History / Video
David Burnett on Being a War Photographer in Vietnam
In the years before digital cameras, the process of getting shots from the field to the printers was incredibly complicated and dangerous. Video by Adam Grossman | Good Dog Media
David Burnett on His Experience Jumping Out of a Plane With D-Day Vets
David Burnett on His Experience Jumping Out of a Plane With D-Day Vets
Did the Spanish Flu Impact America’s Ability to Fight in WWI?
By late September 1918, in a bid to contain the spread of the flu, the U.S. had made the decision to cancel the draft. It was too little, too late—in …
The Suffragette Who Was Killed by King George V’s Horse
In 1913, British Royalty would come in direct contact with a changing social order, thanks to a suffragette named Emily Davison. Her death at Epsom Falls would send shockwaves through …
This 1935 Florida Hurricane Had a Devastating Impact
On September 2, 1935, Florida was hit by the most intense hurricane ever recorded—a category 5. Despite early warnings by the weather authorities, a calamitous loss of life shocked the …
The Terrifying Physics of WWII Dive Bombing
The act of dive bombing during World War II was a death defying trial of skill and nerve. You aimed your plane down, four miles above the ocean and plummeted …
The Stunningly Clear Features on the Lindow Man Mummy
Lindow Man, believed to be a victim of human sacrifice, remains one of the best preserved ancient bodies in all of Europe. The level of detail on his face is …
A 500-Year-Old Cold Case in the Village of Wharram Percy
Human remains discovered at Wharram Percy are about to be examined by an expert, in a bid to determine what happened. Is it a medieval murder mystery—or something far more …
This London Blacksmith Forges Replicas of Medieval Swords
A London blacksmith has perfected a technique known as pattern welding to create elaborately-designed replica Saxon swords and knives. He demonstrates his technique on camera
The Astonishing Spying Capabilities of This U.S. Satellite
The “Manned Orbiting Laboratory,” or “MOL,” was built to capture high-resolution images of Soviet targets on the ground. It was so advanced, it could pick up objects on earth as …
Credit: Smithsonian Digital Studio
Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
Credit: Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
The Making of “Beyond Curie: Celebrating Badass Women in Science”
Credit: Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya
Without These Whistleblowers, We May Never Have Known the Full Extent of the Flint Water Crisis
Marc Edwards and Leeanne Walters | Smithsonian Magazine’s 2016 American Ingenuity Award Winners for Social Progress The duo joined forces to protect tens of thousands of people during the disastrous …
A Former Afghan Interpreter for the U.S. Military Recalls the Dangers of the Job
(Footage: Erin Trieb. Video Editing: Nicole Boliaux)
A Pirogue’s Eye View of Harper, Liberia
A pirogue’s eye view of the inlet at the edge of Harper. Some of the first groups of freed American slaves landed on the shores of West Africa near here. …
Darwin Letter Recovered, Returned to Smithsonian
A letter by Charles Darwin that was stolen more than 30 years ago was recovered by the FBI’s Art Crime Team and returned to the Smithsonian on May 26, 2016. …
Watch this exclusive clip from the upcoming Ric Burns documentary about the “Green Book”
Discover why scientists think we are in a new geologic age and what it means for our future.
Indiana’s Secret Parties and Perfect Popcorn
A large portion of Indiana’s economy relies on an invaluable crop: corn. Popcorn plants like Pop Weaver have perfected the production of our favorite movie snack down to a science.
Where the Nazis Hid $3.5 Billion of Stolen Art
In the spring of 1945, with the Third Reich crumbling, the Nazis hid their stolen art in a sealed salt mine. But when U.S. troops arrived, they found that the …
Fishing With Irrawaddy Dolphins
Local Burmese fisher Maung Lay shows how his family has traditionally teamed up with rare river dolphins and explains why their partnership is now at risk. (Video by Demelza Stokes …
Bumblebees Are Feeling the Heat
While bumblebees are not expanding northward, some are retreating to higher elevations as the temperature warms. This animation shows the range compression for a hypothetical North American species forced to …
These Famous Names Came Out of Omaha
After his arrival in Omaha in 1892, Tom Dennison - nicknamed the “Grey Wolf” - controlled the city’s street’s for more than 30 years
Members of the National Museum of American Historys jazz program discuss the legacy of jazz in the United States
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