a fracture in Tutankhamun's skeleton, signalling the injury that led to his death.

Dive beneath the Bay of Naples to explore Baiae, a submerged playground of the Roman elite; see high-resolution sonar expose sunken imperial villas and ornate baths, revealing a city of scandal and luxury that was engulfed by volcanic fury.

An archaeological investigation of an ancient Scottish battlefield uncovers a vast array of ballistic weaponry; x-ray scans reveal it came from a secret weapon called a manuballista, the Roman Empire's equivalent of an assault rifle.

Puzzling over history-making structures and artifacts; Searching for clues about civilization's origins in Göbekli Tepe, visiting a German statue that reveals symbolic thought; witnessing the brutality of colonization in a Mexican skull tower.

Dive beneath the Bay of Naples to explore Baiae, a submerged playground of the Roman elite; see high-resolution sonar expose sunken imperial villas and ornate baths, revealing a city of scandal and luxury that was engulfed by volcanic fury.

An archaeological investigation of an ancient Scottish battlefield uncovers a vast array of ballistic weaponry; x-ray scans reveal it came from a secret weapon called a manuballista, the Roman Empire's equivalent of an assault rifle.

Puzzling over history-making structures and artifacts; Searching for clues about civilization's origins in Göbekli Tepe, visiting a German statue that reveals symbolic thought; witnessing the brutality of colonization in a Mexican skull tower.

Dive beneath the Bay of Naples to explore Baiae, a submerged playground of the Roman elite; see high-resolution sonar expose sunken imperial villas and ornate baths, revealing a city of scandal and luxury that was engulfed by volcanic fury.

An archaeological investigation of an ancient Scottish battlefield uncovers a vast array of ballistic weaponry; x-ray scans reveal it came from a secret weapon called a manuballista, the Roman Empire's equivalent of an assault rifle.

A dazzling new 1400 foot tapering skyscraper is built right next to New York's Grand Central. A curving wine museum requires ingenious engineering in Bordeaux, France. And possibly the world's most glamorous parking garage.

Nevada has over 40,000 abandoned mines posing dangers; Mike joins contractors for a week to secure five sites; alongside biologists, they explore and document wildlife; reaching these isolated mines requires barges, helicopters and bulldozers.

A breathtaking journey down the German section of the beautiful Moselle river, famous for vineyards on its dramatically steep banks and remarkable meandering loops.

Strange aquatic mammals populating a river in Columbia; a ship marooned in a sea of sand along Namibia's notorious Skeleton Coast; a Boeing 727 jetliner hidden in a pine forest; an unusual pattern is discovered in the Nevada desert.

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.

A breathtaking journey down the German section of the beautiful Moselle river, famous for vineyards on its dramatically steep banks and remarkable meandering loops.

Strange aquatic mammals populating a river in Columbia; a ship marooned in a sea of sand along Namibia's notorious Skeleton Coast; a Boeing 727 jetliner hidden in a pine forest; an unusual pattern is discovered in the Nevada desert.

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.

A 1.2-million-square-foot office building balances precariously on a 39-foot wide base in Chicago; a building named Pterodactyl lands on top of a Los Angeles parking garage; the world's longest suspension footbridge.

Mike joins the Assault Craft Unit 5, the U.S. Navy's team for Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs); LCACs carry heavy vehicles and troops onto beaches; Mike helps fly & fix an overhauled LCAC during a U.S. Marines beach assault training mission.

A missing mummy could rewrite the history of President Abraham Lincoln's assassination; mummy expert Ramy Romany investigates a potential government cover-up that allowed John Wilkes Booth to escape capture after murdering President Lincoln.

A discovery of a fracture in Tutankhamun's skeleton, signalling the injury that led to his death.

Dive beneath the Bay of Naples to explore Baiae, a submerged playground of the Roman elite; see high-resolution sonar expose sunken imperial villas and ornate baths, revealing a city of scandal and luxury that was engulfed by volcanic fury.

An archaeological investigation of an ancient Scottish battlefield uncovers a vast array of ballistic weaponry; x-ray scans reveal it came from a secret weapon called a manuballista, the Roman Empire's equivalent of an assault rifle.

Puzzling over history-making structures and artifacts; Searching for clues about civilization's origins in Göbekli Tepe, visiting a German statue that reveals symbolic thought; witnessing the brutality of colonization in a Mexican skull tower.

A different view of the events in the Arctic during World War II, with unknown details; a focus on the struggle of the great powers for control of the area and its natural resources.

An inside look at the P47 Thunderbolt and the critical role it played in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor triggers the U.S. entering WWII; we reveal the secret stories behind the battle such as that of Dorie Miller.

A different view of the events in the Arctic during World War II, with unknown details; a focus on the struggle of the great powers for control of the area and its natural resources.

An inside look at the P47 Thunderbolt and the critical role it played in both the European and Pacific Theaters of World War II.