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Popular Topic Videos (20)
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D-Day Invasion
D-Day InvasionVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and turned the tides of World War II.
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Allied Advance Stalls at Normandy
Allied Advance Stalls at NormandyVideo Clip (3:33)
Video Clip (3:33)
After the D-Day invasion of France on June 6, 1944, the Allied advance is mired in the thick hedgerows of Normandy's bocage country.
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Hitler's Military Blunders
Hitler's Military BlundersVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
During WWII, Hitler's decentralized and paranoid military command structure spells disaster on the battlefield.
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Concentration Camp Liberation
Concentration Camp LiberationVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
As Allied troops move across Europe, they encounter the horror of thousands of prisoners in Nazi camps.
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WWII Spy Strategy
WWII Spy StrategyVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
The Allies use double agents, code breakers and spies to undermine the German military throughout WWII, but cracking the Enigma code proves to be their greatest breakthrough.
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Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl HarborVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
On December 7, 1941, Japan launches a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor.
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D-Day
D-DayVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
On June 6, 1944, the Allies invade Western Europe in the largest amphibious attack in history.
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American Revolution
American RevolutionVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Get the story of how a fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
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America and the Civil War
America and the Civil WarVideo Clip (4:04)
Video Clip (4:04)
Discover how the bloodiest war in American history transformed the face of the nation.
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Civil War's Greatest Myth
Civil War's Greatest MythVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
What you think you know about the Civil War may not be the whole truth.
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America Divided
America DividedVideo Clip (3:54)
Video Clip (3:54)
America is at the brink of a Civil War as cotton spreads west and threatens to expand slavery into new territories.
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Greek Gods
Greek GodsVideo Clip (3:36)
Video Clip (3:36)
Get a crash course on the heavenly residents of Mount Olympus.
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Deconstructing History: Titanic
Deconstructing History: TitanicVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Everyone knows the Titanic was big, and we have the hard numbers to prove it. Discover what made it a supersized ship.
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Abraham Lincoln
Abraham LincolnVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln's success.
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Deconstructing History: Pompeii
Deconstructing History: PompeiiVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
It was nearly wiped out during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. What is left of this ancient city and will Vesuvius erupt again? Uncover the lost city of Pompeii.
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D-Day Documented by Newsreel Cameras
D-Day Documented by Newsreel CamerasVideo Clip (8:56)
Video Clip (8:56)
Footage of the historic D-Day invasion from the United News. The best known D-Day is June 6, 1944 the day on which the Invasion of Normandy began. This video clip is courtesy of The History Channel.
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Cold War
Cold WarVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.
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Deconstructing History: The Pentagon
Deconstructing History: The PentagonVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
With 17.5 miles of corridors and a total floor area of 6.6 million square feet, the Pentagon is a military complex like no other.
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Deconstructing History: Colosseum
Deconstructing History: ColosseumVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Completed in 80 A.D., Rome's Colosseum has been the site of celebrations, sporting events and bloodshed. Today, it's a major tourist attraction, playing host to 3.9 million visitors each year.
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JFK: A New Generation
JFK: A New GenerationVideo Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America.
American Civil War (38)
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America Divided
America DividedVideo Clip (3:54)
Video Clip (3:54)
America is at the brink of a Civil War as cotton spreads west and threatens to expand slavery into new territories.
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Civil War's Greatest Myth
Civil War's Greatest MythVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
What you think you know about the Civil War may not be the whole truth.
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Civil War Tech
Civil War TechVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
The Civil War saw the rise of major technological advances in warfare.
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Grant or Lee?
Grant or Lee?Video Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Which of the admired Civil War generals would you want to lead your country?
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Civil War in One Word
Civil War in One WordVideo Clip (1:13)
Video Clip (1:13)
If you had just one word to describe the Civil War, what would it be?
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America and the Civil War
America and the Civil WarVideo Clip (4:04)
Video Clip (4:04)
Discover how the bloodiest war in American history transformed the face of the nation.
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Abraham Lincoln
Abraham LincolnVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln's success.
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Confederate vs. Union Soldiers
Confederate vs. Union SoldiersVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
Find out what divided the men of the Civil War, and how in many ways they were more alike than different.
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Civil War Turning Point
Civil War Turning PointVideo Clip (3:08)
Video Clip (3:08)
Find out what event turned the tide of the Civil War.
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Legacy of the Civil War
Legacy of the Civil WarVideo Clip (1:22)
Video Clip (1:22)
One hundred and fifty years after it began, the Civil War is still an important component of our national character.
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Lincoln's Most Pivotal Speech
Lincoln's Most Pivotal SpeechVideo Clip (3:02)
Video Clip (3:02)
Which of President Lincoln's many eloquent speeches was the most important?
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Coroner's Report: Stonewall Jackson
Coroner's Report: Stonewall JacksonVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
The Confederate general Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men during a major Civil War battle, but it wasn't his wounds that killed him eight days later. How exactly did the commander die?
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Chamberlain at Gettysburg
Chamberlain at GettysburgVideo Clip (1:26)
Video Clip (1:26)
Find out how the actions of a former Maine professor helped the Union win at Gettysburg, the deadliest battle of the Civil War.
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Gettysburg Battle Strategy
Gettysburg Battle StrategyVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
In the small Pennsylvania town of Gettysburg, 3,000 Union soldiers prepare to face the onslaught of 60,000 advancing Confederate soldiers.
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Lincoln's War Machine
Lincoln's War MachineVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Twenty-four thousand miles of railroad replenishes troops and supplies for the North and delivers disaster to the South.
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Last Charge at Gettysburg
Last Charge at GettysburgVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
General Robert E. Lee disregards a basic principle of military strategy and orders his forces to attack Union troops perched on the high ground at Cemetary Ridge. Known as Pickett's Charge, the maneuver was a disastrous end to the three-day battle.
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Impact of the Civil War
Impact of the Civil WarVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
The Civil War was a long and gruesome conflict that claimed more than 620,000 lives and had lasting effects on military and civilian survivors.
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Civil War Counter-Terrorism
Civil War Counter-TerrorismVideo Clip (3:26)
Video Clip (3:26)
Federal Agent Felix Stidger infiltrated a Confederate terrorist organization called The Sons of Liberty and revealed terror plots against strategic Union targets.
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Civil War Biological Warfare
Civil War Biological WarfareVideo Clip (3:56)
Video Clip (3:56)
Confederate agents experiment with an early version of bio-warfare, attempting to spread yellow fever throughout Northern cities.
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Confederate Bomb Plot
Confederate Bomb PlotVideo Clip (3:39)
Video Clip (3:39)
Confederate agents plot to bomb the White House with Lincoln and his cabinet inside to destabilize the Union's leadership during the Civil War.
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The Plot to Kill Jefferson Davis
The Plot to Kill Jefferson DavisVideo Clip (3:38)
Video Clip (3:38)
Union leaders hatch a conspiracy to assassinate Confederate President Jefferson Davis in an attempt to bring and end to the Civil War.
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Chamberlain Defends Little Round Top
Chamberlain Defends Little Round TopVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain and the 20th Maine Regiment make a daring downhill charge to defend Little Round Top at the Battle of Gettysburg.
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Robert E. Lee's Great Regret
Robert E. Lee's Great RegretVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
Biographer Liz Pryor reveals Robert E. Lee's greatest regret about his military career.
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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman and the Underground RailroadVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
Born a slave, Harriett Tubman became a famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.
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Frederick Douglass
Frederick DouglassVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
Find out how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery to become one of the most respected and effective abolitionist leaders.
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John Brown
John BrownVideo Clip (4:34)
Video Clip (4:34)
John Brown's failed attempt to loot the armory at Harper's Ferry sparks the beginning of abolition.
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Massachusetts 54th Regiment
Massachusetts 54th RegimentVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was one of the first official black units in the U.S. armed forces. Their courageous assault on Fort Wagner played a key role in bringing about an end to slavery.
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The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation ProclamationVideo Clip (2:14)
Video Clip (2:14)
Issued after the Union victory at Antietam, the Emancipation Proclamation had both moral and strategic implications for the ongoing Civil War.
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The Original Gettysburg Address
The Original Gettysburg AddressVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
Original or facsimile? The original Gettysburg Address bears creases in it it from when Abraham Lincoln placed it in his pocket.
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The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg AddressVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address is regarded as one of the most powerful and poignant speeches in American history.
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What was in Lincoln's Pockets?
What was in Lincoln's Pockets?Video Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
Ordinary items such as spectacles, a handkerchief and confederate cash were discovered inside the pockets of President Abraham Lincoln the night he was assassinated.
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Abraham Lincoln's Second Inaugural
Abraham Lincoln's Second InauguralVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
Lincoln's second inaugural address somberly intoned the sacrifices made to end slavery and preserve the Union while calling for mutual forgiveness between North and South as the work of rebuilding began.
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Abraham Lincoln's House Divided Speech
Abraham Lincoln's House Divided SpeechVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Abraham Lincoln's 1858 "House Divided" speech catapults him into the national consciousness with its bold moral assessment of the future of American slavery.
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Ulysses S. Grant's Near Miss
Ulysses S. Grant's Near MissVideo Clip (1:28)
Video Clip (1:28)
A descendant of Ulysses S. Grant reveals an historical near miss that could have changed history.
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The Path to Civil War
The Path to Civil WarVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
The election of Abraham Lincoln was a tipping point on the path to Civil War. In the wake of Southern secession, would the new president defend the U.S. forts in rebel territory?
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First Battle of Bull Run
First Battle of Bull RunVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
The first major land battle of the Civil War, near Manassas, Virginia is a decisive Confederate victory, ending hopes of a quick end to the conflict.
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Battle of Fredericksburg
Battle of FredericksburgVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
General Burnside takes Fredericksburg but experiences a disastrous defeat when attacking Confederate forces entrenched in the high ground above the town.
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Battle of Shiloh
Battle of ShilohVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
At Shiloh, Tennessee in April of 1862, a Confederate surprise attack backfires when the Union holds firm at the "Hornet's Nest."
American History (51)
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Presidential Fun Facts
Presidential Fun FactsVideo Clip (1:21)
Video Clip (1:21)
The Oval Office has been filled with extraordinary presidents, but did you know about these not-so-famous firsts?
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Ask HISTORY: Did Columbus Really Discover America?
Ask HISTORY: Did Columbus Really Discover America?Video Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
Did Columbus really discover America? Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Revolutionary War
Bet You Didn't Know: Revolutionary WarVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Did you know that Paul Revere didn't ride alone, and there were women on the Revolutionary War battlefields? Find out more about the war’s lesser-known patriots.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Founding Fathers
Bet You Didn't Know: Founding FathersVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Our Founding Fathers were responsible for a lot more than the Declaration of Independence. Find out more about their legacy of innovation.
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Deconstructing History: American Flag
Deconstructing History: American FlagVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Get all the facts and figures on "Old Glory."
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Deconstructing History: White House
Deconstructing History: White HouseVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
It may not have been home to the president until 1800 or even called the White House until 1901, but it remains a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Independence Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Independence DayVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
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American Revolution
American RevolutionVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Get the story of how a fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
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First Ladies
First LadiesVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
These U.S. first ladies made their mark during their stays at the White House.
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Deconstructing History: Mayflower
Deconstructing History: MayflowerVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
How many people were on the Mayflower? And how long did it take for them to get to Plymouth? Get the facts.
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Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
To many in the Continental Congress, war was unthinkable. So why did they finally create this revolutionary document?
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George Washington
George WashingtonVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?
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Boston Massacre
Boston MassacreVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Shots fired by British soldiers in the streets of Boston in 1770 would spark the American Revolution.
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Ask HISTORY: What was the first capital of the United States?
Ask HISTORY: What was the first capital of the United States?Video Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
What was America's first capital city? The answer might surprise you.
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Faces of America
Faces of AmericaVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Prominent Americans talk about what makes America unique.
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Pocahontas
PocahontasVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Learn the epic story of the famous Native American king's daughter as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Yorktown
YorktownVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
The British were forced to surrender 2 days after patriot soldiers captured the fort at Yorktown in 1781.
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American Buffalo
American BuffaloVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
The construction of the railroad led to the near-extinction of the buffalo, which had sustained native populations for centuries.
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Transcontinental Railroad
Transcontinental RailroadVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
Find out how the transcontinental railroad transformed America into one nation.
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Deconstructing History: Ellis Island
Deconstructing History: Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
For over 60 years, Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of Americans to the United States. Explore the legacy of this symbol of American immigration.
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Deconstructing History: Empire State Building
Deconstructing History: Empire State BuildingVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
The world-famous Empire State Building is a symbol of New York City and one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.
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Deconstructing History: Golden Gate Bridge
Deconstructing History: Golden Gate BridgeVideo Clip (3:23)
Video Clip (3:23)
Get the facts about one of the world's most beautiful bridges.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Prohibition
Bet You Didn't Know: ProhibitionVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Did you know it wasn't illegal to drink during Prohibition? Get the whole story behind the "noble experiment."
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Deconstructing History: Grand Canyon
Deconstructing History: Grand CanyonVideo Clip (1:37)
Video Clip (1:37)
Explore the geological history of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
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Deconstructing History: Grand Central Terminal
Deconstructing History: Grand Central TerminalVideo Clip (2:56)
Video Clip (2:56)
Grand Central Terminal is one of America's busiest train stations, with over 700,000 people passing through it every day. Find out more about this iconic landmark.
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Building the Erie Canal
Building the Erie CanalVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
Opened in 1825, the Erie Canal was one of the most extraordinary engineering feats of the 19th century, connecting eastern ports and manufacturing with the rest of the country.
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Deconstructing History: Alamo
Deconstructing History: AlamoVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
It has become the site and symbol of the battle for Texan independence, but there is much more to the story. Find out why Americans will always remember the Alamo.
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The Alamo
The AlamoVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
Find out why the battle of the Alamo still captures the imaginations of Americans after more than two centuries.
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America Divided
America DividedVideo Clip (3:54)
Video Clip (3:54)
America is at the brink of a Civil War as cotton spreads west and threatens to expand slavery into new territories.
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America and the Civil War
America and the Civil WarVideo Clip (4:04)
Video Clip (4:04)
Discover how the bloodiest war in American history transformed the face of the nation.
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John Brown
John BrownVideo Clip (4:34)
Video Clip (4:34)
John Brown's failed attempt to loot the armory at Harper's Ferry sparks the beginning of abolition.
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Deconstructing History: Hoover Dam
Deconstructing History: Hoover DamVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Did you know that the Hoover Dam supplies electricity to more than 20 million people? Get all the facts on this marvel of engineering.
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Frederick Douglass
Frederick DouglassVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
Find out how Frederick Douglass escaped from slavery to become one of the most respected and effective abolitionist leaders.
