https://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/documentaries-1/RSS feed for DocumentariesenTue, 28 Jul 2026 16:41:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-pompeii-victims-who-died-when-mount-vesuvius-erupted-2000-years-ago-archaeologists-are-still-learning-about-those-who-made-it-out-alive-180989207/A semi-fictionalized documentary series hosted by actor Tom Hiddleston follows three people in the ancient towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum who experienced the disaster in 79 C.E.Tue, 28 Jul 2026 16:41:15 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/we-all-know-the-story-of-the-pompeii-victims-who-died-when-mount-vesuvius-erupted-2000-years-ago-archaeologists-are-still-learning-about-those-who-made-it-out-alive-180989207/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/art-sleuths-discovered-a-long-lost-and-enormously-important-portrait-of-an-elite-indian-woman-by-this-pioneering-scottish-painter-180989201/Katherine Read was one of the most fashionable portrait creators in London before she moved to India. She found success portraying women and childrenMon, 27 Jul 2026 17:33:05 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/art-sleuths-discovered-a-long-lost-and-enormously-important-portrait-of-an-elite-indian-woman-by-this-pioneering-scottish-painter-180989201/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/richard-avedon-was-famous-for-snapping-celebrities-like-marilyn-monroe-but-his-images-of-vietnam-war-victims-and-coal-miners-revealed-the-surprising-power-of-portraits-180988757/A new documentary about photographer Richard Avedon, directed by Ron Howard and debuting at the Cannes Film Festival, uses archival footage and contemporary interviews to weave the story of just how far his influence extendsMon, 18 May 2026 18:46:34 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/richard-avedon-was-famous-for-snapping-celebrities-like-marilyn-monroe-but-his-images-of-vietnam-war-victims-and-coal-miners-revealed-the-surprising-power-of-portraits-180988757/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-1990s-a-dog-taught-kids-about-shakespeare-and-homer-a-new-documentary-tells-the-tale-of-wishbone-from-his-backflips-to-his-historical-hats-180988552/The film reunites the human cast and crew who saw the potential of a Jack Russell terrier to bring classic literature to life on PBSThu, 16 Apr 2026 15:31:11 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/in-the-1990s-a-dog-taught-kids-about-shakespeare-and-homer-a-new-documentary-tells-the-tale-of-wishbone-from-his-backflips-to-his-historical-hats-180988552/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-a-new-documentary-one-of-britains-most-famous-historians-reframes-the-american-revolution-as-a-messy-divorce-180988457/Lucy Worsley's PBS series highlights the emotional fallout of the conflict, with a focus on the British perspectiveMon, 06 Apr 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/in-a-new-documentary-one-of-britains-most-famous-historians-reframes-the-american-revolution-as-a-messy-divorce-180988457/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-are-the-best-tv-shows-about-the-american-revolution-a-historian-outlines-five-of-his-favorites-180987995/The scholar's picks include "Turn: Washington’s Spies," "John Adams" and "Franklin"Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/what-are-the-best-tv-shows-about-the-american-revolution-a-historian-outlines-five-of-his-favorites-180987995/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-karate-kid-to-clueless-these-are-the-25-new-additions-to-the-national-film-registry-see-the-full-list-here-180988110/"The Incredibles," "Inception" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" join more than 900 titles preserved by the Library of CongressFri, 30 Jan 2026 19:51:13 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/from-karate-kid-to-clueless-these-are-the-25-new-additions-to-the-national-film-registry-see-the-full-list-here-180988110/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ten-top-smithsonian-stories-of-2025-from-eerie-clay-puppets-with-detachable-heads-to-a-new-look-american-revolution-180987827/The magazine’s most-read articles of the year included a deep dive on the Scopes "monkey trial," an interview with award-winning documentarians and a profile of quintuplets who found fame during the Great DepressionFri, 26 Dec 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ten-top-smithsonian-stories-of-2025-from-eerie-clay-puppets-with-detachable-heads-to-a-new-look-american-revolution-180987827/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ken-burns-says-his-new-documentary-forced-him-to-revisit-everything-he-thought-he-knew-about-the-american-revolution-180987667/Ahead of the PBS production's premiere, the legendary filmmaker and co-director Sarah Botstein share insights on their research process and the surprising, long-overlooked stories featured in the six-part seriesThu, 13 Nov 2025 12:00:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/ken-burns-says-his-new-documentary-forced-him-to-revisit-everything-he-thought-he-knew-about-the-american-revolution-180987667/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/american-mountaineer-makes-history-by-skiing-down-mount-everests-most-difficult-route-180987528/Jim Morrison, 50, completed the historic run on October 15 as a tribute to his late partner, Hilaree Nelson, who died in an avalanche in 2022Fri, 17 Oct 2025 20:05:37 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/american-mountaineer-makes-history-by-skiing-down-mount-everests-most-difficult-route-180987528/