Smithsonian Channel TV Guide & Program Schedule
united states
America's Hidden Stories
The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.
Rise and Fall of the Aztecs
Finding out how Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés and a few hundred conquistadores unravelled the fabric of Aztec society; examining the political manoeuvres, rebellions, and cultural misunderstandings that led to the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521.
Rise of Dictators
Dictators are characterized as charismatic, narcissistic and sadistic, but most of all by their thirst for power; once in power, holding on to it requires negotiation, coercion and force.
America's Hidden Stories
The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.
Rise and Fall of the Aztecs
Finding out how Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés and a few hundred conquistadores unravelled the fabric of Aztec society; examining the political manoeuvres, rebellions, and cultural misunderstandings that led to the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521.
Rise of Dictators
Dictators are characterized as charismatic, narcissistic and sadistic, but most of all by their thirst for power; once in power, holding on to it requires negotiation, coercion and force.
America's Hidden Stories
The discovery of a pre-Civil War cemetery of enslaved ironworkers provides new insights into the role African-Americans played in the Industrial Revolution.
Rise and Fall of the Aztecs
Finding out how Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés and a few hundred conquistadores unravelled the fabric of Aztec society; examining the political manoeuvres, rebellions, and cultural misunderstandings that led to the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521.
How Did They Build That?
The engineering secrets behind the world's steepest mountain railway, a remodeled 145-year-old museum and a futuristic condo.
How Did They Fix That?
Mike works with the U.S. Army in Germany inside the massive fix facility the MAK, Maintenance Activity Kaiserslautern, as teams repair over one hundred Bradley fighting vehicles, then embeds with troops in a massive two-week-long battle exercise.
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
Bill Nighy leads a magical journey in the Norfolk Broads along England's holiday river, the River Bure; discovering a watery world where both wildlife and recreation go hand in hand.
Mysteries From Above
Learning why an important urban center is sinking toward oblivion; soaring over sprawling ruins buried under Saharan sands; learning the modern secret of an ancient fortress; eyeing a ghost town on the edge of the Gobi.
Extreme Weather Salvage
Responding to an emergency call, Northstar marine sets out to salvage a sunken tug in the Delaware Bay; following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sally, Capt. Chris Ward and his crew work to salvage sunken sailboats and wrecked powerboats.
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
Bill Nighy leads a magical journey in the Norfolk Broads along England's holiday river, the River Bure; discovering a watery world where both wildlife and recreation go hand in hand.
Mysteries From Above
Learning why an important urban center is sinking toward oblivion; soaring over sprawling ruins buried under Saharan sands; learning the modern secret of an ancient fortress; eyeing a ghost town on the edge of the Gobi.
Extreme Weather Salvage
Responding to an emergency call, Northstar marine sets out to salvage a sunken tug in the Delaware Bay; following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sally, Capt. Chris Ward and his crew work to salvage sunken sailboats and wrecked powerboats.
How Did They Build That?
Visiting London's Gherkin, Seattle's Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and Lyon's Musée des Confluences to uncover how and why they were built.
How Did They Fix That?
Nevada has over 40,000 abandoned mines posing dangers; Mike joins contractors for a week to secure five sites; alongside biologists, they explore and document wildlife; reaching these isolated mines requires barges, helicopters and bulldozers.
Buried Evidence
Explore three discoveries that change what we know about magic and superstition; delve into a Polish vampire grave, open a UK witch bottle used to ward off evil, and see if alien-like skulls in Mexico were shaped by humans or otherworldly beings.
Buried Evidence
Exhume chilling insights into ancient rituals, legendary warriors, and brutal deaths; investigate dozens of children's skeletons in Peru, find out if Amazon warriors once lived in Russia, and see what a UK cave full of butchered remains reveals.
Buried Evidence
Challenge long-held beliefs about Viking leadership, weaponry, and brutality; inspect a warriors tomb full of clues in Sweden, a sword of unparalleled quality in Norway, and a pile of headless skeletons in the UK that reveal unimaginable violence.
Buried Evidence
Discovering shocking truths about religious rituals, sacred symbols, and spiritual traditions; learning the brutal truth about execution rites in Roman England, looking at shark bones in a Peruvian temple; unearthing a silver amulet in Germany.
Buried Evidence
Rethink what it's known about death and preservation; see why Denmark's perfectly preserved Tollund Man raises questions, observe Portuguese bodies that rewrite history, and uncover the mystery of Scotland's Frankenstein mummies.
Buried Evidence
Open burial sites filled with secrets. Find powerful artifacts in a French rulers tomb, see what a tomb adorned with conch shells says about sacred ceremonies, and expose complex beliefs about animals and the afterlife in an Egyptian zoo graveyard.
The Pharaohs: Greater than the Pyramids
Follow the meteoric rise of the Macedonian conqueror who seized Egypt and built an empire that stretched from Europe to Asia; find out how founding the city of Alexandria and becoming a pharaoh transformed Alexander's life before his death at age 32.
