Episode 1
Aired Jan 3, 2001
Home Tech
Take a peek into one of today's fully-automated homes that is so smart, the owner can operate everything from the home theater to the outdoor waterfall at a push of one button.
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Episode 2
Aired Jan 8, 2001
Proving Grounds
On a proving ground, you can fire a missile without scaring the neighbors or lift millions of pounds in pursuit of ounces of gold. Performance is the only thing that matters, and no excuses can be given in battle or competition.
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Episode 3
Aired Jan 9, 2001
Train Wrecks
The record accidents/fatalities when profit ruled contrast with the safety-first goal of today's railroads.
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Episode 3
Aired Jan 8, 2001
Silent Service: The Boats Of WWII
Meet the U.S. Navy submariners of World War II, who lived under the sea in cramped and claustrophobic quarters as they stalked their victims; see how Navy designers struggled to achieve a submarine that ultimately proved the best underwater craft.
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Episode 4
Aired Jan 16, 2001
Commercial Jets
A flight through the history of commercial aviation, from the first jet passenger plane to today's wide-body jets and supersonic Concorde; a story of high-tech worldwide competition among high-stakes players with billion-dollar deals.
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Episode 5
Aired Jan 22, 2001
Apollo 13
After an oxygen tank explodes, scientists and engineers race against time to save the crew of crippled spacecraft Apollo 13; the mission, which nearly ended in tragedy, becomes a resounding success and exemplifies NASA's finest hour.
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Episode 5
Aired Jan 20, 2001
Then and Now: Presidential Trains
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 6
Aired Jan 29, 2001
Survival Technology
A historic survey of adaptation to killer environmental conditions travels to the desert, Arctic, sea, jungle and space, charting the body's physiological responses to extreme circumstances such as frostbite, heatstroke and hypothermia.
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Episode 7
Aired Jan 23, 2001
Breweries
The history of American beer, ranging from the Pilgrims to today's giant corporations and microbreweries.
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Episode 7
Aired Feb 7, 2001
Chesapeake Bay Bridge & Tunnel
Named one of the seven engineering wonders of the modern age, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel connects Virginia proper with its easternmost landmass; stretching 17 miles across the historic bay, the structure includes highways and islands.
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Episode 8
Aired Feb 12, 2001
Garage Gadgets
The history of the household garage explores how these gadgets for do-it-yourselfers have evolved over decades to meet the ever-changing challenges of maintaining a home; discover the uncommon histories behind common garage items like lawn mowers.
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Episode 9
Aired Mar 1, 2001
Hadrian's Wall
Seventy-four miles long and 2,000 years old, Hadrian's Wall winds over the hills of Northern England, marking the northernmost extent of a long-dead empire; built of stone and mortar by Roman soldiers, it is England's most significant Roman ruin.
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Episode 9
Aired Feb 5, 2001
The PT Boats
Small, wooden patrol-torpedo boats of World War II are fast, maneuverable and versatile.
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Episode 10
Aired Mar 12, 2001
Monster Trucks
Explore the world of monster trucks, mechanical beasts weighing 10,000 pounds that entertain audiences with raw power; go behind the scenes to meet the drivers who race these mammoth vehicles in spectacular competitions.
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Episode 11
Aired Mar 17, 2001
Then and Now: Airships
From balloons and blimps came airships, the largest aircraft ever flown and among the most romantic aerial creations; 161 rigid airships were built before spectacular crashes, including the Hindenburg disaster, ended their era.
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Episode 12
Aired Mar 5, 2001
War Trains
Trains increase the speed, scale, scope and horror of warfare.
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Episode 12
Aired Mar 19, 2001
Lighthouses
From the Pharos of Alexandria to modern automated buoys, lighthouse history features personal stories of keepers, daring construction, and optical discoveries; today these structures become inns and retreats as navigation advances.
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Episode 13
Aired Mar 27, 2001
The Pentagon
The Pentagon, completed in 1943, serves as the five-sided nerve center for the nation's armed services and stands as the largest office building in the world, conjuring an imposing image of American military power.
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Episode 14
Aired Apr 11, 2001
How Did They Build That?: Concrete
Though concrete seems modern, it dates back to ancient building; British engineer Scott Steedman explores its early Italian use, reinforced concrete development, and modern masterpieces from Roman Pozzuoli to French railway stations.
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Episode 15
Aired Apr 11, 2001
Computers
From colossal devices designed to save the world to mind-expanding, world-shrinking machines, tracing the evolution of mice and menus; learning about the world's most powerful computer that operates at 12-trillion calculations a second.
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Episode 16
Aired Mar 26, 2001
Infantry Weapons
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 16
Aired Apr 16, 2001
Engineering Disasters 3
Engineering disasters exact costs in lives when design flaws fell projects; examine the leaning Tower of Pisa, Idaho's first nuclear accident, Soyuz 11 deaths, Texas Tower destruction, and NASA's Mars mission losses.
