History / Video

Preview thumbnail for How Coffee Breaks Became a Staple of American Life

How Coffee Breaks Became a Staple of American Life

Coffee - it’s a staple of American life, and inside the vaults of the National Museum of American History, they know the secret to its wide spread success: packaging

Preview thumbnail for The Gardens of the Smithsonian Institution

The Gardens of the Smithsonian Institution

Carefully planned gardens provide visitors a place to relax and reflect during their visit to the Smithsonian.

Preview thumbnail for The Grand Staircase of Escalante Monument

The Grand Staircase of Escalante Monument

Covering nearly 1.9 million acres, this monument’s breathtaking landscapes yield major scientific discoveries from the age of dinosaurs

Preview thumbnail for The History of the Potato

The History of the Potato

From the Americas to Europe then back again, there’s more to the potato than meets the eyes.

Preview thumbnail for Henri Cartier-Bresson's With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain

Henri Cartier-Bresson’s With the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain

Filmed by the famous photographer during the Spanish Civil War, this clip debuted at the 2010 Orphan Film Symposium

Preview thumbnail for George Friedman Predicts World War 3 Between Turkey and Poland

George Friedman Predicts World War 3 Between Turkey and Poland

Looking at the future of geopolitics, the author reveals the surprising results of his research. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/40th-anniversary/George-Friedman-on-World-War-III.html

Preview thumbnail for The Johnson-Jeffries Fight

The Johnson-Jeffries Fight

Filmed for movie theaters in 1910, the heavyweight championship fight between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries was a nationwide phenomenon Narration: T.A. Frail

Preview thumbnail for How to Grill Caveman T-bone Steaks

How to Grill Caveman T-bone Steaks

In a clip from his PBS show “Primal Grill,” Steve Raichlen cooks T-bone steaks by placing them directly on the charcoal to delicious effect

Preview thumbnail for What Goes Into a 1920s Prohibition Cocktail

What Goes Into a 1920s Prohibition Cocktail

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Wayne-B-Wheeler-The-Man-Who-Turned-Off-the-Taps.html Beverage expert Derek Brown shows how to make three cocktails from the early 20th century at his Washington, D.C. bar.

Preview thumbnail for Seeing Baltimore Through Aubrey Bodine's Lens

Seeing Baltimore Through Aubrey Bodine’s Lens

A. Aubrey Bodine’s daughter reflects on her father’s trained eye toward capturing the people of Charm City. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/photographing-baltimores-working-class-9338157/

Preview thumbnail for The Perfect Game Heard 'Round the World

The Perfect Game Heard ‘Round the World

Watch newsreel footage of Angel Macias’ astonishing performance at the Little League World Series.

Preview thumbnail for The Photography of Timothy O'Sullivan

The Photography of Timothy O’Sullivan

After his start capturing the horrors of the Civil War for Mathew Brady’s studio, 19th century photographer Timothy O’Sullivan uncovered the beauty of the great expanses of the American west

Preview thumbnail for The Story Behind Gene Kranz's Vest

The Story Behind Gene Kranz’s Vest

Listen to a short lecture given by curator Margaret Weitekamp on Gene Kranz career with NASA and how his vest ended up at the Smithsonian

Preview thumbnail for The Quirky Ways of the Postal Service

The Quirky Ways of the Postal Service

Over the years, the mail has been delivered by train, donkey, bus, truck and even rocket (Produced by: Boaz Frankel )

Preview thumbnail for Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America

Women & Spirit: Catholic Sisters in America

This traveling exhibit reveals the mystery behind some of the women that helped shape this country’s social and cultural landscape

Preview thumbnail for Auschwitz Survivors Tell Their Stories

Auschwitz Survivors Tell Their Stories

From the moment they arrived at the concentration camp, Jews and other Holocaust victims were treated like animals, and only a lucky group survived the experience.

