Civil War 360 (2013)

Take a journey back in time and immerse yourself in a 150-year-old battle that nearly split our nation in two. This three-part series explores famous and little known aspects of the Civil War, from the perspectives of the Union, the Confederacy and the millions of enslaved people struggling for freedom. Hosted by Ashley Judd, Trace Adkins, and Dennis Haysbert, all of whom had ancestors greatly affected by the war; this series delivers fresh insights and untold tales, brought to life through dramatic recreations and the Smithsonian Institution's vast collection of artifacts.

Part 1: The Union
We all know who won the Civil War, but there were many moments when victory was anything but certain. Join Ashley Judd, great-great-great granddaughter of a Union soldier, as she takes us back 150 years for an intimate and comprehensive look at the North's battles and struggles during those bloody four years. From iconic artifacts like Old Glory to small objects like field medical kits and soldiers' photos, discover the stunning backstories of seemingly ordinary pieces from our past.

Part 2: The Confederacy
Slave badges from South Carolina. Sheet music filled with boasts of triumph. The jewelry of the First Lady of the Confederacy. Smithsonian curators have collected thousands of Confederate objects from the Civil War, which collectively offer a rich understanding of the South's viewpoint during this pivotal era in American history. Join country music singer Trace Adkins, whose ancestors fought for the South, as he follows the rise and fall of the Confederacy, from the men who fought to define "freedom" on their own terms to those who were caught in the wake of war.

Part 3: Fight for Freedom
A century and a half ago, North battled South in a conflict that would kill more Americans than any other war. The outcome would change our nation forever, and no one had more to gain, or to lose, than American slaves. Join actor Dennis Haysbert as he looks at their struggles through the objects in the Smithsonian's collection. From a child's shackles to the inkwell Lincoln used to write the Emancipation Proclamation, these artifacts transport us to a brutal and complicated time when our country tore itself apart.

America's Secret D-Day Disaster (2014)

Six weeks before D-Day, British, American, and Canadian soldiers took part in a vigorous and dangerous dress rehearsal for their Normandy invasion. Shockingly, the exercise would ultimately claim more American lives than the attack on Utah Beach. So what happened, exactly? How many Americans actually died? And who is to blame? Join us as we investigate the Exercise Tiger disaster, uncover the veil of secrecy surrounding it, examine the conspiracy theories it has inspired, and for the first time, tell the full story of the catastrophe.

Ninja: Shadow Warriors (2014)

Turn out the lights, hide in the shadows, and enter the secretive realm of the infamous ninja. We explore the untold history of these shadow soldiers; from their formation in the 14th Century to their battles against Samurai forces, led by ninja master Tanba, one of the most feared warriors in ancient Japan. Uncover guarded ninja techniques in spying, sabotage and ruthless undercover warfare, tactics that have earned them a reputation in their homeland as both heroic fighters and cunning, cold-hearted killers.

The Real Beauty and the Beast (2014)

It's a condition known as "hypertrichosis" or "Ambras Syndrome," but in the 1500s it would transform one man into a national sensation and iconic fairy-tale character. His name: Petrus Gonsalvus, more commonly known today as the hairy hero of Beauty and the Beast. Discover the facts behind the fable as we follow Petrus's remarkable life with a very rare and hairy genetic condition. Then learn about this medical phenomenon, which continues to fascinate and perplex scientists to this day.

* America in Space (2008)

Explore NASA's development from its founding in 1958 to its preparation for a moon landing. The beginning of space exploration was full of questions and unknowns; until they started sending living organisms into orbit, no one knew if the vacuum of outer space would be deadly. This film provides a 10-year history of National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) role in the exploration of space. It describes major accomplishments in aeronautics, atmospheric research, the use of scientific and applications satellites, studies of the moon and planets, and manned space flight. Originally released in 1968, this film is more than an account of hardware evolution. Tracing back to the birth of American space exploration, it recounts the unshakable optimism of a time when space seemed to offer unlimited opportunities.

* Big Cats of the Savannah (2014)

The grasslands of Africa are a banquet for feline predators. The unique grasses attract herbivores by the millions including herds of wildebeests and zebras who come to graze in spite of the danger of being eaten themselves. Take a closer look at the African savannah as we explore the hunting and nurturing habits of lions, leopards and cheetahs inside one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth.

