Smithsonian TV Guide — Today's TV Listings & Schedule

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for today. 24 programmes listed , including 6 tonight. US listings updated daily — scroll down to tonight's highlights or use the day tabs above to browse the weekly schedule.

Early Morning

00:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S4 · E8 · Sky Princess Travel

Sky Princess

The Sky Princess carries passengers from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to three Central American stops, and it manages to get into and out of ports despite its size.

01:00 1h

Mighty Trains

S1 · E3 · North Rail Express Science

North Rail Express

A train called the North Rail Express is followed as it travels from the Arctic Coast through a hazardous route to deliver freshly caught seafood.

02:00 1h

Mighty Trains

S2 · E5 · KiwiRail Science

KiwiRail

The largest rail transport in New Zealand, the TranzAlpine takes passengers in the South Island and the Northern Explorer takes a trip through the North Island.

03:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S1 · E1 · Paul Gauguin Travel

Paul Gauguin

The crew of the MS Paul Gauguin, a ship that sails through French Polynesia, deals with rough weather, narrow passageways and shallow channels.

04:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S1 · E2 · Le Soleal Travel

Le Soleal

A 14-day voyage through Indonesia on Le Soleal goes to places most cruise ships cannot get to, showing its passengers unique wildlife and live volcanoes.

05:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S4 · E2 · MSC Regal Princess Travel

MSC Regal Princess

A detailed look is taken at a cruise of the Baltic Sea on the Regal Princess ship, and how the captain and crew deliver memorable experiences to passengers.

Morning

06:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S3 · E4 · Viking Star Travel

Viking Star

The Viking Star-class cruise ship visits southern Spain, Normandy and the canals of Amsterdam, as the crew navigates narrow passages and battles rough seas.

07:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E3 · Canyons & Curves Science

Canyons & Curves

Engineers are challenged by an apartment building torn apart by a man-made canyon, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri and a triangular office building.

08:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S1 · E5 · Supertalls & Firehouses Science

Supertalls & Firehouses

Designers share what inspired their radical structural ideas, including a unique port authority building in Belgium and a skinny skyscraper in Manhattan.

09:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E10 · Boxes & Birds Science

Boxes & Birds

Host Jay Ellis visits the American Museum of Natural History, an arts center inspired by migrating birds and built on a lake and Boston University.

10:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E5 · Heights & Balance Science

Heights & Balance

Host Jay Ellis goes to a 1.2 million square foot office building, a building that landed on a parking garage and the world's longest suspension footbridge.

11:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E8 · Subways & Sightlines Science

Subways & Sightlines

Featuring a high-rise in Chicago with rippling balconies and the construction of an underground railroad in London that required 26 miles of tunnels.

Daytime

12:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S2 · E9 · Mirrors & Marble Science

Mirrors & Marble

The engineering and design story behind the Oslo Opera House, Australia's One Central Park and the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

13:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E4 · Panama Canal Railway Science

Panama Canal Railway

Host Mike Davidson rides the Panama Canal Railway and reveals the track repairs such as an engine overhaul and the searches involved in keeping it rolling.

14:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E1 · Heli-Logger Science ▶ Now

Heli-Logger

Host Mike Davidson helps a crew haul millions of pounds of timber while fighting against the elements and handling emergency repairs as they journey on.

15:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E2 · Heavy Cargo Express Science

Heavy Cargo Express

Host Mike Davidson goes on board some heavy-hauling trains and learns about the logistical and mechanical challenges of a multimillion-dollar cargo delivery.

16:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E3 · Euro Hauler Science

Euro Hauler

On a massive million-dollar freight run across four European countries, the drivers, engineers and maintenance teams all have important roles to play.

17:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E4 · Parking & Sparkling Science

Parking & Sparkling

New York's Grand Central gets a stunning 1400-foot tapering next door neighbor.

Tonight's Highlights

18:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E6 · Shipyards & Slender Builds Science

Shipyards & Slender Builds

A wooden skyscraper built from 1,200 bespoke pieces tests fire safety limits in Milwaukee; a decaying Amsterdam crane transforms into elegant glass offices.

19:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E2 · Medals & Marinas Science

Medals & Marinas

Jay Ellis pays tribute to the U.S. National Medal of Honor Museum, looks at the leaning tower of gambling and explores a building that allows sunshine.

20:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E1 · Space Stations & Super Inventions Science

Space Stations & Super Inventions

Host Jay Ellis learns about the construction of the International Space Station and about the engineering marvels that were involved in its assembly.

21:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E10 · Floating Parks & Upcycled Towers Science

Floating Parks & Upcycled Towers

On inadequate foundations, San Francisco's MOMA triples in size creating an exterior light enough to prevent collapse; a 1970s Sydney skyscraper is recycled.

22:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S1 · E3 · Biomes & Rebuilds Science

Biomes & Rebuilds

An exploration of various radical architectural designs includes a look at a London railway station, giant biodomes in Singapore and a hospital in Las Vegas.

23:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S2 · E8 · Breakthroughs & Bridges Science

Breakthroughs & Bridges

Exploring the engineering and design wonders of Seattle's Evergreen Point Floating Bridge, Lyon's Musee des Confluences and London's Gherkin.