Ancient Powers
All ancient civilizations have to trade with their neighbors and enemies to survive.
Ancient Invisible Cities
Classical historian Dr. Michael Scott explores the often-invisible treasures of one of the greatest ancient cities in the world: Istanbul. The city has been at the crossroads of Europe and Asia for over two and a half millennia.
The Pharaohs: Greater than the Pyramids
Follow the meteoric rise of the Macedonian conqueror who seized Egypt and built an empire that stretched from Europe to Asia; find out how founding the city of Alexandria and becoming a pharaoh transformed Alexander's life before his death at age 32.
Ancient Powers
All ancient civilizations have to trade with their neighbors and enemies to survive.
Ancient Invisible Cities
Classical historian Dr. Michael Scott explores the often-invisible treasures of one of the greatest ancient cities in the world: Istanbul. The city has been at the crossroads of Europe and Asia for over two and a half millennia.
The Pharaohs: Greater than the Pyramids
Follow the meteoric rise of the Macedonian conqueror who seized Egypt and built an empire that stretched from Europe to Asia; find out how founding the city of Alexandria and becoming a pharaoh transformed Alexander's life before his death at age 32.
Ancient Powers
All ancient civilizations have to trade with their neighbors and enemies to survive.
How Did They Build That?
Visiting London's Gherkin, Seattle's Evergreen Point Floating Bridge and Lyon's Musée des Confluences to uncover how and why they were built.
How Did They Fix That?
Nevada has over 40,000 abandoned mines posing dangers; Mike joins contractors for a week to secure five sites; alongside biologists, they explore and document wildlife; reaching these isolated mines requires barges, helicopters and bulldozers.
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
Traveling the Dordogne River via traditional boats through the green heart of southwest France; drinking wine and hunting for truffles; riding a luxury cruiser to a lighthouse built for a king.
Mysteries From Above
Get petrified by cryptic rock structures normally hidden from view; look inside curious dwellings in the Peruvian Andes; visit a sacred monolith in Wyoming's Black Hills; haunt a Turkish stone village; spot an immovable waterfall in Mexico.
Extreme Weather Salvage
A mysterious object is raised from the depths of the ocean; a stranded speedboat; an elite crew works to salvage America's biggest shipwreck before hurricane season.
World's Most Scenic River Journeys
Traveling the Dordogne River via traditional boats through the green heart of southwest France; drinking wine and hunting for truffles; riding a luxury cruiser to a lighthouse built for a king.
Mysteries From Above
Get petrified by cryptic rock structures normally hidden from view; look inside curious dwellings in the Peruvian Andes; visit a sacred monolith in Wyoming's Black Hills; haunt a Turkish stone village; spot an immovable waterfall in Mexico.
Extreme Weather Salvage
A mysterious object is raised from the depths of the ocean; a stranded speedboat; an elite crew works to salvage America's biggest shipwreck before hurricane season.
How Did They Build That?
Visiting Australia's One Central Park, the Oslo Opera House and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco to reveal their architectural secrets.
How Did They Fix That?
Mike joins the Assault Craft Unit 5, the U.S. Navy's team for Landing Craft Air Cushions (LCACs); LCACs carry heavy vehicles and troops onto beaches; Mike helps fly & fix an overhauled LCAC during a U.S. Marines beach assault training mission.
Rise of Dictators
Tease out the common denominators that lead to tyranny; map the rise of some of the 20th century's dictators and discover how they seized power, exploited governing systems and gutted existing power structures to gain total control.
Rise of Dictators
Uncover the sinister ways that dictators convince their followers to worship them as heroes; watch how they weave mythical narratives around their abilities, selling themselves as saviors who should hold absolute power over the people.
Rise of Dictators
Dictators may appear omnipotent, but their position depends largely on a network of individuals who benefit from their rule, and their support does not come cheap.
Rise of Dictators
Dictators are characterized as charismatic, narcissistic and sadistic, but most of all by their thirst for power; once in power, holding on to it requires negotiation, coercion and force.
Rise of Dictators
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.
Rise of Dictators
Consider the factors that inevitably cause dictatorships to crumble; look at how hubris destroys cults of personality; see how factions fracture military dictatorships; weigh the miscalculations that turn the tide against tyranny.
Scanning History
Dig into a groundbreaking medieval silver mine revealed by a German sinkhole.
What is the Smithsonian Channel TV Guide?
The Smithsonian Channel TV guide provides viewers with a comprehensive overview of upcoming television broadcasts, daily programming schedules, and show times across the network. Designed to help audience members plan their viewing, the schedule outlines air times for non-fiction series, historical documentaries, nature specials, and scientific investigations. Whether you are searching for afternoon broadcasts or checking prime-time schedules, consulting the program guide ensures you do not miss your favorite documentaries.
