HISTORY Vault
Documentary
Years

Popular Documentary TV Shows

Ancient Aliens
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Ancient Aliens
Did intelligent beings from outer space visit Earth thousands of years ago? From the age of the dinosaurs to ancient Egypt, from early cave drawings to continued mass sightings in the US, each episode gives historic depth to the questions, speculations, provocative controversies, first-hand accounts and grounded theories surrounding this age old debate.
Ancient Aliens 2010
The Curse of Oak Island
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The Curse of Oak Island
Follow brothers Marty and Rick Lagina through their effort to find the speculated - and as of yet undiscovered - buried treasure believed to have been concealed through extraordinary means on Oak Island.
The Curse of Oak Island 2014
Modern Marvels
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Modern Marvels
HISTORY’s longest-running series moves to H2. Modern Marvels celebrates the ingenuity, invention and imagination found in the world around us. From commonplace items like ink and coffee to architectural masterpieces and engineering disasters, the hit series goes beyond the basics to provide insight and history into things we wonder about and that impact our lives. This series tells fascinating stories of the doers, the dreamers and sometime-schemers that create everyday items, technological breakthroughs and manmade wonders. The hit series goes deep to explore the leading edge of human inspiration and ambition.
Modern Marvels 1993
The Food That Built America
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The Food That Built America
The fascinating stories of the families behind the food that built America, those who used brains, muscle, blood, sweat and tears to get to America's heart through its stomach, those who invented new technologies and helped win wars.
The Food That Built America 2019
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch
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The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch
The investigation of the world’s most mysterious hot spot for UFO and “High Strangeness” phenomena with astrophysicist Dr. Travis Taylor who joins real estate tycoon Brandon Fugal, along with his team of scientists and researchers on Utah’s notorious Skinwalker Ranch. The team utilizes cutting edge technology to investigate the 512-acre property to uncover the possibly “otherworldly” perpetrators behind it all. With everything from mysterious animal deaths to hidden underground workings and possible gateways that open to other dimensions, witness the close encounters that go beyond conventional explanation, as the team risks everything to finally reveal the ultimate secret of Skinwalker Ranch.
The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch 2020
History's Greatest Mysteries
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History's Greatest Mysteries
Investigates a wide range of historically compelling topics and the mysteries surrounding each including the Titanic, D.B. Cooper, Roswell, John Wilkes Booth, and more. Fresh, new evidence and perspectives will be showcased, such as never-before-released documents, personal diaries and DNA evidence.
History's Greatest Mysteries 2020
The UnXplained
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The UnXplained
Explore the world’s most fascinating, strange and inexplicable mysteries. Each episode features compelling contributions from scientists, historians, witnesses and experiencers—each seeking to shed light on how the seemingly impossible actually can happen.
The UnXplained 2019
Hangar 1: The UFO Files
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Hangar 1: The UFO Files
Delve deep into a vast archive of over 70,000 UFO files gathered over nearly half a century in Hangar 1. MUFON, an independent organization dedicated to investigating UFOs, has compiled these archives looking for connections, clues, and evidence to find the truth about UFOs.
Hangar 1: The UFO Files 2015
Barbarians Rising
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Barbarians Rising
Told from the perspective of the rebel leaders, the series chronicles a wave of rebellions against absolute power by those the Roman Empire called “barbarians” – tribes they viewed as beyond the fringe of civilization that lived a brutish and violent existence. But these also were men and women who launched epic struggles that shaped the world to come with a centuries-long fight to defeat the sprawling empire.
Barbarians Rising 2016
WWII in HD
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WWII in HD
WWII in HD is a 10-part American documentary television miniseries that originally aired from November 15 to November 19, 2009 on the History Channel. The program focuses on the firsthand experiences of twelve American service members during World War II, including an Army nurse, a member of the Tuskegee Airmen, a second generation Japanese American and prisoner of war, and an Austrian Jewish immigrant. The twelve members recorded their time in both theaters and some had later interviews; found footage from the battlefield was paired with the stories of the twelve service members. The episodes premiered on five consecutive days, with two episodes per day. The series is narrated by Gary Sinise and was produced by Lou Reda Productions in Easton, Pennsylvania, United States.