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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman and the Underground RailroadVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
Born a slave, Harriett Tubman became a famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.
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Gold Rush
Gold RushVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
Discover how the Gold Rush led to the creation of California.
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Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington
Bet You Didn't Know: March on WashingtonVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Find out how Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech became an impromptu addition to the March on Washington.
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Deconstructing History: Brooklyn Bridge
Deconstructing History: Brooklyn BridgeVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
One of New York’s most famous landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge transports 120,000 vehicles and 4,000 pedestrians every day.
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Deconstructing History: Mount Rushmore
Deconstructing History: Mount RushmoreVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore symbolizes freedom and hope for America. Get the facts about this national treasure.
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Andrew Carnegie
Andrew CarnegieVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
Meet Andrew Carnegie and find out how the wealthiest man of his day ended up giving away his vast fortune.
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The Last of the Sioux
The Last of the SiouxVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Resistant to government regulated reservations, the Sioux retreated into the Black Hills until a final massacre at Wounded Knee.
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Sitting Bull
Sitting BullVideo Clip (2:54)
Video Clip (2:54)
The tragic, yet true tale of Sitting Bull, the leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux tribe who led his people's resistance against the United States, sung by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Deconstructing History: Alcatraz
Deconstructing History: AlcatrazVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
Get all the facts and figures about the island of Alcatraz, commonly known as "The Rock".
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Black Gold
Black GoldVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
Spindletop, an east Texas oil Field, produced 80,000 barrels a day and changed the country and oil production forever.
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Dust Storms Strike America
Dust Storms Strike AmericaVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
Families were driven out of the once fertile Great Plains by massive dust clouds--one that rose to 10,000 feet and reached as far as New York City.
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Meet Madam CJ Walker
Meet Madam CJ WalkerVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
From her rough beginnings as an orphan, Madam CJ Walker went on to corner the market in black women's hair care and became the first self-made female millionaire.
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Deconstructing History: Statue of Liberty
Deconstructing History: Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
How many steps are there to the crown of the Statue of Liberty? Find out that and other facts and figures about America's most recognizable symbol of freedom.
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The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
What do the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty have in common?
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Mankind Decoded Sneak Peek
Mankind Decoded Sneak PeekVideo Clip (5:03)
Video Clip (5:03)
Check out a sneak peek of the upcoming series Mankind Decoded.
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D-Day
D-DayVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
On June 6, 1944, the Allies invade Western Europe in the largest amphibious attack in history.
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Cold War
Cold WarVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.
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Mankind in 2 Minutes
Mankind in 2 MinutesVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Experience the story of Mankind in 2 Minutes.
American Revolution (30)
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Bet You Didn't Know: Revolutionary War
Bet You Didn't Know: Revolutionary WarVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Did you know that Paul Revere didn't ride alone, and there were women on the Revolutionary War battlefields? Find out more about the war’s lesser-known patriots.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Founding Fathers
Bet You Didn't Know: Founding FathersVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Our Founding Fathers were responsible for a lot more than the Declaration of Independence. Find out more about their legacy of innovation.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Independence Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Independence DayVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
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Deconstructing History: American Flag
Deconstructing History: American FlagVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Get all the facts and figures on "Old Glory."
-
American Revolution
American RevolutionVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Get the story of how a fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
-
Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
To many in the Continental Congress, war was unthinkable. So why did they finally create this revolutionary document?
-
George Washington
George WashingtonVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?
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Boston Massacre
Boston MassacreVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Shots fired by British soldiers in the streets of Boston in 1770 would spark the American Revolution.
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Matt Damon: The Declaration of Independence
Matt Damon: The Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (2:02)
Video Clip (2:02)
Actor Matt Damon performs and discusses the Declaration of Independence.
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Yorktown
YorktownVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
The British were forced to surrender 2 days after patriot soldiers captured the fort at Yorktown in 1781.
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British Victory at Bunker Hill
British Victory at Bunker HillVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
A fatal lack of ammunition dooms the colonists chances in an early American Revolutionary battle near Boston.
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Washington Escapes Brooklyn
Washington Escapes BrooklynVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
As British General William Howe anticipates surrender, General Washington fleas across the East River under cover of darkness.
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Washington's Surprise Attack on Trenton
Washington's Surprise Attack on TrentonVideo Clip (1:40)
Video Clip (1:40)
By Christmas, 1777, in desperate need of a victory, Washington defies military convention with a nighttime assault in the dead of winter.
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Jefferson and the Continental Congress
Jefferson and the Continental CongressVideo Clip (3:33)
Video Clip (3:33)
Over 17 days, Thomas Jefferson writes what will become the mission statement for a revolution and a new nation: the Declaration of Independence.
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Colonists Protest British Policies
Colonists Protest British PoliciesVideo Clip (3:05)
Video Clip (3:05)
From the 1760's onward, colonial anger grows as the British pass a series of taxes and laws. With each one, the two groups move closer to war.
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The Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea Party
The Sons of Liberty and the Boston Tea PartyVideo Clip (1:52)
Video Clip (1:52)
In 1771, a group of colonists protest thirteen years of increasing British oppression, by attacking merchant ships in Boston Harbor. In retaliation, the British close the port, and inflict even harsher penalties.
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First Revolutionary Battle at Lexington & Concord
First Revolutionary Battle at Lexington & ConcordVideo Clip (1:58)
Video Clip (1:58)
In April 1775, when British troops are sent to confiscate colonial weapons, they run into an untrained and angry militia. This ragtag army defeats 700 British soldiers and the surprise victory bolsters their confidence for the war ahead.
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Jefferson Writes the Declaration of Independence
Jefferson Writes the Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
At 33, Thomas Jefferson wrote the original draft of America's historic Declaration of Independence, which was approved by the Continental Congress after several days of debate and revisions on July 4, 1776.
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Jefferson Challenges the King
Jefferson Challenges the KingVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
Thomas Jefferson is known for penning The Declaration of Independence, but some of his earlier writings establish the pattern of challenging the British monarchy.
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Battle of Saratoga Turns the Tide
Battle of Saratoga Turns the TideVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
In 1777, the colonists force the surrender of 6,000 British troops in New York State. This first major victory convinces France to enter the conflict on the Americans' side.
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American Victory at Yorktown
American Victory at YorktownVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
A two pronged attack by French & American forces defeats General Cornwallis in Virginia. Two years later, the Treaty of Paris will officially end the war
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Mutiny in Geroge Washington's Army
Mutiny in Geroge Washington's ArmyVideo Clip (2:02)
Video Clip (2:02)
Spoken word poet Staceyann Chin and actor Michael O'Malley read the words of Samuel DeWees, a soldier in Washington's army, as he tells the story of mutiny on the Pennsylvania line in 1781.
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John Adams: The Early Years
John Adams: The Early YearsVideo Clip (4:00)
Video Clip (4:00)
One of the most influential founding fathers of the United States, John Adams persuaded Congress to adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
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Political Career of President John Adams
Political Career of President John AdamsVideo Clip (4:23)
Video Clip (4:23)
Find out about John Adams' political career in the newly formed United States, from his vice presidency under George Washington to hi two terms as president.
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Thomas Jefferson Meets John Adams
Thomas Jefferson Meets John AdamsVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
An unlikely pair whose tumultuous friendship lasted half a century, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826, 50 years after signing the Declaration of Independence.
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Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812
Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812Video Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
Shortly after gaining its independence, the United States goes to war with England over its seizure of U.S. ships and sailors.
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George Washington's Greatest Challenges
George Washington's Greatest ChallengesVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
After George Washington took office on April 30, 1789, at Federal Hall in New York City, a variety of challenges, he was faced with a variety of tough challenges, both foreign and domestic.
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George Washington's Early Years
George Washington's Early YearsVideo Clip (1:47)
Video Clip (1:47)
George Washington was an ambitious young man who strove to refine his character.
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George Washington at Valley Forge
George Washington at Valley ForgeVideo Clip (2:14)
Video Clip (2:14)
General George Washington led a starving army in frigid conditions to victory at Valley Forge.
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History of the Fourth of July
History of the Fourth of JulyVideo Clip (2:44)
Video Clip (2:44)
Discover how and when Americans celebrated Independence Day in the past. Although Benjamin Franklin thought we'd celebrate the 2nd of July; the 4th of July is closest to our hearts.
Ancient History (30)
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Deconstructing History: Colosseum
Deconstructing History: ColosseumVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Completed in 80 A.D., Rome's Colosseum has been the site of celebrations, sporting events and bloodshed. Today, it's a major tourist attraction, playing host to 3.9 million visitors each year.
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The Aztecs
The AztecsVideo Clip (1:20)
Video Clip (1:20)
Though they could build complex suspension bridges, the Aztecs could not ward off diseases brought over by the Spanish.
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Deconstructing History: The Great Pyramid
Deconstructing History: The Great PyramidVideo Clip (1:31)
Video Clip (1:31)
Did you know that the Great Pyramid of Giza weighs 6.5 million tons? Get the facts on what makes this ancient wonder a true architectural marvel.
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The Mayans
The MayansVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
The growth of the great Mayan civilization is as much a mystery as its disappearance.
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The Fall of Rome
The Fall of RomeVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
Musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis sings about the factors that brought down an empire.
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Spartans
SpartansVideo Clip (2:13)
Video Clip (2:13)
They were fierce warriors who prized military strength, but they were also the world's first democracy.
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The Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian WarVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
Athens' military campaign against the Peloponnesian League that eventually ended the Greek Golden Age, as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Deconstructing History: Pompeii
Deconstructing History: PompeiiVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
It was nearly wiped out during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. What is left of this ancient city and will Vesuvius erupt again? Uncover the lost city of Pompeii.
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Deconstructing History: Spartans
Deconstructing History: SpartansVideo Clip (2:06)
Video Clip (2:06)
Ten-thousand strong, the Spartan army was highly skilled and technologically advanced for its time.
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Deconstructing History: The Acropolis
Deconstructing History: The AcropolisVideo Clip (2:36)
Video Clip (2:36)
Built over 2500 years ago, the Parthenon remains one of the most visited archeological sites in the world.
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Coroner's Report: King Tut
Coroner's Report: King TutVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
According to one theory, an accident caused the untimely death of teenage pharaoh King Tut. How might a broken leg have sent him to his tomb?
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Coroner's Report: Aztec Sacrifice
Coroner's Report: Aztec SacrificeVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
When Aztec priests made human sacrifices to their gods, they would tear out the victim's heart and hold it in the air. Would the heart really still be beating?
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Coroner's Report: Cleopatra
Coroner's Report: CleopatraVideo Clip (2:34)
Video Clip (2:34)
Legend has it that Cleopatra took her own life by succumbing willingly to the bite of a cobra. If this story is true, was suicide by snake venom an easy way to go, or did the last Egyptian pharaoh die in excruciating pain?
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Coroner's Report: Julius Caesar
Coroner's Report: Julius CaesarVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
The Roman leader Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a mob of mutinous senators in 44 B.C. Could he possibly have survived long enough to utter his famous last words?
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Coroner's Report: Pompeii
Coroner's Report: PompeiiVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. obliterated the Roman city of Pompeii, burying it under tons of volcanic ash. While many of its resident fled to safety, what happened to those who dared to stay behind?
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Aztec Encounter
Aztec EncounterVideo Clip (1:28)
Video Clip (1:28)
Cultures soon clash when Spaniards first encounter the Aztecs.
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Mayan Encounter
Mayan EncounterVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Two shipwrecked Spaniards are taken in by the Mayans and learn their way of life. One rejects it, but the other takes a more surprising path.
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Massive Stones Moved to Build Monuments
Massive Stones Moved to Build MonumentsVideo Clip (4:30)
Video Clip (4:30)
Ancient workers transported tons of stone for miles to build the great monuments of history.
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Rapa Nui of Easter Island
Rapa Nui of Easter IslandVideo Clip (4:05)
Video Clip (4:05)
Fin out more about the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island and the mysterious stone Maoi that dot the island.
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Engineering the Taj Mahal
Engineering the Taj MahalVideo Clip (3:52)
Video Clip (3:52)
The Taj Mahal is a marvel of engineering that was built as a mausoleum for the wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.
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Builders of China's Great Wall
Builders of China's Great WallVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
The Great Wall of China was constructed over several centuries and claimed the lives of thousands of builders.
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Land of Odysseus
Land of OdysseusVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
Where did Odysseus, the hero of Homer's epic poem The Odyssey, call home?
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Odysseus' Ship
Odysseus' ShipVideo Clip (2:34)
Video Clip (2:34)
In 1988, scientists discovered an ancient ship that may have been sailed by Odysseus, Homer's legendary Greek King.
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The Story of Medusa
The Story of MedusaVideo Clip (5:02)
Video Clip (5:02)
Once a beautiful priestess to Athena, the Greek Goddess of war, Medusa is transformed into a hideous monster after she falls victim to a crime.
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The Cult of Hades
The Cult of HadesVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
Followers of Hades, the Greek god of the Underworld, are believed to have worshipped at a cave site at Eleusis, Greece.
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Origins of the Minotaur
Origins of the MinotaurVideo Clip (2:36)
Video Clip (2:36)
As an act of punishment, the god Poseidon curses Crete's King Minos with a son who is half man, half bull.
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Labyrinth of the Minotaur
Labyrinth of the MinotaurVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
Some believe an underground site on the island of Crete was the labyrinth of the Minotaur, Greek mythology's vicious half-man, half-beast creature.
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Zeus and the Great Flood
Zeus and the Great FloodVideo Clip (2:32)
Video Clip (2:32)
When natural disasters struck, the ancient Greeks believed that Zeus, their god of all gods, showing anger and displeasure.
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Hercules and the 12 Labors
Hercules and the 12 LaborsVideo Clip (3:55)
Video Clip (3:55)
The tale of the mighty Hercules, son of Zeus, atoning for the murder of his family by undertaking 12 impossible tasks.
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Mysteries of Ancient Construction
Mysteries of Ancient ConstructionVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
Ancient Astronaut theorists believe that ancient man may have had extra-terrestrial help to build colossal structures like Stonehenge.
Berlin Wall (5)
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Deconstructing History: Berlin Wall
Deconstructing History: Berlin WallVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
For 30 years, the Berlin Wall was the defining symbol of the Cold War, separating families and keeping the people from jobs and opportunity in the west.
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Cold War
Cold WarVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.
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JFK: A New Generation
JFK: A New GenerationVideo Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America.
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The Great Communicator
The Great CommunicatorVideo Clip (4:18)
Video Clip (4:18)
Ronald Reagan galvanized the American public through his famous speeches that helped redefine American politics in the 1980s.
