Smithsonian Channel

A comprehensive look at the naval battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942 and the heroic efforts of U.S. sailors who held off powerful Imperial Navy.

A look at how technological advances over the centuries have transformed maritime warfare.

A look at how maritime task forces and the Coast Guard are keeping commercial vessels and US shores safe from pirates and drug smugglers.

The German war industry urgently needs more iron; Hitler has his eye on the Norwegian coast and especially on the harbor of Narvik, through which iron ore is shipped from Sweden.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most lethal bombers of the U.S. Air Force in WWII's European and Pacific campaigns; among other things, the plane delivered food to the German-occupied Netherlands.

First-hand accounts, re-creations and expert interviews of D-Day in 1944, where the Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France.

The German war industry urgently needs more iron; Hitler has his eye on the Norwegian coast and especially on the harbor of Narvik, through which iron ore is shipped from Sweden.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most lethal bombers of the U.S. Air Force in WWII's European and Pacific campaigns; among other things, the plane delivered food to the German-occupied Netherlands.

First-hand accounts, re-creations and expert interviews of D-Day in 1944, where the Allied Forces of Britain, America, Canada and France attacked German forces on the coast of Normandy, France.

The German war industry urgently needs more iron; Hitler has his eye on the Norwegian coast and especially on the harbor of Narvik, through which iron ore is shipped from Sweden.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the most lethal bombers of the U.S. Air Force in WWII's European and Pacific campaigns; among other things, the plane delivered food to the German-occupied Netherlands.

Exploring the design and engineering stories behind D.C.'s Museum of African American History, the Montreal Tower and the Equinor building in Oslo.

Mike pushes himself to the limit to work with an elite team of high ropes techs on fixes hundreds of feet in the air; starting 45 stories up on the side of a skyscraper, then working and dangling on the edge.

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.

Get a birds-eye view of a mysterious, massive explosion in China and a quickly melting glacier on Earths iciest continent; investigate a strange orange haze enveloping the Big Apple, then float over a toxic, too-hot-to-handle lake in New Zealand.

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.

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.

Get a birds-eye view of a mysterious, massive explosion in China and a quickly melting glacier on Earths iciest continent; investigate a strange orange haze enveloping the Big Apple, then float over a toxic, too-hot-to-handle lake in New Zealand.

Examining the chilling precision of three high-profile assassinations, uncovering the technology behind a bladed missile, investigating a deadly car bomb in the American capital and reviewing CCTV footage of a nerve agent attack in a crowded airport.

Reliving the daring 17-minute hostage rescue at the Iranian Embassy in London that was caught on live TV; learning how US teams ran deniable missions in Southeast Asia, then seeing the global threat of a Russian nuclear cruise missile with limitless range.

Witnessing the fierce urban combat of the Battle of Mogadishu after a quick mission spirals out of control; exploring the fallout from a downed Cold War spy plane; cheering on the commandos who crippled the Nazi atomic program in a daring raid.

Investigating the covert raid on Osama bin Laden's compound; tracing the tragic trap set for a dissident journalist; tracking a notorious arms dealer nabbed in a huge DEA sting.

Scanning the heavens for revolutionary aerial threats and combat tactics; learning how the first ballistic missile struck London without warning; following elite teams hunting mobile rocket launchers in Iraq; watching US pilots train against real Soviet MiGs.

Experiencing the tactical advantages of cutting-edge reconnaissance; discovering how orbital cameras revolutionized global intelligence; seeing how phone intercepts snared an infamous cartel boss; studying the precision of a modern hostage rescue at sea.

Delving into the deceptive tactics used to outsmart an enemy; unmasking Nazi commandos who sowed chaos in stolen uniforms, marveling at the radar evasion powers of a stealth bomber; riding the waves as Britain relentlessly chases a German flagship.

Participating in the historic takedowns of three infamous figures; reliving the rooftop shootout that ended a drug lord's empire; examining the Czech plot to assassinate a cruel Nazi leader and seeing how US forces located a fallen dictator hiding in a hole.

Examining the chilling precision of three high-profile assassinations, uncovering the technology behind a bladed missile, investigating a deadly car bomb in the American capital and reviewing CCTV footage of a nerve agent attack in a crowded airport.

By the summer of 1944, the United States is gaining the upper hand in the Pacific War with better training, troop numbers and supply lines; it aims for the heart of Japan's inner defense ring, engaging in a naval battle for Saipan in the Marianas.

In pursuit of their Aryan dream, the Nazis were encumbered by an ideological war from within that would undermine their ability to succeed in World War II.

Take a look at some of the escapes that took place during World War II.