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Episode 17
Aired May 7, 2001
Chemical and Biological Weapons
Examination of chemical and biological warfare history and technology traces back 4,000 years to ancient India's toxic fumes; includes details of Soviet biological programs and interviews with former scientists Ken Alibek and Bill Patrick.
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Episode 18
Aired May 14, 2001
International Airports II
International airport history focuses on developments and construction technology from Miami's Dinner Key to modern facilities including LaGuardia, JFK, Gatwick, Dulles, LAX, Denver International, Kansai, and Inchon airports.
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Episode 19
Aired May 21, 2001
Codes
When cultures develop literacy, science, and language, codes emerge spontaneously; explore the rich history of secret symbolic communication from Egyptian hieroglyphics to Caesar's encryption, wartime codebreakers, and cyberspace.
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Episode 20
Aired Jun 4, 2001
Tunnels of Vietnam
Infantry soldiers known as "Tunnel Rats" searched for and destroyed secret subterranean enemy networks in Vietnam; armed with flashlights and pistols, these volunteers faced lethal odds and uncovered arms caches, with many casualties.
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Episode 21
Aired Jun 11, 2001
The Colosseum
The Colosseum symbolizes the Roman Empire at its height; built in 70 AD, it seated 80,000 people with retractable roof, underground staging, marble seating, and decorations, serving as the prototype for modern stadium design.
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Episode 21
Aired Apr 21, 2001
Then and Now: Viking Ships
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 22
Aired Apr 21, 2001
Then and Now: Battleships
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 23
Aired Jun 25, 2001
Hardware Stores
Explore the history and evolution of hardware stores from local blacksmiths to mega-retailers; visit America's oldest stores like Placerville True Value and examine how small shops survive alongside big box superstores.
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Episode 24
Aired May 12, 2001
Then and Now: Model T
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 24
Aired Jun 27, 2001
More Gadgets
Salute to tools and toys that stood the test of time from Zippo lighters to Palm Pilots; examine technology behind familiar gadgets including flashlights, transistor radios, safety razors, and metronomes that changed lives.
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Episode 25
Aired Jul 24, 2001
Cattle Ranches
Cattle ranching history spans 19th-century drives to million-acre kingdoms and modern techniques including artificial insemination, embryo transplants, and genetic engineering; explore future ranching with cloning technology.
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Episode 26
Aired Jul 25, 2001
Saloons
American saloon history spans 1850s mining camps and Civil War tents to Prohibition speakeasies; explore elaborate carved bars, brass foot-rails, refrigerated beer supply impact, and transformational bottle cap technology.
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Episode 27
Aired Aug 16, 2001
The Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire, designed by R.J. Mitchell in 1935, proved revolutionary against German opponents and helped turn WWII's tide during the Battle of Britain; interviews with surviving aces reveal the courage that halted Hitler's advance.
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Episode 27
Aired May 24, 2001
Hitler's War Machine
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 28
Aired Aug 17, 2001
Construction Machines
Earthmoving equipment story spans simple spades to powerful steam shovels; meet legendary giants John Deere, Jerome Case, and Caterpillar founders who forged America's construction industry, plus specialized trucks and space equipment.
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Episode 29
Aired Aug 21, 2001
Cannons
Cannons evolved from 13th-century fort-penetrating weapons to atomic bomb launchers with smart weapons; explore how cannons were cast and forged, terrorized in world wars, and advanced to today's 40-ton self-propelled Crusader.
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Episode 29
Aired Jun 5, 2001
The Gunboats of Vietnam
Armored gunboats prowl rivers of Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
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Episode 30
Aired Jun 6, 2001
Vietnam Warplanes
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 30
Aired Aug 28, 2001
Nuclear Subs
Nuclear submarines carry more firepower than all bombs dropped in history; since the 1950s, these steel vessels became U.S. defense cornerstones, sparking Cold War underwater competition and creating engineering miracles for deterrence.
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Episode 30
Aired Oct 15, 2001
The House
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 31
Aired Jun 7, 2001
The M-16
The Korean War and the M-16 assault rifle.
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Episode 31
Aired Oct 15, 2001
The House
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 31
Aired Sep 4, 2001
Air Shows
From barnstormers to Blue Angels, 425 annual American air shows entertain over 18 million spectators with antique aircraft to supersonic jets; explore amazing aerobatics and how aviation technology advances through these events.
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Episode 32
Aired Sep 11, 2001
West Point
The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has trained students in warfare for nearly 200 years; located 50 miles north of New York City on 16,000 acres, it overlooks the Hudson River and evolved with America's expanding responsibilities.
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Episode 33
Aired Jun 19, 2001
Battle Gear
Development of weapons; evolution of body armor.
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Episode 33
Aired Sep 18, 2001
Quarries
Dynamite explodes hills, drills divide stone walls, and giant cranes pull 400,000-pound blocks from quarry pits; rock serves as civilization's raw material for roads, buildings, paint, glue, makeup, antacids, and chewing gum.