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Reagan Meets Gorbachev
Reagan Meets GorbachevVideo Clip (4:46)
Video Clip (4:46)
See President Ronald Reagan meet Mikail Gorbachev, set to "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour.
Bet You Didn't Know (17)
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Bet You Didn't Know: March on Washington
Bet You Didn't Know: March on WashingtonVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Find out how Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech became an impromptu addition to the March on Washington.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Prohibition
Bet You Didn't Know: ProhibitionVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Did you know it wasn't illegal to drink during Prohibition? Get the whole story behind the "noble experiment."
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Bet You Didn't Know: Easter Traditions
Bet You Didn't Know: Easter TraditionsVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
How did Easter traditions like the Easter bunny and egg hunts become part of the holiday celebration?
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Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa Parks
Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa ParksVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
Did you know Rosa Parks wasn't the first African-American woman to refuse to give up her seat? Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Vikings
Bet You Didn't Know: VikingsVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
There's a lot more to these seafaring warriors than their famous longships. Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Pirates
Bet You Didn't Know: PiratesVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
There's more to pirates than parrots and plank-walking. Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: St. Patrick's Day
Bet You Didn't Know: St. Patrick's DayVideo Clip (2:24)
Video Clip (2:24)
Get the real story about this beloved Irish holiday and the patron saint it's named after.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Founding Fathers
Bet You Didn't Know: Founding FathersVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Our Founding Fathers were responsible for a lot more than the Declaration of Independence. Find out more about their legacy of innovation.
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Bet You Didn't Know: London
Bet You Didn't Know: LondonVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
Once the largest empire in the world, London continues to top the charts in everything from finance to tourism.
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Bet You Didn't Know: New Year's Eve
Bet You Didn't Know: New Year's EveVideo Clip (2:24)
Video Clip (2:24)
Did you know that New Year's has not always been celebrated on January 1? Get the full story.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Christmas
Bet You Didn't Know: ChristmasVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
Did you know Christmas wasn't always celebrated on December 25th? Get the whole story behind the holiday.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Thanksgiving
Bet You Didn't Know: ThanksgivingVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Find out which traditional recipes weren't served at the first Thanksgiving celebration.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Veterans Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Veterans DayVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
Do you know why Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th every year? Get the whole story behind the holiday.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Witches
Bet You Didn't Know: WitchesVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Get the real story behind witches, their hats and why they are said to ride on brooms.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Halloween
Bet You Didn't Know: HalloweenVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
It's one of America's favorite holidays, but what's the real story behind the tricks and treats of Halloween?
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Bet You Didn't Know: London Landmarks
Bet You Didn't Know: London LandmarksVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
Get all the facts on London's most iconic landmarks.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Independence Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Independence DayVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
British History (34)
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Bet You Didn't Know: London
Bet You Didn't Know: LondonVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
Once the largest empire in the world, London continues to top the charts in everything from finance to tourism.
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Deconstructing History: Big Ben
Deconstructing History: Big BenVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Did you know that Big Ben is the main bell inside London's famous clock tower, not the tower itself? Find out more about one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
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Deconstructing History: Buckingham Palace
Deconstructing History: Buckingham PalaceVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Did you know that Buckingham Palace has a helipad and a lake? Get the facts and history behind the Queen's official London residence.
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Bet You Didn't Know: London Landmarks
Bet You Didn't Know: London LandmarksVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
Get all the facts on London's most iconic landmarks.
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Henry VIII
Henry VIIIVideo Clip (2:04)
Video Clip (2:04)
You know he had six wives, but there was a lot more to this famous king.
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British Royal Weddings
British Royal WeddingsVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
The weddings of the House of Windsor have captivated worldwide attention throughout the 20th Century and into the 21st, from Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip to Prince William and Catherine Middleton.
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Jack The Ripper
Jack The RipperVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Who was Jack the Ripper? Various theories about his -- or her -- identity have circulated for decades.
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Deconstructing History: Titanic
Deconstructing History: TitanicVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Everyone knows the Titanic was big, and we have the hard numbers to prove it. Discover what made it a supersized ship.
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History Rewind: The Royal Wedding 1981
History Rewind: The Royal Wedding 1981Video Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Rewind Breaking News The History Channel: British Movietone covers one of the most famous weddings in history: the marriage of Prince Charles of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. This video clip is courtesy of The History Channel.
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Coroner's Report: Plague
Coroner's Report: PlagueVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
In the 14th century, a devastating plague known as the Black Death claimed an estimated 75 million lives. How did the people who contracted it know their luck had run out?
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On the Road with Libby O'Connell: The Star Tavern, London
On the Road with Libby O'Connell: The Star Tavern, LondonVideo Clip (1:30)
Video Clip (1:30)
Libby O'Connell explores a London pub that served as the meeting place for the conspirators who pulled off one of England's biggest heists.
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The Battle of Sterling Bridge
The Battle of Sterling BridgeVideo Clip (3:34)
Video Clip (3:34)
Braveheart used his knowledge of the countryside to defeat the British at Sterling Bridge.
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Braveheart Attacks Lockleven Castle
Braveheart Attacks Lockleven CastleVideo Clip (2:32)
Video Clip (2:32)
Discover the story of how Braveheart and the Scottish army stormed Lockleven Castle in an effort to expel the English from Scotland.
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The English Reformation
The English ReformationVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
Henry VIII's marital problems lead to a break with the Catholic Church and decades of conflict as England becomes a Protestant nation.
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The Myth of King Arthur
The Myth of King ArthurVideo Clip (2:49)
Video Clip (2:49)
The Saxons continue to capture lands of the British aristocracy. During this time a prince emerges from the British. His name is Arthur, and Camelot begins.
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Deconstructing History: Mayflower
Deconstructing History: MayflowerVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
How many people were on the Mayflower? And how long did it take for them to get to Plymouth? Get the facts.
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Coroner's Report: Titanic
Coroner's Report: TitanicVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
When the "unsinkable" ocean liner Titanic was lost after hitting an iceberg on April 15, 1912, lifeboats saved only 700 of her passengers. What did the 1,500 people who went down with the ship experience in the icy waters of the North Atlantic?
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Steam Engine Drives a Revolution
Steam Engine Drives a RevolutionVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
The steam engine revolutionized the world of transportation. Was the invention really inspired by a boiling kettle? Get the real story.
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Colonists Protest British Policies
Colonists Protest British PoliciesVideo Clip (3:05)
Video Clip (3:05)
From the 1760's onward, colonial anger grows as the British pass a series of taxes and laws. With each one, the two groups move closer to war.
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Isaac Newton and a Scientific Revolution
Isaac Newton and a Scientific RevolutionVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
The Protestant Reformation encourages both religious and scientific thought.
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The Industrial Revolution
The Industrial RevolutionVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Beginning in the 19th century, advances in manufacturing revolutionize the American way of life.
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WWI Firsts
WWI FirstsVideo Clip (1:18)
Video Clip (1:18)
WWI may have been the war to end all wars, but it was also the beginning of many military and civilian technologies.
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American Revolution
American RevolutionVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Get the story of how a fledgling, largely disconnected nation won its freedom from the greatest military force of its time.
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The Value of Tobacco
The Value of TobaccoVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Tobacco was the lifeblood of the early Southern colonies, and its profits led directly to the rapid growth of slavery in the new nation.
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1916 Battle of the Somme
1916 Battle of the SommeVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
After two years of trench warfare, the Allies attempt to break through German lines on the Western Front. The ensuing battle will last for months and result in more than one million casualties.
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Alfred the Great
Alfred the GreatVideo Clip (3:46)
Video Clip (3:46)
Find out how Alfred the Great defeated Viking invaders and united the Saxon people.
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The Mayflower
The MayflowerVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
From the Pilgrims' reasons for leaving Europe to the treacherous journey across the Atlantic, musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis puts to song the story of the Mayflower.
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Life in Jamestown
Life in JamestownVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
Find out what it took to be a settler in the early-American colony of Jamestown.
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Death at Jamestown
Death at JamestownVideo Clip (1:07)
Video Clip (1:07)
English settlers arrived at Jamestown expecting riches to fall into their hands, but were soon faced with a much harsher reality.
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History Rewind: Coronation of Elizabeth II, 1953
History Rewind: Coronation of Elizabeth II, 1953Video Clip (3:13)
Video Clip (3:13)
In a History Rewind video, on Coronation Day, a glittering spectacle in London is witnesses by millions. In the procession, Britain's prime minister Sir Winston Churchill is present, having served five monarchs.
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Trench Warfare
Trench WarfareVideo Clip (1:14)
Video Clip (1:14)
Although best known for its role in the long slog of World War I, trench warfare actually got its start on the battlefields of the American Civil War. Find out how new weapons and technology played a part in both its development and destruction.
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Allies Launch Disastrous Attack at Gallipoli
Allies Launch Disastrous Attack at GallipoliVideo Clip (1:39)
Video Clip (1:39)
An ill-fated assault on Turkish forces leads to 500,000 casualties in World War I.
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Body Snatching in London
Body Snatching in LondonVideo Clip (2:34)
Video Clip (2:34)
Don Wildman explores the black market of body snatching in Victorian London.
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North Africa Campaign
North Africa CampaignVideo Clip (1:41)
Video Clip (1:41)
After Italy declares war, the Allies fight the Axis powers in North Africa for control of the Mediterranean.
Cold War (27)
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Cold War
Cold WarVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
The Cold War is over, but what it left behind may surprise you.
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Deconstructing History: Berlin Wall
Deconstructing History: Berlin WallVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
For 30 years, the Berlin Wall was the defining symbol of the Cold War, separating families and keeping the people from jobs and opportunity in the west.
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Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile CrisisVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
Get the story of the dramatic face-off that nearly ended in nuclear war, as told by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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Manhattan Project
Manhattan ProjectVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
Explore the top-secret American project to build the world's first atomic bomb.
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JFK: A New Generation
JFK: A New GenerationVideo Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America.
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The Space Race
The Space RaceVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
The U.S. competition with the U.S.S.R. for technological dominance spurred the U.S. on to the first-ever landing on the Moon.
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The Great Communicator
The Great CommunicatorVideo Clip (4:18)
Video Clip (4:18)
Ronald Reagan galvanized the American public through his famous speeches that helped redefine American politics in the 1980s.
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Vietnam
VietnamVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
Whether they volunteered or were drafted, 1 out of 10 soldiers did not survive Vietnam.
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Ask Steve: The Space Program
Ask Steve: The Space ProgramVideo Clip (1:34)
Video Clip (1:34)
In this video clip from Ask Steve, the reason for Americans interest in the Space Program was explored. It is explained that competition, and the technological wonder of the space race were some of the reasons for the Americans interest.
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The Road to War
The Road to WarVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
Over 25 years, the Vietnam conflict escalated from an attempt to stop the spread of communism into a full-scale war.
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Satellites: Invention of War
Satellites: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
Sputnik was the first satellite to orbit Earth, but satellites that produced changes in the way we explore our planet came from American optics. Find out more.
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Gerald Ford: Cold War vs. War on Terror
Gerald Ford: Cold War vs. War on TerrorVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
Watch this interview clip of former U.S. President, Gerald Ford, about his views on war and President Bush. He claims President Bush has many more difficult decisions to make than he did while he was in office.
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Joseph Stalin
Joseph StalinVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
For nearly 30 years, the Soviet Union is controlled by this ruthless tyrant, who sends millions to their death.
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Soviet Submarine Bases
Soviet Submarine BasesVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
Don Wildman explores a former submarine maintainence and weapons factory utilized during the Cold War.
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Space: JFK's New Frontier
Space: JFK's New FrontierVideo Clip (3:55)
Video Clip (3:55)
On February 20, 1962, Colonel John Glenn became the first human to orbit the earth, launching the manned space program.
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Space Race: Cold War Front
Space Race: Cold War FrontVideo Clip (4:21)
Video Clip (4:21)
A brief look at the Space Race, set to "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf.
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Cities of the Underworld 3: Stalin's Communications Bunker
Cities of the Underworld 3: Stalin's Communications BunkerVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
Don Wildman shows us a top secret military bunker built under Stalin's orders in 1952.
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JFK Sets Goal for Man on Moon
JFK Sets Goal for Man on MoonVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
John F. Kennedy's sets the goal of the United States to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
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Arthur Wiknik
Arthur WiknikVideo Clip (3:42)
Video Clip (3:42)
As an 18-year-old draftee, Arthur Wiknik was rushed through officer candidate's school. After one month in Vietnam he found himself in the middle of the battle of "Hamburger Hill"--one of the most notorious battles of the war.
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Nixon: Communism within the U.S.
Nixon: Communism within the U.S.Video Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
The Cold War was a serious issue that engulfed the United States. Coupled with this war was the fear of communism in the United States. This fear became a central issue between Kennedy and Nixon. Hear their debate in this History Channel video.
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Kennedy: Communism within the U.S.
Kennedy: Communism within the U.S.Video Clip (0:50)
Video Clip (0:50)
Senator John F. Kennedy talks about the internal threat that communism poses to national security. Kennedy describes that these internal factions are serious and should be taken care of by supporting laws that the U.S. has already passed.
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Bob Clewell
Bob ClewellVideo Clip (3:35)
Video Clip (3:35)
Bob Clewell dropped out of college to join the Army, and arrive in Vietnam just weeks after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. During his third tour, he was trained as a helicopter pilot, providing air support for ground troops during the Lam Son 719 offensive.
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Keith Connolly
Keith ConnollyVideo Clip (4:31)
Video Clip (4:31)
Air Force pilot Keith Connolly was among the first USAF units to be stationed within South Vietnam. During his second tour, he flew F-4 Phantoms targeting the Ho Chi Minh Trail and witnessed two of his men go missing after his plane had been hit.
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Kennedy Responds to Berlin Wall
Kennedy Responds to Berlin WallVideo Clip (3:05)
Video Clip (3:05)
President Kennedy's diplomatic resolve was tested as tension mounted at the Berlin wall.
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Reagan Meets Gorbachev
Reagan Meets GorbachevVideo Clip (4:46)
Video Clip (4:46)
See President Ronald Reagan meet Mikail Gorbachev, set to "Cult of Personality" by Living Colour.
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Gery Benedetti
Gery BenedettiVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Gery Benedetti was a member of the "Brown Water River Rats," whose missions were a crucial but dangerous component of the American combat operation in Vietnam.
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History Rewind: Chimp In Space
History Rewind: Chimp In SpaceVideo Clip (1:53)
Video Clip (1:53)
Rewind Breaking News The History Channel: This is the story of Ham, the first hominid to be launched into space. Ham the chimp is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in a Project Mercury Redstone rocket.