By the summer of 1944, the United States is gaining the upper hand in the Pacific War with better training, troop numbers and supply lines; it aims for the heart of Japan's inner defense ring, engaging in a naval battle for Saipan in the Marianas.

In pursuit of their Aryan dream, the Nazis were encumbered by an ideological war from within that would undermine their ability to succeed in World War II.

Take a look at some of the escapes that took place during World War II.

By the summer of 1944, the United States is gaining the upper hand in the Pacific War with better training, troop numbers and supply lines; it aims for the heart of Japan's inner defense ring, engaging in a naval battle for Saipan in the Marianas.

In pursuit of their Aryan dream, the Nazis were encumbered by an ideological war from within that would undermine their ability to succeed in World War II.

Take a look at some of the escapes that took place during World War II.

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.

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.

Examine mysterious holes in Israel; explore a ghost village hidden in the Colombian jungle, a shipwreck off the coast of Sri Lanka and a gutted airplane fuselage abandoned in Iceland.

Salvage crews work to install the world's largest environmental protection barrier; flying into a highly volatile region, crews battle pirates, tornadoes, and riots to salvage a wrecked cargo ship.

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.

Examine mysterious holes in Israel; explore a ghost village hidden in the Colombian jungle, a shipwreck off the coast of Sri Lanka and a gutted airplane fuselage abandoned in Iceland.

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.

Contemplate the strange disappearance and reappearance of the master of macabre, Edgar Allan Poe, just before his death in 1849; explore the chilling rumor that Shakespeare's grave was robbed, then chase down thieves who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911.

Investigate the sudden death of a tycoon linked to King Tut's tomb; search for three lighthouse keepers who vanished from the Flannan Isles, then analyze the gruesome, unexplained deaths of nine hikers at the Dyatlov Pass in the Ural Mountains.

Uncover how a royal imprisoned two princes and took the British throne; ponder how the Irish crown jewels were stolen from a locked safe inside Dublin Castle, then see if the death of Amy Robsart at Elizabeth I's court was an accident or murder.

Hunt for the Amber Room, a Nazi-looted treasure that disappeared in 1944; track the final flight of bandleader Glenn Miller over the English Channel, then re-examine the arrest of Anne Frank to see if she was betrayed or a victim of coincidence.

Question whether Napoleon Bonaparte was poisoned in exile, then find out whose bones were buried underneath Benjamin Franklin's London home; analyze evidence that suggests that Grand Duchess Anastasia may have escaped the 1918 Romanov massacre.

Joining the manhunt for three inmates who escaped Alcatraz in 1962; following the trail of pirate Henry Avery after he pulled off a massive heist in 1695, then stalking Axeman of New Orleans, a serial killer who taunted police but spared jazz lovers.

Revisit the crimes of Jack the Ripper as investigators try to ID his first victim; chase the Mad Gasser, who terrorized an Illinois town in 1944, then hunt for the Servant Girl Annihilator, a killer who stalked Austin, Texas, in the darkness.

Take a look at some of the escapes that took place during World War II.

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 helps fix the machines that keep one of the United States' biggest ports moving; he assists a team in moving a 3-million pound crane.

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.

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 helps fix the machines that keep one of the United States' biggest ports moving; he assists a team in moving a 3-million pound crane.

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.

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 helps fix the machines that keep one of the United States' biggest ports moving; he assists a team in moving a 3-million pound crane.

Salvage crews work to install the world's largest environmental protection barrier; flying into a highly volatile region, crews battle pirates, tornadoes, and riots to salvage a wrecked cargo ship.

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.

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.

Investigate an abandoned village in the shifting sands on Dubai's outskirts and a collection of inexplicable stone circles in Colombia; a mysterious hilltop tower in Iran and a puzzling purple phenomenon in Chile's Atacama Desert.

In rough water, salvors scramble to retrieve a cruise ship's anchor lost at sea; teams hope to salvage cherished floating homes damaged by hurricane Sandy.

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.

Investigate an abandoned village in the shifting sands on Dubai's outskirts and a collection of inexplicable stone circles in Colombia; a mysterious hilltop tower in Iran and a puzzling purple phenomenon in Chile's Atacama Desert.

In rough water, salvors scramble to retrieve a cruise ship's anchor lost at sea; teams hope to salvage cherished floating homes damaged by hurricane Sandy.

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 Monster Jam, custom-built monster trucks roll, flip and fly through the air; with the metal-bending beating these trucks endure, teams of specialized mechanics race against the clock to repair these engineering marvels in time for the next event.

The pockmarked mummy of Ramesses V reveals a shocking tale of bitter family infighting, a civil insurrection and a cause of death that ultimately pushed ancient Egypt to the edge of collapse.