About Smithsonian Channel
The Smithsonian Channel is a premier non-fiction television network dedicated to storytelling rooted in history, science, nature, aviation, and popular culture. Drawing inspiration and factual context from world-renowned research and museum collections, the network delivers immersive documentary content. Programming on the channel spans a wide array of topics, from deep-sea exploration and space science to ancient civilizations and modern warfare history. Availability varies by region, cable, satellite, and digital streaming service providers.
Navigating the Smithsonian Channel TV Guide
Using a digital tv guide to review television schedules allows viewers to quickly identify upcoming shows by date, hour, and genre. The schedule is typically organized chronologically, displaying morning, afternoon, and evening blocks. When reviewing listings, viewers can check individual episode titles, broadcast durations, and brief synopsis details to determine what is playing on the channel throughout the day.
TV Guide Listings for Tonight on Smithsonian Channel
Finding tv guide listings for tonight helps viewers discover evening feature documentaries and prime-time broadcast lineups. Prime-time hours frequently feature multi-part documentary series, investigative specials, and flagship history programs. Because broadcast times depend on your local broadcast region and television provider, checking evening listings ensures accurate planning for tonight's featured broadcasts.
Key Programming Categories
The network offers a structured schedule categorized by several core non-fiction subjects:
- Aviation & Space: In-depth look at flight innovation, military aircraft, space exploration, and air safety investigations.
- History & Archaeology: Historical retrospectives, archival footage presentations, and archaeological excavation chronicles.
- Nature & Environment: Wildlife natural history, environmental science, and natural habitat explorations.
- Science & Technology: Engineering feats, scientific discoveries, and technological developments.
- Culture & Pop History: Exploration of cultural icons, architectural wonders, and historical events that shaped modern society.
Notable Series Featured on the Network
While daily scheduling varies, several recurring signature series and documentary formats form the backbone of the channel's identity:
- Aerial America: An extensive aerial documentary series capturing the landscape, history, and landmarks of states and territories across the United States.
- Air Disasters: An investigative series examining historical aviation incidents, flight security developments, and official accident investigation findings.
- Secrets: A historical investigation series delving into ancient structures, archaeological discoveries, and historical mysteries.
- America in Color: A documentary series utilizing restored and colorized archival footage to present historical eras of the twentieth century.
How to Use the TV Schedule Effectively
Planning your viewing using the online program listings is straightforward. Follow these general steps to find show times:
- Select the current date or an upcoming date from the schedule calendar.
- Filter or scroll to your desired time slot (morning, afternoon, prime time, or late night).
- Confirm your local time zone setting to reflect accurate regional broadcast times.
- Select a specific program title to read episode descriptions and view repeat air dates.
- Check your cable, satellite, or streaming provider's channel line-up to locate the channel number.
- Set reminders or DVR recordings for upcoming episodes listed in the schedule.
Viewing and Availability Information
Smithsonian Channel is available through various television distribution channels depending on your location and subscription package. Most major cable providers, satellite operators, and virtual multichannel video programming distributors (vMVPDs) carry the channel standard or high definition feeds. Additionally, select programs may be accessible via network-affiliated digital streaming apps, video-on-demand (VOD) platforms, or subscription services. Consult your local provider's channel guide for specific line-up details.
Time Zone and Regional Schedule Variations
Television broadcast schedules frequently operate on distinct time zone feeds (such as Eastern and Pacific time zones in North America). A program airing at 8:00 PM Eastern Time may air at a different local time in Central, Mountain, or Pacific time zones depending on whether your service provider uses a national tape-delay feed or a single live feed. Always verify local listings to ensure accurate broadcast timing in your specific area.
Schedule Updates and Freshness
Television schedules are subject to periodic adjustments due to breaking news specials, network marathons, holiday programming, or last-minute schedule changes. While channel information and show descriptions remain consistent over time, time-sensitive schedules and specific broadcast slots should always be cross-referenced with daily program listings for real-time accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Smithsonian Channel TV Guide?
The TV guide is a dedicated schedule detailing daily broadcast times, program titles, episode descriptions, and genre categories for shows airing on the Smithsonian Channel.
What is on Smithsonian Channel tonight?
Tonight's programming typically includes prime-time history series, science specials, and natural history documentaries. Check the evening listings above for exact program titles and start times for your time zone.
Where can I find the Smithsonian Channel schedule for today?
You can view today's complete daily schedule directly on this TV guide page, organized chronologically from early morning through late-night broadcasts.
Do Smithsonian Channel show times vary by region?
Yes. Broadcast schedules vary based on time zones, regional feeds, and local service providers. Ensure your local time zone is properly selected when reviewing listings.
How can I check upcoming program listings?
Use the date selector within the TV guide to view upcoming programming schedules for the days ahead and locate planned air times for recurring series.