Coroner's Report (13)
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Coroner's Report: Cleopatra
Coroner's Report: CleopatraVideo Clip (2:34)
Video Clip (2:34)
Legend has it that Cleopatra took her own life by succumbing willingly to the bite of a cobra. If this story is true, was suicide by snake venom an easy way to go, or did the last Egyptian pharaoh die in excruciating pain?
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Coroner's Report: Titanic
Coroner's Report: TitanicVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
When the "unsinkable" ocean liner Titanic was lost after hitting an iceberg on April 15, 1912, lifeboats saved only 700 of her passengers. What did the 1,500 people who went down with the ship experience in the icy waters of the North Atlantic?
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Coroner's Report: Stonewall Jackson
Coroner's Report: Stonewall JacksonVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
The Confederate general Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by his own men during a major Civil War battle, but it wasn't his wounds that killed him eight days later. How exactly did the commander die?
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Coroner's Report: Seppuku
Coroner's Report: SeppukuVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Seppuku was a ritual form of suicide used by samurai warriors to avoid surrender or atone for a shameful act. What were their painful final moments really like?
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Coroner's Report: Aztec Sacrifice
Coroner's Report: Aztec SacrificeVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
When Aztec priests made human sacrifices to their gods, they would tear out the victim's heart and hold it in the air. Would the heart really still be beating?
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Coroner's Report: Guillotine
Coroner's Report: GuillotineVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
The guillotine, the notorious killing machine of the French Revolution, was used to behead thousands, including King Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette. Why was it a humane form of execution for its time, and did victims' brains continue functioning after decapitation?
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Coroner's Report: Julius Caesar
Coroner's Report: Julius CaesarVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
The Roman leader Julius Caesar was stabbed 23 times by a mob of mutinous senators in 44 B.C. Could he possibly have survived long enough to utter his famous last words?
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Coroner's Report: Hanging
Coroner's Report: HangingVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
One of the oldest forms of capital punishment, hanging kills--but not the way most people think. What makes the dreaded hangman's noose so lethal?
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Coroner's Report: Al Capone
Coroner's Report: Al CaponeVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Al Capone survived assassination attempts, brutal gang wars and an attack by a fellow inmate at Alcatraz. How did unprotected sex finally take down one of history's most notorious gangsters?
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Coroner's Report: Plague
Coroner's Report: PlagueVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
In the 14th century, a devastating plague known as the Black Death claimed an estimated 75 million lives. How did the people who contracted it know their luck had run out?
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Coroner's Report: Pompeii
Coroner's Report: PompeiiVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. obliterated the Roman city of Pompeii, burying it under tons of volcanic ash. While many of its resident fled to safety, what happened to those who dared to stay behind?
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Coroner's Report: Atomic Bomb
Coroner's Report: Atomic BombVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What happened to people on the fringes of the blasts?
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Coroner's Report: King Tut
Coroner's Report: King TutVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
According to one theory, an accident caused the untimely death of teenage pharaoh King Tut. How might a broken leg have sent him to his tomb?
Deconstructing History (36)
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Deconstructing History: Brooklyn Bridge
Deconstructing History: Brooklyn BridgeVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
One of New York’s most famous landmarks, the Brooklyn Bridge transports 120,000 vehicles and 4,000 pedestrians every day.
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Deconstructing History: Grand Canyon
Deconstructing History: Grand CanyonVideo Clip (1:37)
Video Clip (1:37)
Explore the geological history of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
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Deconstructing History: The Pentagon
Deconstructing History: The PentagonVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
With 17.5 miles of corridors and a total floor area of 6.6 million square feet, the Pentagon is a military complex like no other.
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Deconstructing History: The Vatican
Deconstructing History: The VaticanVideo Clip (1:53)
Video Clip (1:53)
Did you know the Vatican is the smallest nation-state in the world? Get all the facts and figures.
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Deconstructing History: Grand Central Terminal
Deconstructing History: Grand Central TerminalVideo Clip (2:56)
Video Clip (2:56)
Grand Central Terminal is one of America's busiest train stations, with over 700,000 people passing through it every day. Find out more about this iconic landmark.
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Deconstructing History: American Flag
Deconstructing History: American FlagVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Get all the facts and figures on "Old Glory."
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Deconstructing History: Empire State Building
Deconstructing History: Empire State BuildingVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
The world-famous Empire State Building is a symbol of New York City and one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.
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Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's CathedralVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Get the facts on this iconic New York City landmark.
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Deconstructing History: Ireland
Deconstructing History: IrelandVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
From Ireland's national symbol to its average beer consumption, get the facts on the Emerald Isle.
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Deconstructing History: White House
Deconstructing History: White HouseVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
It may not have been home to the president until 1800 or even called the White House until 1901, but it remains a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
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Deconstructing History: Buckingham Palace
Deconstructing History: Buckingham PalaceVideo Clip (2:46)
Video Clip (2:46)
Did you know that Buckingham Palace has a helipad and a lake? Get the facts and history behind the Queen's official London residence.
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Deconstructing History: Taj Mahal
Deconstructing History: Taj MahalVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Originally built by Emperor Shah Jahan to house the tomb his wife, the Taj Mahal remains an architectural marvel of the modern world.
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Deconstructing History: Big Ben
Deconstructing History: Big BenVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Did you know that Big Ben is the main bell inside London's famous clock tower, not the tower itself? Find out more about one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
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Deconstructing History: Ellis Island
Deconstructing History: Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
For over 60 years, Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of Americans to the United States. Explore the legacy of this symbol of American immigration.
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Deconstructing History: Golden Gate Bridge
Deconstructing History: Golden Gate BridgeVideo Clip (3:23)
Video Clip (3:23)
Get the facts about one of the world's most beautiful bridges.
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Deconstructing History: Great Wall of China
Deconstructing History: Great Wall of ChinaVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
It took millennia to build, but today the Great Wall of China stands out as one of the world's most famous landmarks.
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Deconstructing History: Hoover Dam
Deconstructing History: Hoover DamVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Did you know that the Hoover Dam supplies electricity to more than 20 million people? Get all the facts on this marvel of engineering.
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Deconstructing History: Eiffel Tower
Deconstructing History: Eiffel TowerVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Originally intended as a temporary installation, the Eiffel Tower has become one of the most enduring symbols of France and the industrial age.
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Deconstructing History: North Pole
Deconstructing History: North PoleVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
Ever wonder how many miles it is from the North Pole to the South Pole? Take a journey to the northernmost point on earth to uncover this and other facts and figures of the Far North.
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Deconstructing History: Statue of Liberty
Deconstructing History: Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
How many steps are there to the crown of the Statue of Liberty? Find out that and other facts and figures about America's most recognizable symbol of freedom.
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Deconstructing History: Titanic
Deconstructing History: TitanicVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Everyone knows the Titanic was big, and we have the hard numbers to prove it. Discover what made it a supersized ship.
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Deconstructing History: Samurai
Deconstructing History: SamuraiVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
The Samurai were fearsome warriors whose traditions of honor and discipline live on in the study of jujitsu and kendo today.
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Deconstructing History: Tyrannosaurus Rex
Deconstructing History: Tyrannosaurus RexVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Known as the "king of the tyrant lizards," T-Rex was one of the largest carnivores of all time.
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Deconstructing History: Berlin Wall
Deconstructing History: Berlin WallVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
For 30 years, the Berlin Wall was the defining symbol of the Cold War, separating families and keeping the people from jobs and opportunity in the west.
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Deconstructing History: Alamo
Deconstructing History: AlamoVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
It has become the site and symbol of the battle for Texan independence, but there is much more to the story. Find out why Americans will always remember the Alamo.
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Deconstructing History: Colosseum
Deconstructing History: ColosseumVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Completed in 80 A.D., Rome's Colosseum has been the site of celebrations, sporting events and bloodshed. Today, it's a major tourist attraction, playing host to 3.9 million visitors each year.
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Deconstructing History: Mayflower
Deconstructing History: MayflowerVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
How many people were on the Mayflower? And how long did it take for them to get to Plymouth? Get the facts.
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Deconstructing History: Mount Rushmore
Deconstructing History: Mount RushmoreVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore symbolizes freedom and hope for America. Get the facts about this national treasure.
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Deconstructing History: Pompeii
Deconstructing History: PompeiiVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
It was nearly wiped out during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. What is left of this ancient city and will Vesuvius erupt again? Uncover the lost city of Pompeii.
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Deconstructing History: Spartans
Deconstructing History: SpartansVideo Clip (2:06)
Video Clip (2:06)
Ten-thousand strong, the Spartan army was highly skilled and technologically advanced for its time.
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Deconstructing History: The Great Pyramid
Deconstructing History: The Great PyramidVideo Clip (1:31)
Video Clip (1:31)
Did you know that the Great Pyramid of Giza weighs 6.5 million tons? Get the facts on what makes this ancient wonder a true architectural marvel.
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Deconstructing History: The Acropolis
Deconstructing History: The AcropolisVideo Clip (2:36)
Video Clip (2:36)
Built over 2500 years ago, the Parthenon remains one of the most visited archeological sites in the world.
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Deconstructing History: Aircraft Carriers in Vietnam
Deconstructing History: Aircraft Carriers in VietnamVideo Clip (1:31)
Video Clip (1:31)
U.S. forces relied heavily on aircraft carriers during the Vietnam War to assist in the air war strategy.
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Deconstructing History: Huey Helicopters in Vietnam
Deconstructing History: Huey Helicopters in VietnamVideo Clip (1:30)
Video Clip (1:30)
The UH-1 "Huey" helicopter became a symbol of U.S. combat forces in Vietnam.
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Deconstructing History: Cu Chi Tunnels
Deconstructing History: Cu Chi TunnelsVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
Find out more about the elaborate network of underground tunnels used as hideouts, living quarters and supply routes for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.
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Deconstructing History: Vietnam
Deconstructing History: VietnamVideo Clip (1:30)
Video Clip (1:30)
Discover facts, figures and history about Vietnam.
First Ladies (15)
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First Ladies
First LadiesVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
These U.S. first ladies made their mark during their stays at the White House.
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Jackie Kennedy: Queen of Camelot
Jackie Kennedy: Queen of CamelotVideo Clip (2:42)
Video Clip (2:42)
Jackie Kennedy epitomized the youth and glamour of the Kennedy family.
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Deconstructing History: White House
Deconstructing History: White HouseVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
It may not have been home to the president until 1800 or even called the White House until 1901, but it remains a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
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Dolley Madison Saves Washington's Portrait
Dolley Madison Saves Washington's PortraitVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
Hear the tale of how first lady Dolley Madison risked her life to save George Washington's portrait from a fiery fate as British troops approached the White House.
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Romance of John and Abigail Adams
Romance of John and Abigail AdamsVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Watch the budding relationship between John Adams and Abigail Smith.
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White House Christmas
White House ChristmasVideo Clip (0:45)
Video Clip (0:45)
Lyndon and Ladybird Johnson celebrate Christmas morning at the White House in 1968.
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Ladybird Johnson Enjoys White House Fair
Ladybird Johnson Enjoys White House FairVideo Clip (0:50)
Video Clip (0:50)
In a History Uncut video, see footage of President Lyndon B. Johnson's wife, Ladybird Johnson, enjoying herself at a fair at the White House in 1967.
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JFK and Jackie Wed
JFK and Jackie WedVideo Clip (0:47)
Video Clip (0:47)
A newsreel from 1953 reports on the marriage of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier.
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Lincoln the Commander in Chief
Lincoln the Commander in ChiefVideo Clip (4:56)
Video Clip (4:56)
After the Civil War, President Lincoln consoles a nation in mourning, often writing personal letters of condolence to the families of fallen Union soldiers.
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Abraham Lincoln's Family Life
Abraham Lincoln's Family LifeVideo Clip (4:13)
Video Clip (4:13)
Abraham Lincoln was an unlikely family man, but marriage and fatherhood helped him lead the nation through crisis.
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Veterans Day: The First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden
Veterans Day: The First Lady and Dr. Jill BidenVideo Clip (0:30)
Video Clip (0:30)
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden tell us about supporting veterans on Veterans Day.
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History Uncut: Ladybird Johnson
History Uncut: Ladybird JohnsonVideo Clip (0:49)
Video Clip (0:49)
See footage of former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson at the White House Fair in this video clip form 'History Uncut'.
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Betty Ford Recalls Intervention
Betty Ford Recalls InterventionVideo Clip (1:53)
Video Clip (1:53)
Betty Ford on her success on being sober.
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History Uncut: Lyndon and Ladybird Xmas Morning 1968
History Uncut: Lyndon and Ladybird Xmas Morning 1968Video Clip (0:44)
Video Clip (0:44)
Spend Christmas morning at the White House with President Lyndon Johnson and his wife Lady Bird in this video clip from 'History Uncut'.
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Hillary Makes History
Hillary Makes HistoryVideo Clip (3:40)
Video Clip (3:40)
On Path to the Podium, we hear about Hillary Clinton's life. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended Wellesley College. While there she was an active Republican, but that changed after the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War.
Great and Telling Tales (11)
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Dinosaurs
DinosaursVideo Clip (1:13)
Video Clip (1:13)
Timothy Dickinson shares with us his ideas on the concept of dinosaurs throughout the history of society.
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Rasputin
RasputinVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about the life and death of the famous Russian mystic Rasputin.
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Halloween's Origins
Halloween's OriginsVideo Clip (1:12)
Video Clip (1:12)
Timothy Dickinson gives his take on one of our most popular holidays.
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Jimmy Carter vs. 'Killer Rabbit'
Jimmy Carter vs. 'Killer Rabbit'Video Clip (1:03)
Video Clip (1:03)
Timothy Dickinson tells us the story of Jimmy Carter vs the killer rabbit.
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Drugs
DrugsVideo Clip (1:07)
Video Clip (1:07)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about the history of drugs.
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Gerald Ford Embraces Chicken
Gerald Ford Embraces ChickenVideo Clip (1:11)
Video Clip (1:11)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about Gerald Ford and the Chicken.
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A Golden Age?
A Golden Age?Video Clip (1:05)
Video Clip (1:05)
Timothy Dickinson sets us straight about what life was really like during most of human history.
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Death of President Garfield
Death of President GarfieldVideo Clip (1:03)
Video Clip (1:03)
Timothy Dickinson tells the story of President Garfield's untimely death.
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The Moon Hoax
The Moon HoaxVideo Clip (1:01)
Video Clip (1:01)
The moon was once believed to be inhabited by winged human beings and bouncing creatures. Timothy Dickinson tells us where this myth came from.
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Charles Darwin
Charles DarwinVideo Clip (1:21)
Video Clip (1:21)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about Charles Darwin and the depth of the human past.