The pockmarked mummy of Ramesses V reveals a shocking tale of bitter family infighting, a civil insurrection and a cause of death that ultimately pushed ancient Egypt to the edge of collapse.

The horrifying remains of the 3,000-year-old Screaming Mummy have haunted Egyptologists for decades; a team of experts reexamines the evidence, revealing an epic conspiracy to murder a king and a punishment intended to curse a soul for eternity.

The mutilated mummy of the Younger Lady has mystified Egyptologists for over a hundred years; new evidence finally reveals who she was and why her brutal death is directly linked to the world-famous Tutankhamun.

A dusty exhibit from an oddities museum in Niagara Falls could be a genuine long-lost pharaoh from Egypt's most iconic dynasty; a team of experts reexamines the evidence to reveal how a legendary king ended up on the other side of the world.

Mummified murder victims are being unearthed from marshy bogs across Northern Europe; mummy expert Ramy Romany examines eerily well-preserved bodies from more than 2,000 years ago to see if they were victims of brutal human sacrifice rituals.

Racing to the top with the Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger jet.

The airport has never shut down for bad weather, but a heavy storm, a rookie snow boss, and broken equipment put their remarkable streak in jeopardy; a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes the airport, grounding all planes.

The far south of Australia is home to the rich cultural heritage of Melbourne; a sporting mecca called the G; a brutal island prison once known as hell on Earth and ancient rainforests, providing a living link to the past.

Racing to the top with the Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger jet.

The airport has never shut down for bad weather, but a heavy storm, a rookie snow boss, and broken equipment put their remarkable streak in jeopardy; a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes the airport, grounding all planes.

The far south of Australia is home to the rich cultural heritage of Melbourne; a sporting mecca called the G; a brutal island prison once known as hell on Earth and ancient rainforests, providing a living link to the past.

Racing to the top with the Concorde, the world's first supersonic passenger jet.

The airport has never shut down for bad weather, but a heavy storm, a rookie snow boss, and broken equipment put their remarkable streak in jeopardy; a 5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes the airport, grounding all planes.

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 Monster Jam, custom-built monster trucks roll, flip and fly through the air; with the metal-bending beating these trucks endure, teams of specialized mechanics race against the clock to repair these engineering marvels in time for the next event.

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.

Come across a set of disturbingly familiar stone monoliths in Colombia, then explore a lost city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta; puzzle over an ancient ruin in Corinth, Greece, and explore an old structure on a Maltese island.

Crews work around the clock to build the world's largest underwater concrete bed to salvage the Costa Concordia; operating in secrecy, teams work under high security to repair one of the world's most iconic cruise liners.

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.

Come across a set of disturbingly familiar stone monoliths in Colombia, then explore a lost city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta; puzzle over an ancient ruin in Corinth, Greece, and explore an old structure on a Maltese island.

Crews work around the clock to build the world's largest underwater concrete bed to salvage the Costa Concordia; operating in secrecy, teams work under high security to repair one of the world's most iconic cruise liners.

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

Mike is in Iceland, where teams harness the power of volcanos to keep the geothermal energy flowing; they battle harsh weather to maintain and upgrade giant power systems, fixing miles of steam pipes, and bringing a dead well back to life.

Discover why the desire to capture Nazi weapon technology turns the U.S. and USSR from WW II allies into Cold War enemies; look at how the superpowers try to gain an Arctic foothold, from guerrilla warfare to intelligence schemes to nuclear arms.

The technological race intensifies as superpowers use imported German scientists for rockets and nukes; high-stakes intelligence relies on spy balloons and planes over the North Pole.

Discover why the desire to capture Nazi weapon technology turns the U.S. and USSR from WW II allies into Cold War enemies; look at how the superpowers try to gain an Arctic foothold, from guerrilla warfare to intelligence schemes to nuclear arms.

The Cold War arms race escalates as the Soviet Union advances its space capabilities and builds an Arctic nuclear submarine base, prompting the USA to construct bomber defense radar networks in response.

The East and the West fail in their attempts to limit the threat posed by nuclear weapons; the great power competition destroys the Arctic, causes missile accidents, and claims human lives in space.

Experience the deep distrust and aggression that pushes the world closer to nuclear war; follow a Soviet incursion into the territorial waters of Sweden and Finland and see how northern nations prepare for a battle that is only a button-push away.

A tour of the CIA's private museum reveals some of the agency's spy craft and the missions on which they were used.

In less than 200 years, the Aztecs rose from nomadic origins to build the powerful empire of Tenochtitlan; combining archaeology and stunning 3D reconstructions, this series reveals the rise and fall of a remarkable civilization.

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 tour of the CIA's private museum reveals some of the agency's spy craft and the missions on which they were used.