* Aerial America: Alabama (Series)

Aerial America is a television series airing on the Smithsonian Channel. Each episode is an aerial video tour of a U.S. state. It consists entirely of aerial scenes with no ground-level shots, and is narrated. Flyovers of natural areas such asnational parks are included along with well-known buildings and urban areas.

Episode 1:

California

Episode 2:

Hawaii

Episode 3:

Virginia

Episode 4:

Connecticut

Episode 5:

Tennessee

Episode 6:

Vermont

Episode 7:

Arkansas

Episode 8:

Rhode Island

Episode 9:

Maine

Episode 10:

Oregon

Episode 11:

South Carolina

Episode 12:

Massachusetts

Episode 13:

Georgia

Episode 14:

Washington

Episode 15:

New Hampshire

Episode 16:

Maryland and Delaware

Episode 17:

North Carolina

Episode 18:

New York

Episode 19:

Louisiana

Episode 20:

New Mexico

Episode 21:

Michigan

Episode 22:

Nevada

Episode 23:

Colorado

Episode 24:

Mississippi

Episode 25:

Pennsylvania

Episode 26:

Florida

Episode 27:

Kansas

Episode 28:

Alabama

Episode 29:

Oklahoma

Episode 30:

Arizona

Episode 31:

Amazing Destinations

Episode 32:

Montana

Episode 33:

Ohio

Episode 34:

Minnesota

Episode 35:

Made In the USA

Episode 36:

West Virginia

Episode 37:

Beyond Hollywood

Episode 38:

Alaska

Episode 39:

Texas

Episode 40:

Idaho

Episode 41:

Kentucky

Episode 42:

Utah

Episode 43:

The Dakotas

Episode 44:

Wyoming

* 9/11: Stories In Fragments (2011)

How do you grasp an event as enormous as September 11? At the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, you start small: A briefcase, a Blackberry, a victim's sweatshirt, and a hero's nametag. Simple objects that tell personal stories, recounted in the donors' own words. Stories from New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, PA remind us that the legacy of 9/11 is not fear - it's friendship, courage, and ordinary people pushed by extraordinary circumstances. Their stories deserve to be remembered across decades and generations. By telling them, we triumph over tragedy.

* The Gospel of Jesus's Wife (2014)

Damaged and fragile, a fragment of ancient papyrus has unleashed a new interpretation of a religious story we thought we knew. In one of the most startling discoveries in recent memory, scholars confirm that a codex written in the ancient Coptic language refers to the wife of Jesus. Dr. Karen King, a Harvard professor, reveals that the papyrus bears the line "Jesus said to them, my wife..." It doesn't prove Jesus was married, but it raises questions about that possibility--and how some early Christians viewed the role of women in the church.

* Blondie's New York (2013)

In the span of just a few years, Blondie went from a band fighting for punk cred at CBGB to international superstardom, thanks in large part to one album: Parallel Lines. What was the secret behind its success? How did it all come together...and nearly fall apart? Enter the recording studio with Blondie's frontwoman and namesake, Debbie Harry, the rest of the band, and producer Mike Chapman. Their conversations reveal the real stories behind iconic hits like "Heart of Glass" and "One Way or Another" and how they launched punk music into the mainstream.

* Mission Critical: Amphibian Rescue (2010)

The deadly chytrid fungus is ravaging amphibian populations worldwide, leaving behind a destructive path of incurable disease. Frog species that have survived on our planet for more than 200 million years are facing mass extinction at an alarming rate. But an ambitious new plan involving a modern day Noah's Ark, and Smithsonian biologist Brian Gratwicke, just might be a last hope for these species. Venture deep into the Panamanian jungle as scientists search for these endangered frogs and fight to bring them back from the brink of extinction.

* Kuru: The Science and the Sorcery (2010)

Australian scientist Michael Alpers dedicated over 50 years to researching Kuru, an obscure and incurable brain disease unique to the Fore people of New Guinea. Kuru was once thought to be a psychosomatic illness, an infection, a genetic disorder, even a sorcerer's curse, but Alpers' findings pointed to cannibalism as the culprit. Yet a recent discovery has proven to be even more disturbing: the malady is linked to mad cow disease and its human equivalent, variant CJD. With a decades-long incubation period, could a larger outbreak be on its way?