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The Brain
The BrainVideo Clip (1:12)
Video Clip (1:12)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about the function of the brain.
Hidden History (12)
- Hidden History: Federal Hall Video Clip (2:16)
- Hidden History: Foley Square Video Clip (2:33)
- Hidden History: Grand Central Clock Video Clip (1:48)
- Hidden History: Grand Central Terminal Video Clip (1:26)
- Hidden History: Grand Central Underground Video Clip (1:52)
- Hidden History: Madison Square Park Video Clip (1:42)
- Hidden History: Park Avenue Video Clip (2:00)
- Hidden History: Pier 54 Video Clip (2:16)
- Hidden History: Turtle Bay Video Clip (2:02)
- Hidden History: Union Square Video Clip (2:11)
- Hidden History: Wall Street Video Clip (2:32)
- Hidden History: Washington Square Park Video Clip (2:15)
HISTORY Film Corps (22)
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Airmobile Cavalry
Airmobile CavalryVideo Clip (4:43)
Video Clip (4:43)
Two Vietnam veterans, Pete Henry and Jim Harris, reunite to watch the films of their experimental mission to airlift medium artillery into battle.
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Tank Platoon Leader
Tank Platoon LeaderVideo Clip (4:25)
Video Clip (4:25)
A curious daughter, Stacy Houston, views the films of her Vietnam veteran father, Skip Weber, and his tank platoon for the very first time.
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Phantom Pilot
Phantom PilotVideo Clip (4:51)
Video Clip (4:51)
Steve Conley seeks to honor his father's legacy by preserving the films he left behind of his time as an F-4 Phantom pilot in Vietnam.
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Combat Cameraman
Combat CameramanVideo Clip (5:08)
Video Clip (5:08)
A son learns about the trials of war through the films his father, Frank Lee, shot as a combat cameraman in Vietnam.
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Vietnam Homecoming
Vietnam HomecomingVideo Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
Though shunned by some, Vietnam veteran Sonny Silva was embraced by his family upon his return from the war, and his father captured it all on film.
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The Seawolves
The SeawolvesVideo Clip (4:56)
Video Clip (4:56)
A surprise phone call reunites two Vietnam war veterans, George Heady and Al Billings, with films of their service in the Navy Seawolves helicopter unit.
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War Photographer
War PhotographerVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Albert Fagler's grandfather was an Army Air Corps photographer during WWII and left behind film reels featuring dogfights and his own wedding.
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World War II Medic
World War II MedicVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
Michael Curry's grandfather was a medic during World War II and left behind meticulous notes to guide Michael through the films of his war experience.
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Women in the Cockpit
Women in the CockpitVideo Clip (3:52)
Video Clip (3:52)
Dawn Letson befriended a World War II veteran who was a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and shares her films from WASP training camp.
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MacArthur and Me
MacArthur and MeVideo Clip (3:44)
Video Clip (3:44)
Judy Kent's neighbor, George Dibbs, was a combat photographer follwing General MacArthur during WWII and shared his films with her.
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Motorcycle MP
Motorcycle MPVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Rick Conte was surprised to find out that his father--an Army MP during World War II-- appeared briefly in a television documentary some 60 years after the war.
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Flying in the South Pacific
Flying in the South PacificVideo Clip (3:31)
Video Clip (3:31)
Fred Linden's father was a PBY naval aviator during World War II and left behind two reels of film documenting his service in the South Pacific.
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Submarine Shooter
Submarine ShooterVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Tom Southwick's father caught amazing moments of life on a submarine on film as a naval photographer during World War II.
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French Resistance
French ResistanceVideo Clip (3:15)
Video Clip (3:15)
David Keran's grandfather was an OSS agent working with the French Resistance during WWII and left behind films of his experiences.
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At the Battle of the Bulge
At the Battle of the BulgeVideo Clip (3:34)
Video Clip (3:34)
Jim Banks' neighbor, Herm Graebner, shared with him the films of his journey through Germany and France during WWII.
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From Farm to Flyer
From Farm to FlyerVideo Clip (3:36)
Video Clip (3:36)
Kay Nehring's father was a pilot in the Pacific during WWII and Kay has found a home for his films shot during the war.
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Chaplain G.I.
Chaplain G.I.Video Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
The experiences of Bob Marken's father as a chaplain during WWII are preserved on films he left behind for his family.
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Homefront Funeral
Homefront FuneralVideo Clip (2:29)
Video Clip (2:29)
Kathy Wilczynski's father was a veteran of WWII and was chosen to give the eulogy of a fallen soldier shortly after the war.
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JFK's Last Parade
JFK's Last ParadeVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
See film of John F. Kennedy's last parade in Dallas that Bob Yeargan captured while taking a break from work on November 22, 1963.
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JFK's Goddaughter
JFK's GoddaughterVideo Clip (3:26)
Video Clip (3:26)
Sally Fay, goddaughter of John F. Kennedy, reveals the home movies that document her family's friendship with the Kennedys.
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Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress BomberVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
Marvel at the unprecedented speed, strength and seemingly endless range of the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber, one of the most recognizable heavy bombers of World War II.
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Vietnam in HD Classroom Preview
Vietnam in HD Classroom PreviewVideo Clip (5:26)
Video Clip (5:26)
Watch a short preview of Vietnam in HD, a gripping portrait of the war told through the stories of those who experienced it firsthand
Inventions (36)
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Thomas Edison
Thomas EdisonVideo Clip (2:51)
Video Clip (2:51)
Thomas Edison's most famous invention, the light bulb, paved the way for modern life.
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Civil War Tech
Civil War TechVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
The Civil War saw the rise of major technological advances in warfare.
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Transcontinental Railroad
Transcontinental RailroadVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
Find out how the transcontinental railroad transformed America into one nation.
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Henry Ford and the Model T
Henry Ford and the Model TVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Find out how Henry Ford's Model T revolutionized transportation in America.
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Wright Brothers
Wright BrothersVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
The Wright Brothers made the world's first powered flights. Check out their photos and journals and get an inside look at the men behind the legend.
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1920s Inventions
1920s InventionsVideo Clip (1:34)
Video Clip (1:34)
During the roaring 1920s, inventions like home refrigeration and penicilin sent America into the modern age.
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The Birth of Telecommunications
The Birth of TelecommunicationsVideo Clip (4:11)
Video Clip (4:11)
Alexander Graham Bell thought he was on to something, but no one wanted his new invention. Hear the first messages to travel by wire and through the air.
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First Telegraph Message
First Telegraph MessageVideo Clip (2:55)
Video Clip (2:55)
Morse's first telegram marked the beginning of the telecommunications revolution.
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Ben Franklin Sparks Electricity
Ben Franklin Sparks ElectricityVideo Clip (3:58)
Video Clip (3:58)
After retiring from politics age 42, Ben Franklin became an innovator in the field of science through his study of electricity and his invention of the lightning rod.
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Wright Brothers are First in Flight
Wright Brothers are First in FlightVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Inspired by a childhood toy, Orville and Wilbur go on to design and fly the world's first powered airplane.
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Wright Brothers Test Flight, 1909
Wright Brothers Test Flight, 1909Video Clip (1:32)
Video Clip (1:32)
In the early 20th century, the age of aviation took flight with airplanes invented by Orville and Wilbur Wright. Watch history in the making with footage of a 1909 test flight.
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Lincoln's War Machine
Lincoln's War MachineVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Twenty-four thousand miles of railroad replenishes troops and supplies for the North and delivers disaster to the South.
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Building the Erie Canal
Building the Erie CanalVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
Opened in 1825, the Erie Canal was one of the most extraordinary engineering feats of the 19th century, connecting eastern ports and manufacturing with the rest of the country.
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Hoover Dam
Hoover DamVideo Clip (4:09)
Video Clip (4:09)
Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam was a marvel of engineering and labor.
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Manhattan Project
Manhattan ProjectVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
Explore the top-secret American project to build the world's first atomic bomb.
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WWI Firsts
WWI FirstsVideo Clip (1:18)
Video Clip (1:18)
WWI may have been the war to end all wars, but it was also the beginning of many military and civilian technologies.
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The Book that Changed the World
The Book that Changed the WorldVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
The Gutenberg Bible was the first book printed in Western Europe using movable metal type, introducing text reproduction to the masses.
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The Space Race
The Space RaceVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
The U.S. competition with the U.S.S.R. for technological dominance spurred the U.S. on to the first-ever landing on the Moon.
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Edison's Failed Inventions
Edison's Failed InventionsVideo Clip (4:29)
Video Clip (4:29)
Thomas Edison had over 400 patents in just 8-years, but not all his ideas took off. See some bizarre failures from the Wizard of Menlo Park.
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Aerosol Spray Can: Invention of War
Aerosol Spray Can: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:54)
Video Clip (2:54)
The first aerosol can was designed to kill insects, not body odor. Get the facts.
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The Jeep: Invention of War
The Jeep: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
During World War II, General Dwight Eisenhower called the Jeep one of America's most important weapons. Why was the Jeep developed, and where did it get that funny name?
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Inventions of War - Jet
Inventions of War - JetVideo Clip (2:33)
Video Clip (2:33)
Originally built for military use, jet engines have evolved to the commercial airliners we utilize today. From Modern Marvels.
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Orange Juice: Invention of War
Orange Juice: Invention of WarVideo Clip (5:03)
Video Clip (5:03)
Napoleon said an army marches on its stomach. How has war changed what people eat and drink, including orange juice?
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Penicillin: Invention of War
Penicillin: Invention of WarVideo Clip
Video Clip
Discover how penicillin became available to the masses.
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Plastic - Invention of War
Plastic - Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:38)
Video Clip (2:38)
Find out about the invention of plastic.
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Radar: Invention of War
Radar: Invention of WarVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
How did radar research later lead to the invention of a device found in most modern kitchens? Find out more.
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The Rocket: Invention of War
The Rocket: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
Before they were part of the space race, rockets were deadly military weapons. Which country was the first to use rockets during war? Get the facts.
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Satellites: Invention of War
Satellites: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
Sputnik was the first satellite to orbit Earth, but satellites that produced changes in the way we explore our planet came from American optics. Find out more.
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Silly Putty: Invention of War
Silly Putty: Invention of WarVideo Clip (2:32)
Video Clip (2:32)
The origins of this rubber-like substance date back to a time when the U.S. faced a major crisis. Find out how Silly Putty was invented.
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Mankind in 2 Minutes
Mankind in 2 MinutesVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Experience the story of Mankind in 2 Minutes.
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Mankind Decoded Sneak Peek
Mankind Decoded Sneak PeekVideo Clip (5:03)
Video Clip (5:03)
Check out a sneak peek of the upcoming series Mankind Decoded.
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Modern Marvels: Grease
Modern Marvels: GreaseVideo Clip (44:11)
Video Clip (44:11)
In our lifelong battle with friction, grease is an unsung hero. See how it keeps everything rolling along.
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Andrew Carnegie
Andrew CarnegieVideo Clip (2:11)
Video Clip (2:11)
Meet Andrew Carnegie and find out how the wealthiest man of his day ended up giving away his vast fortune.
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Modern Marvels: Helicopters
Modern Marvels: HelicoptersVideo Clip (44:51)
Video Clip (44:51)
Discover the world of rotorcraft and the science that enables them to hover like hummingbirds.
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Modern Marvels: Iron
Modern Marvels: IronVideo Clip (44:51)
Video Clip (44:51)
Visit the mines of America and discover how iron ore is extracted and made into steel for everything from bridges to weapons.
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Modern Marvels: Wheat
Modern Marvels: WheatVideo Clip (44:51)
Video Clip (44:51)
See how this miracle grain is harvested and transformed into healthy foods and products that support life all around the world.
Korean War (8)
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Douglas MacArthur
Douglas MacArthurVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
The general gains fame in World War II, then infamy when he is removed from his command in the Korean War.
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Eisenhower Leads America
Eisenhower Leads AmericaVideo Clip (3:21)
Video Clip (3:21)
This five-star general and 34th U.S. president launched the Space Race and created the federal interstate highway system.
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Truman Sacks General MacArthur
Truman Sacks General MacArthurVideo Clip (1:44)
Video Clip (1:44)
Rewind Breaking News The History Channel: Truman MacArthur Crisis. President Truman didn't want the Korean War to escalate, out of fear that the Soviet Union be drawn further into the conflict. This video clip is courtesy of The History Channel.
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U.S. Jetfighter Ace of Korea
U.S. Jetfighter Ace of KoreaVideo Clip (2:23)
Video Clip (2:23)
Get to know Colonel Ralph Parr, one of the greatest jetfighter aces in American history, whose three-decade Air Force career encompassed three wars and five combat tours.
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Soviet MiG-15 Fighter Jet
Soviet MiG-15 Fighter JetVideo Clip (1:40)
Video Clip (1:40)
The Soviet MiG-15 took part in the first jet-versus-jet dogfights of the Korean War, and even outperformed the American F-80 due to its blistering rate of climb.
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F-86 Sabre Fighter Jet
F-86 Sabre Fighter JetVideo Clip (1:55)
Video Clip (1:55)
The F-86 Sabre jet, equipped with six 50-caliber machine guns, was the first U.S. swept wing fighter ever produced. Find out why pilots called it the best plane they ever flew.
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Korea Vet Recalls War
Korea Vet Recalls WarVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
Veteran Sherman Pratt recalls the tough conditions during the Korean War.
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P51 Pilots
P51 PilotsVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Veterans Frederick Blesse and Walker Mahurin P51 fighter jets during the korean War.
Mexico (12)
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Ask HISTORY: Cinco De Mayo
Ask HISTORY: Cinco De MayoVideo Clip (1:54)
Video Clip (1:54)
Ever wonder why May 5th is celebrated in the U.S. and Mexico? Get the full story.
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The Aztecs
The AztecsVideo Clip (1:20)
Video Clip (1:20)
Though they could build complex suspension bridges, the Aztecs could not ward off diseases brought over by the Spanish.
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The Mayans
The MayansVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
The growth of the great Mayan civilization is as much a mystery as its disappearance.
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Coroner's Report: Aztec Sacrifice
Coroner's Report: Aztec SacrificeVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
When Aztec priests made human sacrifices to their gods, they would tear out the victim's heart and hold it in the air. Would the heart really still be beating?
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Cinco de Mayo Foods: Mole Poblano
Cinco de Mayo Foods: Mole PoblanoVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
In this Holiday Foods video clip, we go on an epic journey with host Famous Fat Dave. Join him as he tries to unlock the mystery of Cinco de Mayo's most unusual foodMole Poblano. See all the hilarious moments right here.
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Cinco De Mayo
Cinco De MayoVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
Cinco De Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army's successful defense of the city of Puebla against invading French forces in 1862.