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Episode 34
Aired Sep 18, 2001
Ultimate Autos: 4 X 4
Journey through maximum off-roading and four-wheel drive vehicle history; from the annual Baja 1000-mile race to Paris-to-Dakar rally, off-roading became an international sport for motorized thrill seekers in various vehicles.
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Episode 35
Aired Sep 19, 2001
Diamond Mines
Half a mile below earth's surface, miners extract rough diamonds, pure carbon substances that become precious gems when cut and polished; explore diamond mining history and technology from 4th century BC to modern South Africa.
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Episode 36
Aired Sep 25, 2001
Secret Life of the Crash Test Dummy
The crash test dummy became a modern safety icon and symbol in a risk-obsessed age; explore the real story behind this mechanical humanoid from Roswell UFO incident to 1950s military research and sensitive human experiments.
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Episode 37
Aired Sep 27, 2001
The Mig
After World War I, Russia built its prolific MiG aircraft line; MiG pilots fought in WWII, but the MiG-15 design brought their heyday as a Nazi jet copy that dueled F-86s in Korea and MiG-21s contested North Vietnam skies.
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Episode 39
Aired Oct 17, 2001
Work Clothes
From riveted blue jeans of California's 1849 gold miners to million-dollar astronaut space suits, work clothes enable people to go anywhere and do any job; explore how dressing for success means being able to get work done.
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Episode 39
Aired Jul 27, 2001
Guns Of Winchester
The Winchester is the first reliable repeating rifle and settlers bring it along as they move west.
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Episode 40
Aired Oct 23, 2001
Bunkers
Defensive fortifications span WWI bunkers to futuristic structures; explore submarine bunkers at Lorient housing 20 subs, Churchill's Cabinet War Room, Hitler's Berlin bunker, Cold War shelters, and nuclear weapon protection bunkers.
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Episode 40
Aired Jul 28, 2001
The and Now: War Transport Planes
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 41
Aired Aug 7, 2001
Sherman Tanks
The U.S. M-4 Sherman tank fights in some of the bloodiest battles of World War II.
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Episode 41
Aired Oct 30, 2001
Cemeteries
More than two million people die in the U.S. annually, creating 5,500 daily burials with 80 percent choosing caskets and 20 percent cremation; explore dealing with death throughout centuries and today's $20-billion funeral industry.
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Episode 42
Aired Nov 13, 2001
World Trade Center
Historical look at World Trade Center's technological engineering; completed before Sept. 11, 2001, the program serves as historical record of construction and daily operations, offering some of the last interior footage of the Twin Towers.
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Episode 43
Aired Nov 28, 2001
Los Angeles
Los Angeles houses engineering marvels rivaling any city worldwide; explore five achievements including Red Line Subway through mountains, freeway system, 1923 Los Angeles Coliseum, billion-dollar Getty Center, and Disneyland theme park.
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Episode 43
Aired Aug 9, 2001
Super Guns
Guns that push the limits of firearms technology and whether these weapons will make the world safer or more dangerous.
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Episode 44
Aired Nov 29, 2001
Times Square
Times Square, New York City's Crossroads of the World, represents urban life pushed to limits as the most electrified, crowded area in the world's most dynamic city; it declined into crime in the 1970s, then rehabilitated in the 1990s.
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Episode 45
Aired Dec 1, 2001
Then and Now: Glass
Glass serves as one of the most versatile materials, sheathing skyscrapers, containing liquids, aiding vision, enabling high-speed communication, and providing artistic expression; heating certain rocks and minerals creates this transparent material.
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Episode 46
Aired Aug 30, 2001
Tank Busters
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 46
Aired Dec 11, 2001
The St. Louis Arch
The majestic structure rises over the Mississippi River with 40,000 tons of steel and concrete creating the world's biggest arch; nothing like it had been built before or attempted since, with simple form from remarkable engineering achievements.
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Episode 47
Aired Dec 19, 2001
Secrets of the Acropolis
Step back to Greece's Golden Age and democracy's birth during unparalleled human creativity that produced Acropolis architecture; explore four key buildings including Propylaia, Erectheion, Athena Nike, and the influential Parthenon.
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Episode 49
Aired Sep 15, 2001
Then and Now: Super Guns
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 57
Aired Oct 27, 2001
Then and Now: Guns of Remington
Stories of those who believed in dreams and defied the commonplace with their extraordinary creations; covering some of the world's architectural and engineering structures, scientific inventions, and social wonders.
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Episode 60
Aired Nov 13, 2001
War Games
To achieve an extremely high level of combat readiness, equipment and personnel must be maintained at peak performance.
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Episode 62
Aired Nov 27, 2001
Drive-Thru
A history of car-culture commerce.
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Episode 66
Aired Dec 4, 2001
Firing Ranges
Military and law-enforcement personnel hone their shooting skills.
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