Modern Marvels

S1 • E1

The Transcontinental Railroad

The story and struggles of how the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads united the United States by rail.

S1 • E2

The Empire State Building

This program focuses on the symbolic and historical aspects of the Empire State Building rather than its architecture and technology. The world's tallest building was preceded but a skyscraper construction boom in the roaring twenties that ironed out many of the challenges of building tall. Yet, despite being one of the only major construction projects in New York during the Great Depression, which generated considerable publicity, it remained controversial in a number of ways until the film "King Kong" made it a must see tourist destination and it survived a B-25 plane crash.

S1 • E3

Silver Mines

Silver is part of our lives from your utensils, to your electronics, and your car among others. A ubiquitous necessity that doesn't grow on trees. Go behind the scenes to see how silver is mined and how it's processed into everyday objects.

S1 • E4

Cruise Ships

S1 • E5

Paving America

Examining construction of the national highway system, from its conception in 1912 to completion in 1984.

S1 • E6

Oil

Few real-life dramas feature such colorful characters, fluctuating fortunes, and worldwide high stakes as the story of oil.

S1 • E47

Star City

Visit Russia's formerly secret training center for Cosmonauts and see what it is like to prepare for a space flight.