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Cinco De Mayo Foods: Tacos
Cinco De Mayo Foods: TacosVideo Clip (3:31)
Video Clip (3:31)
In this Holiday Foods video, we take a look at the famous foods for Mexican's during Cinco de Mayo. Join Famous Fat Dave as he interviews a cook who knows how to make a great taco for the party. You won't want to miss this.
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Chichen Itza
Chichen ItzaVideo Clip (4:35)
Video Clip (4:35)
This video clip from "Where Did It Come From?" explores the origins of the Temple of Chichen Itza, a Mayan pyramid in modern-day Mexico that features several unique features, including an echo designed to sound like a bird call.
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Mexico's Zone of Silence
Mexico's Zone of SilenceVideo Clip (3:53)
Video Clip (3:53)
A location in Mexico known as the "Zone of Silence" is noted for its electromagnetic anomalies, but can science explain the phenomena?
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Aztec Ingenuity
Aztec IngenuityVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
Chinampas were a marvel of engineering that allowed the Aztecs to literally create new farming land where there was none before.
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Prophecy of Quexalcote
Prophecy of QuexalcoteVideo Clip (2:14)
Video Clip (2:14)
Did the ancient Aztecs predict the arrival of Hernan Cortez in 1519?
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Mexico's Roswell: The Coyame Crash
Mexico's Roswell: The Coyame CrashVideo Clip (3:03)
Video Clip (3:03)
On a quiet summer night in 1974, in the small town of Coyame, a plane collides in the sky with an unidentified object.
Native American Cultures (9)
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Origins of the Clovis People
Origins of the Clovis PeopleVideo Clip (3:51)
Video Clip (3:51)
Clovis points found on the east coast of the U.S. challenge the traditional theory that the Clovis people migrated to North-America via the Bering land bridge.
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Sitting Bull
Sitting BullVideo Clip (2:54)
Video Clip (2:54)
The tragic, yet true tale of Sitting Bull, the leader of the Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux tribe who led his people's resistance against the United States, sung by musician and artist Jeffrey Lewis.
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American Buffalo
American BuffaloVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
The construction of the railroad led to the near-extinction of the buffalo, which had sustained native populations for centuries.
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The Buffalo and Native Americans
The Buffalo and Native AmericansVideo Clip (1:52)
Video Clip (1:52)
The buffalo was an essential part of Native American life, used in everything from religious rituals to teepee construction.
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The Last of the Sioux
The Last of the SiouxVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Resistant to government regulated reservations, the Sioux retreated into the Black Hills until a final massacre at Wounded Knee.
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Life in Jamestown
Life in JamestownVideo Clip (2:45)
Video Clip (2:45)
Find out what it took to be a settler in the early-American colony of Jamestown.
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Mystery at Roanoke
Mystery at RoanokeVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
Before Jamestown and Plymouth, the English attempted to forge a colony at Roanoke. Within three years, it had disappeared, leaving a mysterious clue behind. What really happened to the Roanoke settlers?
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History of Thanksgiving
History of ThanksgivingVideo Clip (3:15)
Video Clip (3:15)
Although Thanksgiving celebrations dated back to the first European settlements in America, it was not until the 1860s that Abraham Lincoln declared the last Thursday of November to be a national holiday.
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Rancho La Brea Tar Pits
Rancho La Brea Tar PitsVideo Clip (3:35)
Video Clip (3:35)
Los Angeles' Rancho La Brea Tar Pits are a veritable cemetary for the remains of prehistoric mega-creatures like saber-tooth tigers and mammoths.
Samurai and Bushido (10)
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Deconstructing History: Samurai
Deconstructing History: SamuraiVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
The Samurai were fearsome warriors whose traditions of honor and discipline live on in the study of jujitsu and kendo today.
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Coroner's Report: Seppuku
Coroner's Report: SeppukuVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Seppuku was a ritual form of suicide used by samurai warriors to avoid surrender or atone for a shameful act. What were their painful final moments really like?
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Samurai
SamuraiVideo Clip (1:34)
Video Clip (1:34)
Honor was so much a part of Samurai life that warriors would commit ritual suicide if ever the code was broken.
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The History of Judo
The History of JudoVideo Clip (2:29)
Video Clip (2:29)
Human Weapon shows the history of Judo, including information on Jigoro Kano, the founder of Judo, and the difference between Judo and Jujitsu.
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The History of Krav Maga
The History of Krav MagaVideo Clip (2:03)
Video Clip (2:03)
Learn the history of Krav Maga in this Human Weapon video. Krav Maga was created as a way for Jewish people to protect themselves from Nazi, who use to attack in large groups. Because of the large group of Nazi, boxing and was not enough.
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The History of Mixed Martial Arts
The History of Mixed Martial ArtsVideo Clip (4:21)
Video Clip (4:21)
Watch the evolution of mixed martial arts in this Human Weapon video. The MMA, Mixed Martial Arts, is a worldwide phenomena with its center in Los Angeles with over 24,000 professionals and 2,500 leagues around the world.
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The History of Ninjitsu
The History of NinjitsuVideo Clip (3:14)
Video Clip (3:14)
In this video from the hit show Human Weapon, we get to learn of the start of Ninjitsu. Why it was made and how to accomplish it is investigated in this amazingly educational video. From Japan to counter attacks, see it all here.
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The History of Kung Fu
The History of Kung FuVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
In this video clip from Human Weapon we learn about the martial arts fighting style known as Kung Fu. It was developed in China and has nearly 400 different styles. But all Kung Fu can be broken down into internal and external.
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The History of Muay Thai
The History of Muay ThaiVideo Clip (2:49)
Video Clip (2:49)
In this clip from Human Weapon we get to see the unique fighting style of the Muay thai. Learn some of the moves of Muay thai and also learn the history of where the techniques came from. Join our hosts as they journey to Bangkok.
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The History of Sambo
The History of SamboVideo Clip (1:01)
Video Clip (1:01)
Learn the history of Sambo in this Human Weapons video. Learn how Sambo has affected Russian history, and how it has led to international fame for today's fighters.
The States (25)
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Faces of America
Faces of AmericaVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Prominent Americans talk about what makes America unique.
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Deconstructing History: American Flag
Deconstructing History: American FlagVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Get all the facts and figures on "Old Glory."
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Transcontinental Railroad
Transcontinental RailroadVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
Find out how the transcontinental railroad transformed America into one nation.
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Deconstructing History: Hoover Dam
Deconstructing History: Hoover DamVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Did you know that the Hoover Dam supplies electricity to more than 20 million people? Get all the facts on this marvel of engineering.
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Deconstructing History: Statue of Liberty
Deconstructing History: Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
How many steps are there to the crown of the Statue of Liberty? Find out that and other facts and figures about America's most recognizable symbol of freedom.
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Deconstructing History: Alcatraz
Deconstructing History: AlcatrazVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
Get all the facts and figures about the island of Alcatraz, commonly known as "The Rock".
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Deconstructing History: Ellis Island
Deconstructing History: Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
For over 60 years, Ellis Island was the gateway for millions of Americans to the United States. Explore the legacy of this symbol of American immigration.
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Deconstructing History: Mount Rushmore
Deconstructing History: Mount RushmoreVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Mount Rushmore symbolizes freedom and hope for America. Get the facts about this national treasure.
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Deconstructing History: Empire State Building
Deconstructing History: Empire State BuildingVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
The world-famous Empire State Building is a symbol of New York City and one of the world's most popular tourist attractions.
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Deconstructing History: White House
Deconstructing History: White HouseVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
It may not have been home to the president until 1800 or even called the White House until 1901, but it remains a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Independence Day
Bet You Didn't Know: Independence DayVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
Did you know New York City has the biggest fireworks display in the United States and that three U.S. presidents died on July 4?
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Deconstructing History: Grand Canyon
Deconstructing History: Grand CanyonVideo Clip (1:37)
Video Clip (1:37)
Explore the geological history of the Grand Canyon, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
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Deconstructing History: Grand Central Terminal
Deconstructing History: Grand Central TerminalVideo Clip (2:56)
Video Clip (2:56)
Grand Central Terminal is one of America's busiest train stations, with over 700,000 people passing through it every day. Find out more about this iconic landmark.
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Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's Cathedral
Deconstructing History: St. Patrick's CathedralVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
Get the facts on this iconic New York City landmark.
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Deconstructing History: Golden Gate Bridge
Deconstructing History: Golden Gate BridgeVideo Clip (3:23)
Video Clip (3:23)
Get the facts about one of the world's most beautiful bridges.
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Deconstructing History: Alamo
Deconstructing History: AlamoVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
It has become the site and symbol of the battle for Texan independence, but there is much more to the story. Find out why Americans will always remember the Alamo.
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Hoover Dam
Hoover DamVideo Clip (4:09)
Video Clip (4:09)
Built during the Great Depression, Hoover Dam was a marvel of engineering and labor.
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Declaration of Independence
Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (3:04)
Video Clip (3:04)
To many in the Continental Congress, war was unthinkable. So why did they finally create this revolutionary document?
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Louisiana Purchase Doubles U.S.
Louisiana Purchase Doubles U.S.Video Clip (1:24)
Video Clip (1:24)
Thomas Jefferson pulls off the land deal of the millennium when he buys 800,000 square miles from the French, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains
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Bet You Didn't Know: Founding Fathers
Bet You Didn't Know: Founding FathersVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Our Founding Fathers were responsible for a lot more than the Declaration of Independence. Find out more about their legacy of innovation.
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Dust Storms Strike America
Dust Storms Strike AmericaVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
Families were driven out of the once fertile Great Plains by massive dust clouds--one that rose to 10,000 feet and reached as far as New York City.
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American Buffalo
American BuffaloVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
The construction of the railroad led to the near-extinction of the buffalo, which had sustained native populations for centuries.
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How Was Hawaii Formed?
How Was Hawaii Formed?Video Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
the origins of the Hawaiian islands have remained a geological puzzle for generations, but recent investigations uncovered that volcanoes hold the key to much of the formation of these beautiful islands.
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Alaska Becomes 49th State
Alaska Becomes 49th StateVideo Clip (1:06)
Video Clip (1:06)
In a History Rewind video, Alaska celebrates the long awaited grant of statehood with an enthusiastic celebration. Alaska will become the nation's forty-ninth state and, by far, the largest.
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Washington Escapes Brooklyn
Washington Escapes BrooklynVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
As British General William Howe anticipates surrender, General Washington fleas across the East River under cover of darkness.
Statue of Liberty (14)
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The Statue of Liberty
The Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
What do the Eiffel Tower and the Statue of Liberty have in common?
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Deconstructing History: Statue of Liberty
Deconstructing History: Statue of LibertyVideo Clip (1:29)
Video Clip (1:29)
How many steps are there to the crown of the Statue of Liberty? Find out that and other facts and figures about America's most recognizable symbol of freedom.
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Statue of Liberty Unknown
Statue of Liberty UnknownVideo Clip (3:40)
Video Clip (3:40)
Did you know the Statue of Liberty was built to withstand hurricane-force winds with copper skin less than two pennies thick? And that's not all you may not know about this American icon.
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Faces of America
Faces of AmericaVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Prominent Americans talk about what makes America unique.
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Detained at Ellis Island
Detained at Ellis IslandVideo Clip (1:54)
Video Clip (1:54)
Immigrants detained on Ellis Island for legal or medical reasons spent a night in the Ferry Building. Hear the stories of those who lived this through unforgettable experience.
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Arrival at Ellis Island
Arrival at Ellis IslandVideo Clip (3:44)
Video Clip (3:44)
Seen from inbound ships, the Statue of Liberty was an emotional welcome for immigrants coming to America. Hear from those who remember their first glimpse of this symbol of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
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The Ferry Building on Ellis Island
The Ferry Building on Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
The Ferry Building was the starting point for new Americans on Ellis Island. Those who passed inspection waited there for boats to Manhattan and New Jersey. Explore this landmark of history, now totally restored.
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The Dark Underbelly of Ellis Island
The Dark Underbelly of Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:59)
Video Clip (2:59)
The spirit of Ellis Island is captured in Stephen Wilkes' book of photographs entitled "Ghosts of Freedom." Wilkes spent over five years photographing Ellis Island, where both of his grandparents came to America.
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The Light of Ellis Island
The Light of Ellis IslandVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
The light of Ellis Island is infused with history and emotion. Photographer Stephen Wilkes, creator of the book "Ghosts of Freedom," describes the inspiration of the many souls who passed through this historic venue.
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Hurdles to Citizenship on Ellis Island
Hurdles to Citizenship on Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
The road to America passed through Ellis Island, but there were a few hurdles to clear before passage was granted. In addition to a medical exam, there was a bit of a pop quiz. Could you pass the test?
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Taking the Citizenship Oath
Taking the Citizenship OathVideo Clip (2:09)
Video Clip (2:09)
The History Channel tells us what it's like to take the oath.
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Entering Ellis Island
Entering Ellis IslandVideo Clip (2:14)
Video Clip (2:14)
Footage of immigrants entering Ellis Island in 1906.
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Ellis Island In Pictures
Ellis Island In PicturesVideo Clip (2:23)
Video Clip (2:23)
Experience Ellis Island from the viewfinder of photographer Stephen Wilkes, who spent years photo documenting the historic site.
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Immigrants Landing at Ellis Island
Immigrants Landing at Ellis IslandVideo Clip (1:46)
Video Clip (1:46)
Immigrants arrive at Ellis Island in 1903.
Titanic (10)
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Deconstructing History: Titanic
Deconstructing History: TitanicVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Everyone knows the Titanic was big, and we have the hard numbers to prove it. Discover what made it a supersized ship.
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Coroner's Report: Titanic
Coroner's Report: TitanicVideo Clip (2:01)
Video Clip (2:01)
When the "unsinkable" ocean liner Titanic was lost after hitting an iceberg on April 15, 1912, lifeboats saved only 700 of her passengers. What did the 1,500 people who went down with the ship experience in the icy waters of the North Atlantic?
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Titanic's Achilles Heel
Titanic's Achilles HeelVideo Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
In 2005, John Chatteron and Richie Kohler explored the shipwrecks of the Titanic and Britannic through a series of dives, forensic photos, and eyewitness testimony, in an attempt to figure out what really happened.
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Avoiding Disaster on the Titanic
Avoiding Disaster on the TitanicVideo Clip (3:40)
Video Clip (3:40)
With only 37 seconds to avoid disaster, could the Titanic crew have changed its course in time? Watch this clip to find out.
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Expedition Titanic
Expedition TitanicVideo Clip (2:58)
Video Clip (2:58)
Corroded metal and debris. These are only a few things that a person will see when he examines what remains of the Titanic. Ralph White, a master cinematographer, explains his past and present voyages to the wreckage of the Titanic.