Preview thumbnail for The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes

The Many Faces of Sherlock Holmes

Over 50 different actors have portrayed the famous detective on the big screen, from Basil Rathbone to Robert Downey, Jr. Photos Courtesy of The Internet Archive; Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett Collection; …

Preview thumbnail for Sing Along to the Messiah

Sing Along to the Messiah

The story within Handels famous piece is what drives its enduring popularity, and it is also what keeps D.C.s Metropolitan Chorus excited for their annual performance. Read more at: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/the-glorious-history-of-handels-messiah-148168540/

Preview thumbnail for Reviving the Ohlone Language

Reviving the Ohlone Language

Using archived ethnographic research, Linda Yamane is bringing back the language of the Ohlone, a Northern California tribe. Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/american-indian-heritage.html

Preview thumbnail for A Tour of the C&O Canal

A Tour of the C&O Canal

Dating back to 1831, the C&O Canal was an essential link in connecting a vastly growing country

Preview thumbnail for A Rare Look at Tucker Cars

A Rare Look at Tucker Cars

Collector David Cammack owns three of the 43 remaining cars in existence designed by Preston Tucker, which he puts on display in a secluded museum in Virginia. Editor’s Note: We’re …

Preview thumbnail for The Residents of Arlington Cemetery

The Residents of Arlington Cemetery

While President Kennedy may be one of the best known gravesites in Arlington, there are many other notable Americans buried in these sacred grounds (Ryan Reed and Molly Roberts). Read …

Preview thumbnail for Hazel Scott, Jazz and Classical Pianist, Performs Liszt

Hazel Scott, Jazz and Classical Pianist, Performs Liszt

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Hazel-Scotts-Lifetime-of-High-Notes.html In a performance filmed for World War II soldiers, Hazel Scott begins with a section from Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2” and ends with a jazzy …

Preview thumbnail for The Raid on Harpers Ferry

The Raid on Harpers Ferry

In one fateful night, John Brown brought the country closer to Civil War (Video: Meredith Bragg). Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Day-of-Reckoning.html

Preview thumbnail for The Books of Thomas Jeffersons Library

The Books of Thomas Jeffersons Library

Jeffersons respect for the enlightenment ideals of memory, reason and imagination shaped how he organized his library (Video: Molly Roberts). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/on-the-hunt-for-jeffersons-lost-books-38566672/

Preview thumbnail for Visiting Lafcadio Hearns Japan

Visiting Lafcadio Hearns Japan

The temples and scenery of Japans San-in coast are as captivating now as they were when Lafcadio Hearn wrote about them in the 19th century (Produced by: Brendan McCabe; Narration …

Preview thumbnail for FDR: The Stamp Collector in Chief

FDR: The Stamp Collector in Chief

Read more about FDR at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/From-the-Castle-FDRs-Stamps.html A stamp collector since childhood, Franklin Roosevelt designed postage stamps to help promote his presidential agenda.

Preview thumbnail for Cooking with Julia Child

Cooking with Julia Child

Through her television shows, Julia Child shared her love for culinary arts with the world.

Preview thumbnail for Tour Through Inaugurations Past

Tour Through Inaugurations Past

Read more at http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/Inauguration-2009.html Two curators from the American History Museum show the highlights of the archives of inauguration relics.

Preview thumbnail for American History Museum Transformed

American History Museum Transformed

A step-by-step tour of the renovation of the National Museum of American History (Narration by Beth Py-Lieberman / Edited by Ryan Reed and Brian Wolly)

Preview thumbnail for You Have V-Mail

You Have V-Mail

Victory Mail allowed servicemen during World War II to transmit letters to their loved ones back home quickly and easily (National Postal Museum). Read more at https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/before-email-there-was-v-mail-1-180949023/

Preview thumbnail for The Hall of Presidents

The Hall of Presidents

Senior historian Sid Hart discusses the highlights of the National Portrait Gallerys Hall of Presidents. (Filmed and Edited by Ryan Reed / Produced by Beth Py-Lieberman, Megan Gambino and Jesse …

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