In less than 200 years, the Aztecs rose from nomadic origins to build the powerful empire of Tenochtitlan; combining archaeology and stunning 3D reconstructions, this series reveals the rise and fall of a remarkable civilization.

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 tour of the CIA's private museum reveals some of the agency's spy craft and the missions on which they were used.

In less than 200 years, the Aztecs rose from nomadic origins to build the powerful empire of Tenochtitlan; combining archaeology and stunning 3D reconstructions, this series reveals the rise and fall of a remarkable civilization.

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

Mike is in Iceland, where teams harness the power of volcanos to keep the geothermal energy flowing; they battle harsh weather to maintain and upgrade giant power systems, fixing miles of steam pipes, and bringing a dead well back to life.

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

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.

Salvaging a 50-foot motor yacht in Islamorada, Fla.; a 44-foot launch hung up on a dam on the Mississippi River; repairing a major storm gate in the British Isles.

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

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.

Salvaging a 50-foot motor yacht in Islamorada, Fla.; a 44-foot launch hung up on a dam on the Mississippi River; repairing a major storm gate in the British Isles.

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

In Florida, Mike tackles one of the dangerous jobs on the planet, commercial diving; he helps a specialized team keep waterways safe; fixing construction site leaks and removing dangerous structures, all while hurricane season is in full swing.

Archaeologists unearth a sacrificial skull, investigate a mummy, and crawl through underground tunnels as they embark on new digs in Pompeii.

Archaeologists find traces of a sea-battle that transformed Ancient Rome; archaeologists investigate how Rome rose to dominate the ancient world.

Archaeologists reveal how the Colosseum came to symbolize the might of Rome.

Archaeologists investigate the fate of Nero and his buried Golden Palace.

An exploration of Hadrian's Wall, the largest structure built by the Romans; experts examine the Wall, its forts, gatehouses, and garrison town to see how civilization and culture grew.

An exploration of Herculaneum, the twin to Pompeii that also got buried during a deadly volcanic eruption; the discovery of an intact skeleton, the first excavated in 25 years, helps investigators piece together the final hours of Herculaneum.

The pockmarked mummy of Ramesses V reveals a shocking tale of bitter family infighting, a civil insurrection and a cause of death that ultimately pushed ancient Egypt to the edge of collapse.

Archaeologists uncover the truth behind the legend of the Trojan War.

The pockmarked mummy of Ramesses V reveals a shocking tale of bitter family infighting, a civil insurrection and a cause of death that ultimately pushed ancient Egypt to the edge of collapse.

Archaeologists uncover the truth behind the legend of the Trojan War.

The pockmarked mummy of Ramesses V reveals a shocking tale of bitter family infighting, a civil insurrection and a cause of death that ultimately pushed ancient Egypt to the edge of collapse.

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

In Florida, Mike tackles one of the dangerous jobs on the planet, commercial diving; he helps a specialized team keep waterways safe; fixing construction site leaks and removing dangerous structures, all while hurricane season is in full swing.

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.

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.

Jeremy Birch takes on a salvage to raise a vessel with a concrete hull; it's been in the Fraser River for a month, collecting silt and mud, adding 30 tons to its deadweight.

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.

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.

Jeremy Birch takes on a salvage to raise a vessel with a concrete hull; it's been in the Fraser River for a month, collecting silt and mud, adding 30 tons to its deadweight.

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.

In the Alps of Switzerland, Mike helps an elite team install a new cable (rope) system on an iconic mountain gondola line, helps fix the world's steepest cogwheel railway track and explores mountaintop family farms only accessible.

Fly along the coast from Cape Agulhas, the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth to the Wild Coast. Stand at the precipice of time, and dive into a land that still stretches your imagination.

This is South Africa's journey from pre-human skeletons to modern Skyscrapers. View South Africa's mountain ranges, bustling cities and untamed wildlife from the air.

It is home to the world's largest inland Delta; the world's second-largest game reserve; and the abundant wildlife of Chobe National Park. There is no other way to appreciate this country than from a giant's point of view.

Endless-stretches of white sandy beach and majestic mountains soaring high above verdant valleys.

Hard to imagine that animals can survive in this arid land, but an aerial view of the life-saving water holes will offer a rare glimpse of Namibia's wildlife.

A flight over the African nation of Zambia reveals its ancient wonders, raging waters, diverse wildlife, and rich history.

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.

The Sphinx, the Shroud of Turin, El Dorado, and other ancient mysteries.

On April 26, 1986, a massive explosion rips through a reactor during a safety test at a power plant in Ukraine, triggering the worst nuclear accident in history; within 24 hours, a lethal radioactive cloud starts to circle the globe.

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.

The Sphinx, the Shroud of Turin, El Dorado, and other ancient mysteries.