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The Titanic's Structure
The Titanic's StructureVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Naval architect Roger Long breaks down Titanic's structure to gain better insight into how and why the "unsinkable" ship sank.
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Titanic's Lookout
Titanic's LookoutVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
The first to see the iceberg that would sink the unsinkable ship, Frederick Fleet held himself responsible for the fate of the ship and its passengers.
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The Unsinkable Molly Brown
The Unsinkable Molly BrownVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
Known for attempts to turn her rescue boat around, Titanic survivor Margaret Brown made waves on land as well. Find out what happened to the "Unisinkable Molly Brown" after Titanic.
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Titanic: Stewardess Survival
Titanic: Stewardess SurvivalVideo Clip (2:13)
Video Clip (2:13)
Find out what happened to Violet Jessup, a stewardess aboard the Titanic and the only woman to survive the sinking of both the Titanic and her sister ship, Britannic.
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A Titanic Survivor
A Titanic SurvivorVideo Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
Millvina Dean, inspiration for the movie Titanic, shares her survival story.
U.S. Presidents (50)
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Deconstructing History: White House
Deconstructing History: White HouseVideo Clip (1:35)
Video Clip (1:35)
It may not have been home to the president until 1800 or even called the White House until 1901, but it remains a symbol of freedom and democracy throughout the world.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Founding Fathers
Bet You Didn't Know: Founding FathersVideo Clip (1:25)
Video Clip (1:25)
Our Founding Fathers were responsible for a lot more than the Declaration of Independence. Find out more about their legacy of innovation.
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Presidential Fun Facts
Presidential Fun FactsVideo Clip (1:21)
Video Clip (1:21)
The Oval Office has been filled with extraordinary presidents, but did you know about these not-so-famous firsts?
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Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.Video Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
How was Washington, D.C. chosen as the capital of the United States?
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George Washington
George WashingtonVideo Clip (2:19)
Video Clip (2:19)
How did George Washington turn a rag-tag group of men into a disciplined fighting machine?
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First Ladies
First LadiesVideo Clip (1:50)
Video Clip (1:50)
These U.S. first ladies made their mark during their stays at the White House.
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Slavery and the Presidency
Slavery and the PresidencyVideo Clip (2:34)
Video Clip (2:34)
Slavery is a central paradox of much of American history. In fact, most of the country's founding fathers owned slaves.
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James Madison: Did You Know?
James Madison: Did You Know?Video Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
At just 5'4", James Madison was hardly a commanding presence, but that didn't stop him from shaping American history.
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Abraham Lincoln
Abraham LincolnVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Today he is known as one of the greatest American presidents, but at the time of his election no one would have predicted Lincoln's success.
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Andrew Jackson Fights Off Assassin
Andrew Jackson Fights Off AssassinVideo Clip (1:57)
Video Clip (1:57)
Andrew Jackson lived up to his tough reputation when a would-be assassin attempted to shoot him at point-blank range.
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Andrew Johnson and Alaska
Andrew Johnson and AlaskaVideo Clip (2:08)
Video Clip (2:08)
Andrew Johnson's deal for the purchase of Alaska was initially mocked, but has since proven to be a monumental bargain for the nation.
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The OK President
The OK PresidentVideo Clip (1:55)
Video Clip (1:55)
Find out why Martin Van Buren is known as the "ok" president, and why he's considered the first professional politician to hold the office.
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Humor of Abraham Lincoln
Humor of Abraham LincolnVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Lincoln often utilized his sense of humor when making political statements, and also to silence his critics.
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Abraham Lincoln: Death Threats
Abraham Lincoln: Death ThreatsVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Abraham Lincoln began receiving death threats almost as soon as he took office, and didn't have the luxury of modern Secret Service protection.
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Grover Cleveland's Sex Scandal
Grover Cleveland's Sex ScandalVideo Clip (2:04)
Video Clip (2:04)
In 1884, speculation swirled around Grover Cleveland, and the idea that he may have fathered a child out of wedlock.
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The Talented Mr. Roosevelt
The Talented Mr. RooseveltVideo Clip (1:46)
Video Clip (1:46)
Theodore Roosevelt believed in a vigorous lifestyle. During his presidency, he even participated in a boxing match that left him blind in one eye.
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Woodrow Wilson's Health Crisis
Woodrow Wilson's Health CrisisVideo Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
Find out what happened when poor health sidelined Woodrow Wilson for several years of his presidency.
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A Warm Roosevelt Welcome
A Warm Roosevelt WelcomeVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were known for warmly welcoming guests to the White House.
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Harding's Scandals
Harding's ScandalsVideo Clip (2:23)
Video Clip (2:23)
Warren Harding's presidency was rocked by scandal, including one that didn't come to light until after he left office.
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Truman and Eisenhower
Truman and EisenhowerVideo Clip (2:36)
Video Clip (2:36)
Democrat Harry Truman and Republican Dwight Eisenhower had a warm and amicable relationship. Truman even offered to run as Ike's VP.
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LBJ: Before the War on Poverty
LBJ: Before the War on PovertyVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
LBJ spent time after college teaching impoverished Mexican-American immigrants on the border of Texas and Mexico, an experience that shaped his personality and presidential ambitions.
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Jimmy Carter's Legacy
Jimmy Carter's LegacyVideo Clip (2:27)
Video Clip (2:27)
Find out more about Jimmy Carter's life after leaving the Oval Office, including his Nobel Peace Prize win.
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Nixon's Personality
Nixon's PersonalityVideo Clip (2:26)
Video Clip (2:26)
Find out why Nixon described himself as an introvert in an extrovert's job, and how his personality type may have affected his presidency.
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Jackson and the $20 Bill
Jackson and the $20 BillVideo Clip (2:02)
Video Clip (2:02)
Why is Andrew Jackson--a staunch opponent of paper money--featured on the $20 bill?
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Andrew Jackson's Firsts
Andrew Jackson's FirstsVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States, but he was the first in many other ways.
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FDR: A Voice of Hope
FDR: A Voice of HopeVideo Clip (4:06)
Video Clip (4:06)
Elected in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a reassuring presence for many Americans through the trials of the Great Depression.
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JFK: A New Generation
JFK: A New GenerationVideo Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
John F. Kennedy's progressive agenda during the 1960s inspired a new generation of optimism in America.
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The Great Communicator
The Great CommunicatorVideo Clip (4:18)
Video Clip (4:18)
Ronald Reagan galvanized the American public through his famous speeches that helped redefine American politics in the 1980s.
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Death of President Garfield
Death of President GarfieldVideo Clip (1:03)
Video Clip (1:03)
Timothy Dickinson tells the story of President Garfield's untimely death.
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Gerald Ford Embraces Chicken
Gerald Ford Embraces ChickenVideo Clip (1:11)
Video Clip (1:11)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about Gerald Ford and the Chicken.
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Election 2008: Barack Obama
Election 2008: Barack ObamaVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
A look at Barack Obama's presidential campaign and historic win in the 2008 general election
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Jimmy Carter vs. 'Killer Rabbit'
Jimmy Carter vs. 'Killer Rabbit'Video Clip (1:03)
Video Clip (1:03)
Timothy Dickinson tells us the story of Jimmy Carter vs the killer rabbit.
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The Inauguration
The InaugurationVideo Clip (4:15)
Video Clip (4:15)
Host David Eisenbach gives the historic significance of the process by which a newly elected candidate assumes the role of President of the United States of America.
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The Electoral College
The Electoral CollegeVideo Clip (4:00)
Video Clip (4:00)
Host David Eisenbach explains what the history and purpose of the Electoral College is and why it is so important to America's democratic process.
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Romance of John and Abigail Adams
Romance of John and Abigail AdamsVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
Watch the budding relationship between John Adams and Abigail Smith.
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Louisiana Purchase Doubles U.S.
Louisiana Purchase Doubles U.S.Video Clip (1:24)
Video Clip (1:24)
Thomas Jefferson pulls off the land deal of the millennium when he buys 800,000 square miles from the French, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains
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James Madison and the War of 1812
James Madison and the War of 1812Video Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
James Madison is considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," but it was the War of 1812 that ultimately defined his presidency.
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James Monroe's Presidency
James Monroe's PresidencyVideo Clip (4:06)
Video Clip (4:06)
Follow the presidency of James Monroe, from the birth of the Monroe Doctrine to the controversy that marred his presidency.
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William Henry Harrison's Presidency
William Henry Harrison's PresidencyVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
Explore the highs and lows of ninth U.S. President William Henry Harrison's administration, from his lengthy inaugural address to his death in office.
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Martin Van Buren's Presidency
Martin Van Buren's PresidencyVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
Find out why New York Democrat and American President Martin Van Buren was considered the ultimate political machine in American politics.
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Millard Fillmore's Presidency
Millard Fillmore's PresidencyVideo Clip (3:08)
Video Clip (3:08)
Despite what many considered a bland administration, the "accidental president" Millard Fillmore managed to turn his predecessor's legacy on its head.
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John Tyler's Presidency
John Tyler's PresidencyVideo Clip (3:48)
Video Clip (3:48)
Find out how President John Tyler proved his critics who called him weak wrong.
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James Buchanan's Presidency
James Buchanan's PresidencyVideo Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
Lame-duck President James Buchanan ranks near the bottom in presidential popularity polls. Find out how his mishandling of slavery and secession may have hastened the onset of the Civil War.
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Franklin Pierce's Presidency
Franklin Pierce's PresidencyVideo Clip (3:53)
Video Clip (3:53)
Find out why Franklin Pierce is sometimes remembered as one of the worst presidents in American history.
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Teddy Roosevelt Becomes President
Teddy Roosevelt Becomes PresidentVideo Clip (3:56)
Video Clip (3:56)
Theodore Roosevelt was William McKinley's vice president until tragedy struck and Roosevelt landed in McKinley's seat.
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William McKinley's Presidency
William McKinley's PresidencyVideo Clip (3:25)
Video Clip (3:25)
Explore the presidency of William McKinley, from his modernization of political news distribution to his war policy and assassination.
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Eisenhower Leads America
Eisenhower Leads AmericaVideo Clip (3:21)
Video Clip (3:21)
This five-star general and 34th U.S. president launched the Space Race and created the federal interstate highway system.
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Warren G. Harding's Presidency
Warren G. Harding's PresidencyVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Why did so many people think Warren G. Harding wasn't fit to be president?
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Inaugural Address: John F. Kennedy
Inaugural Address: John F. KennedyVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
Excerpts from John F. Kennedy's inaugural address on Friday, January 20, 1961.
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Watergate Forces Nixon to Resign
Watergate Forces Nixon to ResignVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
In this History Rocks the 70's video, brought to you by the History Channel, learn about special investigator Archibald Cox's quest to investigate the Watergate cover-up. Nixon tries to get Cox fired several times.
Vietnam War (19)
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A Soldier's Story: Khe Sanh
A Soldier's Story: Khe SanhVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Amid a siege that would last 77 days, medic Raymond Torres was dropped into central Vietnam.
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Tet Offensive
Tet OffensiveVideo Clip (4:53)
Video Clip (4:53)
This massive North Vietnamese surprise attack during the 1968 Tet holiday was a crucial turning point in the war.
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A Soldier's Story: Hamburger Hill
A Soldier's Story: Hamburger HillVideo Clip (4:41)
Video Clip (4:41)
In 1969, Arthur Wiknik found himself in one of the Vietnam War's most notorious battles.
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The Seawolves
The SeawolvesVideo Clip (4:56)
Video Clip (4:56)
A surprise phone call reunites two Vietnam war veterans, George Heady and Al Billings, with films of their service in the Navy Seawolves helicopter unit.
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Arthur Wiknik
Arthur WiknikVideo Clip (3:42)
Video Clip (3:42)
As an 18-year-old draftee, Arthur Wiknik was rushed through officer candidate's school. After one month in Vietnam he found himself in the middle of the battle of "Hamburger Hill"--one of the most notorious battles of the war.
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Vietnam
VietnamVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
Whether they volunteered or were drafted, 1 out of 10 soldiers did not survive Vietnam.
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Search and Destroy
Search and DestroyVideo Clip (3:01)
Video Clip (3:01)
Search and Destroy missions were a crucial part of the American war strategy in Vietnam.
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Karl Marlantes
Karl MarlantesVideo Clip (3:26)
Video Clip (3:26)
Marine Karl Marlantes left behind a Rhodes scholarship to volunteer for service in Vietnam.
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Bob Clewell
Bob ClewellVideo Clip (3:35)
Video Clip (3:35)
Bob Clewell dropped out of college to join the Army, and arrive in Vietnam just weeks after the Gulf of Tonkin incident in 1964. During his third tour, he was trained as a helicopter pilot, providing air support for ground troops during the Lam Son 719 offensive.
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Keith Connolly
Keith ConnollyVideo Clip (4:31)
Video Clip (4:31)
Air Force pilot Keith Connolly was among the first USAF units to be stationed within South Vietnam. During his second tour, he flew F-4 Phantoms targeting the Ho Chi Minh Trail and witnessed two of his men go missing after his plane had been hit.
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Raymond Torres
Raymond TorresVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
Navy medic Raymond Torres joined the Navy to attend medical school and was assigned to a Marine Corps company. While tending to wounded Marines during the Khe Sanh battle, Torres was critically injured when a grenade exploded near him.
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Gery Benedetti
Gery BenedettiVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Gery Benedetti was a member of the "Brown Water River Rats," whose missions were a crucial but dangerous component of the American combat operation in Vietnam.
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Joe Galloway
Joe GallowayVideo Clip (3:49)
Video Clip (3:49)
Reporter Joe Galloway covered the Vietnam War from the frontlines while embedded with the Command Unit of the 1st Cavalry Division.
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Barry Romo
Barry RomoVideo Clip (3:24)
Video Clip (3:24)
Fresh out of high school, Barry Romo enlisted in the U.S. Army to serve in Vietnam. Romo was awarded a bronze star for his efforts but grew disillusioned with the war and later joined a controversial group called Vietnam Veterans Against the War.
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Donald Devore
Donald DevoreVideo Clip (3:22)
Video Clip (3:22)
in the summer of 1968, Donald Devore was drafted and sent off to basic training. Devore was assigned to an artillery unit in Vietnam and after four months, was granted leave to attend the birth of his first child.
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Veteran's Home Movies
Veteran's Home MoviesVideo Clip (2:44)
Video Clip (2:44)
Find out why more veterans came home with home movies from Vietnam and how they helped give Vietnam in HD a unique perspective of the war.
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Elizabeth Allen
Elizabeth AllenVideo Clip (3:11)
Video Clip (3:11)
Psychiatric nurse Elizabeth Allen volunteered for the Army and requested frontline duty in Vietnam.
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Vietnam War Tactics
Vietnam War TacticsVideo Clip (3:24)
Video Clip (3:24)
The guerilla warfare tactics of the North Vietnamese required U.S. military leaders to modify their combat strategy during the Vietnam War.
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The Road to War
The Road to WarVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
Over 25 years, the Vietnam conflict escalated from an attempt to stop the spread of communism into a full-scale war.
Vikings (11)
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Bet You Didn't Know: Vikings
Bet You Didn't Know: VikingsVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
There's a lot more to these seafaring warriors than their famous longships. Get the full story.
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Who Were the Vikings?
Who Were the Vikings?Video Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
1200 years ago the Vikings exploded out of the cold North Sea like beasts unleashed upon an unsuspecting world, but who were they really?
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Life of a Viking
Life of a VikingVideo Clip (2:22)
Video Clip (2:22)
The Vikings are known as masters of the sea, but what was the viking life like before these warriors began their raids?
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Celtic Burial Mound
Celtic Burial MoundVideo Clip (2:25)
Video Clip (2:25)
Don Wildman takes a closer look at a pre-historic structures hidden inside a mountain in Dowth, Ireland.
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Did the Polynesians Discover America?
Did the Polynesians Discover America?Video Clip (3:16)
Video Clip (3:16)
Did the Polynesians use their mastery of ocean navigation to discover America before Columbus.
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Harald Hadrada
Harald HadradaVideo Clip (3:19)
Video Clip (3:19)
Harald Hadrada was a viking warrior who ascended to the throne of Norway in 1047 and eventually died on the battlefield while trying to conquer england.
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Viking Ships
Viking ShipsVideo Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
The Viking longboat is a sophisticated piece of engineering that allows the Vikings to explore the world across the open ocean.
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Alfred the Great
Alfred the GreatVideo Clip (3:46)
Video Clip (3:46)
Find out how Alfred the Great defeated Viking invaders and united the Saxon people.
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Thor and the Fall of Paganism
Thor and the Fall of PaganismVideo Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
According to Norse myth and legend, a new Viking world was born after Thor's ultimate battle with evil.
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Leif Eriksson vs. Christopher Columbus
Leif Eriksson vs. Christopher ColumbusVideo Clip (2:18)
Video Clip (2:18)
Did a Viking explorer travel from Greenland to modern day Canada in the 11th century, beating Christopher Columbus by nearly 400 years?
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Did the Welsh Discover America?
Did the Welsh Discover America?Video Clip (3:19)
Video Clip (3:19)
Welsh legend indicates that Prince Madoc sailed to America in 1150 A.D., but can science prove the theory.
War of 1812 (8)
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Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812
Americans and British Face Off in War of 1812Video Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
Shortly after gaining its independence, the United States goes to war with England over its seizure of U.S. ships and sailors.
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Deconstructing History: American Flag
Deconstructing History: American FlagVideo Clip (2:07)
Video Clip (2:07)
Why does the American flag have 13 stripes? Get all the facts and figures on "Old Glory."
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James Madison and the War of 1812
James Madison and the War of 1812Video Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
James Madison is considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," but it was the War of 1812 that ultimately defined his presidency.
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Dolley Madison Saves Washington's Portrait
Dolley Madison Saves Washington's PortraitVideo Clip (2:40)
Video Clip (2:40)
Hear the tale of how first lady Dolley Madison risked her life to save George Washington's portrait from a fiery fate as British troops approached the White House.
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Andrew Jackson Defends New Orleans in War of 1812
Andrew Jackson Defends New Orleans in War of 1812Video Clip (3:41)
Video Clip (3:41)
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Accounts Receivable Book Seized During the War of 1812
Accounts Receivable Book Seized During the War of 1812Video Clip (3:15)
Video Clip (3:15)
During the War of 1812, the British army, under Admiral Cockburn, captured Washington, D.C. Just before setting fire to the Capitol Building, Admiral Cockburn chose the only item labeled as "President of the U. States," from the President's ceremonial office as a memento.
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James Madison Wages the War of 1812
James Madison Wages the War of 1812Video Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
In 1812, James Madison became the first U.S. president to ask Congress to declare war. Find out why he wanted to wage war against Britain and how his constituents felt about it.
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James Madison: Did You Know?
James Madison: Did You Know?Video Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
At just 5'4", James Madison was hardly a commanding presence, but that didn't stop him from shaping American history.
World War I (10)
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WWI Firsts
WWI FirstsVideo Clip (1:18)
Video Clip (1:18)
WWI may have been the war to end all wars, but it was also the beginning of many military and civilian technologies.
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Trench Warfare
Trench WarfareVideo Clip (1:14)
Video Clip (1:14)
Although best known for its role in the long slog of World War I, trench warfare actually got its start on the battlefields of the American Civil War. Find out how new weapons and technology played a part in both its development and destruction.
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Allies Launch Disastrous Attack at Gallipoli
Allies Launch Disastrous Attack at GallipoliVideo Clip (1:39)
Video Clip (1:39)
An ill-fated assault on Turkish forces leads to 500,000 casualties in World War I.
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U-Boats Sink the Lusitania in 1915
U-Boats Sink the Lusitania in 1915Video Clip (2:04)
Video Clip (2:04)
When Germany torpedoes a British passenger ship believed to be smuggling arms, anger at the resulting American deaths increases pressure on President Wilson to enter World War I.
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Treaty of Versailles Ends World War I
Treaty of Versailles Ends World War IVideo Clip (1:56)
Video Clip (1:56)
German resentment over harsh peace terms leads to a rise in nationalist sentiment and the eventual rise to power of Adolf Hitler.
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1916 Battle of the Somme
1916 Battle of the SommeVideo Clip (1:36)
Video Clip (1:36)
After two years of trench warfare, the Allies attempt to break through German lines on the Western Front. The ensuing battle will last for months and result in more than one million casualties.
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World War I: Germans Attack U.S. Navy Boats
World War I: Germans Attack U.S. Navy BoatsVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
In this History Rewind video clip, take a step back in time to the beginning of World War 1. The repeated sinking of American ships caused the President to declare war. Watch the historic black and white footage of some of the attacks.
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Rasputin
RasputinVideo Clip (1:59)
Video Clip (1:59)
Timothy Dickinson tells us about the life and death of the famous Russian mystic Rasputin.
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Causes of World War I
Causes of World War IVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
By 1914, military tensions and a series of alliances have Europe on the edge of war. In August, the fuse is lit by an assassination in Sarajevo. By war's end, more than 100 countries would be involved in the conflict.
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World War I Soldiers Learn to Pack
World War I Soldiers Learn to PackVideo Clip (3:36)
Video Clip (3:36)
Backpacks developed in World War I are still relevant today. In this Modern Marvels video, each soldier literally carries the gear they need to function in battle and to sustain them for a long period of time.
World War II (37)
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Attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl HarborVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
On December 7, 1941, Japan launches a surprise attack on American soil at Pearl Harbor.
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D-Day Invasion
D-Day InvasionVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops landed on the beaches of Normandy and turned the tides of World War II.
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D-Day Invasion of Normandy
D-Day Invasion of NormandyVideo Clip (3:19)
Video Clip (3:19)
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops invade German-occupied France and face near certain death on the beaches of Normandy.
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Hitler's Military Blunders
Hitler's Military BlundersVideo Clip (3:27)
Video Clip (3:27)
During WWII, Hitler's decentralized and paranoid military command structure spells disaster on the battlefield.
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WWII Spy Strategy
WWII Spy StrategyVideo Clip (2:37)
Video Clip (2:37)
The Allies use double agents, code breakers and spies to undermine the German military throughout WWII, but cracking the Enigma code proves to be their greatest breakthrough.
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D-Day Deception
D-Day DeceptionVideo Clip (3:24)
Video Clip (3:24)
During WWII, a shrewd deception dubbed "Operation Fortitude" convinces the German military command that Allied forces will land at Pas de Calais rather than Normandy.
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Allied Advance Stalls at Normandy
Allied Advance Stalls at NormandyVideo Clip (3:33)
Video Clip (3:33)
After the D-Day invasion of France on June 6, 1944, the Allied advance is mired in the thick hedgerows of Normandy's bocage country.
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Motorcycle MP
Motorcycle MPVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Rick Conte was surprised to find out that his father--an Army MP during World War II-- appeared briefly in a television documentary some 60 years after the war.
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War Photographer
War PhotographerVideo Clip (3:00)
Video Clip (3:00)
Albert Fagler's grandfather was an Army Air Corps photographer during WWII and left behind film reels featuring dogfights and his own wedding.
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FDR: A Voice of Hope
FDR: A Voice of HopeVideo Clip (4:06)
Video Clip (4:06)
Elected in 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt was a reassuring presence for many Americans through the trials of the Great Depression.
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Charles Scheffel
Charles ScheffelVideo Clip (2:44)
Video Clip (2:44)
Born and raised in Enid, Oklahoma, Captain Jack Scheffel enlisted in the army in order to continue his family's strong tradition of military service. He soon learned that, in war, every decision you make can literally mean the difference between life and death.
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Submarine Shooter
Submarine ShooterVideo Clip (3:20)
Video Clip (3:20)
Tom Southwick's father caught amazing moments of life on a submarine on film as a naval photographer during World War II.
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Women in the Cockpit
Women in the CockpitVideo Clip (3:52)
Video Clip (3:52)
Dawn Letson befriended a World War II veteran who was a member of the Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) program, and shares her films from WASP training camp.
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Flying in the South Pacific
Flying in the South PacificVideo Clip (3:31)
Video Clip (3:31)
Fred Linden's father was a PBY naval aviator during World War II and left behind two reels of film documenting his service in the South Pacific.
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Jack Yusen
Jack YusenVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
Raised in Queens, Navy Seaman 1st Class Jack Yusen enlisted in the navy in 1943. In 1944, his ship was sunk off the coast of the Philippines, but he managed to survive the harrowing ordeal.
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Battle of Okinawa
Battle of OkinawaVideo Clip (2:30)
Video Clip (2:30)
On April 1, 1945, Allied forces invade the island of Okinawa and engage the Japanese in the bloodiest battle of the Pacific War.
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Coroner's Report: Atomic Bomb
Coroner's Report: Atomic BombVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
In August 1945, the United States dropped two atomic bombs over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What happened to people on the fringes of the blasts?
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Japanese Internment in America
Japanese Internment in AmericaVideo Clip (2:47)
Video Clip (2:47)
In 1942, thousands of Japanese Americans living in the United States are forced into war relocation camps.
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Battle of Peleliu
Battle of PeleliuVideo Clip (2:09)
Video Clip (2:09)
In a costly battle, U.S. forces assault Peleliu in the Palau Islands to diminish its potential threat to their future invasions in the Pacific.
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MacArthur and Me
MacArthur and MeVideo Clip (3:44)
Video Clip (3:44)
Judy Kent's neighbor, George Dibbs, was a combat photographer follwing General MacArthur during WWII and shared his films with her.
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Manhattan Project
Manhattan ProjectVideo Clip (3:09)
Video Clip (3:09)
Explore the top-secret American project to build the world's first atomic bomb.
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Concentration Camp Liberation
Concentration Camp LiberationVideo Clip (2:15)
Video Clip (2:15)
As Allied troops move across Europe, they encounter the horror of thousands of prisoners in Nazi camps.
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Battle of Stalingrad
Battle of StalingradVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
In July 1942, the Nazi Army bombs the Soviet city of Stalingrad, launching one of the bloodiest battles in history.
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North Africa Campaign
North Africa CampaignVideo Clip (1:41)
Video Clip (1:41)
After Italy declares war, the Allies fight the Axis powers in North Africa for control of the Mediterranean.
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Battle of Guam
Battle of GuamVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
On July 21, 1944, U.S. forces advance in the Mariana Islands to capture the former American territory of Guam from the Japanese.
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At the Battle of the Bulge
At the Battle of the BulgeVideo Clip (3:34)
Video Clip (3:34)
Jim Banks' neighbor, Herm Graebner, shared with him the films of his journey through Germany and France during WWII.
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Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the BulgeVideo Clip (2:50)
Video Clip (2:50)
In December 1944, a major German offensive is launched against the Allies in the Ardennes Mountains region on the Western Front.
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Chaplain G.I.
Chaplain G.I.Video Clip (3:57)
Video Clip (3:57)
The experiences of Bob Marken's father as a chaplain during WWII are preserved on films he left behind for his family.
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French Resistance
French ResistanceVideo Clip (3:15)
Video Clip (3:15)
David Keran's grandfather was an OSS agent working with the French Resistance during WWII and left behind films of his experiences.
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From Farm to Flyer
From Farm to FlyerVideo Clip (3:36)
Video Clip (3:36)
Kay Nehring's father was a pilot in the Pacific during WWII and Kay has found a home for his films shot during the war.
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Battle of Saipan
Battle of SaipanVideo Clip (2:17)
Video Clip (2:17)
On June 15, 1944, the U.S. launches a critical attack on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.
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Battle of Kwajalein
Battle of KwajaleinVideo Clip (2:04)
Video Clip (2:04)
The U.S. invades Kwajalein on January 31, 1944, breaking the outer ring of the Japanese Pacific territory.
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Battle of Iwo Jima
Battle of Iwo JimaVideo Clip (3:38)
Video Clip (3:38)
On February 19, 1945, American soldiers make their first strike on the Japanese Home Islands at Iwo Jima.
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Shelby Westbrook
Shelby WestbrookVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
First Lieutenant Shelby Westbrook enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and joined the nation's first all-black air corps shortly after Pearl Harbor. There he not only fought the enemy abroad, but worked hard to set an example for other African Americans struggling for equal rights.
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Rockie Blunt
Rockie BluntVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
Born in 1925 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Army Infantryman Rockie Blunt battled his way across Europe and into the heart of Hitler's Third Reich. What he saw and experienced during the war continues to impact his life today, over 60 years later.
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Jimmie Kayana
Jimmie KayanaVideo Clip (2:39)
Video Clip (2:39)
The son of Japanese immigrants, Army Medic Jimmie Kanaya joined the U.S. Army in 1941. Although his family was relocated to an internment camp after the attack on Pearl Harbor and he himself was treated as an enemy for some time, he eventually volunteered for America's first all-Japanese Regiment.
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Jack Werner
Jack WernerVideo Clip (2:41)
Video Clip (2:41)
U.S. Army Sergeant Jack Werner was born in Austria in 1920 to a middle class Jewish family. in 1939 he fled Austria to escape Nazi persecution and soon joined the U.S. Army so he could help fight Hitler.
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