WWII in HD 2009
Biography
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Biography
Biography is a documentary television series. It was originally a half-hour filmed series produced for CBS by David Wolper from 1961 to 1964 and hosted by Mike Wallace. The A&E Network later re-ran it and has produced new episodes since 1987. The older version featured historical figures such as Helen Keller and Mark Twain, or long-dead entertainment figures such as Will Rogers or John Barrymore. The A&E series has placed the emphasis on such people as Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Plácido Domingo, Freddie Mercury, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Eric Clapton, Pope John Paul II, Gene Tierney, Selena, Diego Rivera, Mao Zedong and Queen Elizabeth II, and fictional characters like The Phantom, Superman, Hamlet, Betty Boop, and Santa Claus. The program ended up profiling enough figures that in 1999, A&E spun it off into an entire network, The Biography Channel.
Biography 1987
The Proof Is Out There
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The Proof Is Out There
Each episode analyzes and passes verdicts on several seemingly impossible things “caught on film,” including giant beasts, UFOS, apocalyptic sounds, hairy humans, alleged mutants from the deep, conspiracies, and many other cases. Host and veteran journalist Tony Harris takes nothing for granted in a quest for answers, tracking down eyewitnesses, putting each photo or film through a battery of tests, calling out the hoaxes, and highlighting the most credible evidence in an attempt to better understand our world.
The Proof Is Out There 2021
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
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The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek
In honor of the sci-fi franchise’s 55th anniversary this year and produced by The Nacelle Company, the project will feature interviews with cast, crew and experts as it explores pivotal moments in the franchise’s history, from its inception at Lucille Ball’s production company Desilu to recent film and television adaptations.
The Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek 2021
The Universe
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The Universe
From the planets to the stars and out to the edge of the unknown, history and science collide in a wondrous yet deadly adventure through space and time.
The Universe 2007
Mountain Men
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Mountain Men
Profiles of some of the men who choose to live off the grid in the unspoiled wilderness, where dangers like mudslides, falling trees and bears are all part of everyday life.
Mountain Men 2012
Civil War Journal
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Civil War Journal
Documentary series exploring the people, technology and battles behind the war between the states.
Civil War Journal 1993
10 Things You Don't Know About
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10 Things You Don't Know About
Did you know that President John F. Kennedy was a bodybuilder, Roman ruler Caligula loved to gamble and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar burned millions in cash to keep warm? The series 10 Things You Don't Know About reveals intriguing and provocative details about some of history’s most fascinating individuals and groups. Tune in to explore the lives of historical figures ranging from Abraham Lincoln to the members of the Rat Pack, discovering what your textbooks never told you.
10 Things You Don't Know About 2012
Mail Call
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Mail Call
Mail Call was a television program that appeared on the History Channel and hosted by R. Lee Ermey, a retired United States Marine Corps Staff Sergeant,. The show debuted on August 4, 2002 as part of the 'Fighting Fridays' lineup. Most episodes were 30 minutes, but from 2007 through the show's end in 2009 some episodes were 60 minutes. During each episode, Ermey read and answered questions submitted by viewers regarding weapons and equipment used by all branches of the U.S. military now or in the past, as well as by other armed forces in history. Ermey often took his viewers on location to military training areas to film demonstrations. When not on location, Ermey broadcast from a set resembling a military outpost, including a tent, a Jeep, and various other pieces of military gear which changed throughout the series. At times, he would also have a bulldog - usually symbolic of Marines, especially drill instructors - on his show as well. Comic relief was provided as Ermey inflicted DI-style verbal abuse on his viewers or tests the effects of various weapons on watermelons and paint cans, as well as occasional appearances of "Mini-Lee", an action figure styled in Ermey's likeness, often seen berating a luckless G.I. Joe figurine. His demeanor as host was similar to the character "Gunnery Sergeant Hartman" portrayed by Ermey in the Stanley Kubrick film Full Metal Jacket, though this attitude was shown only towards his viewers and not the military special guests. Older viewers might compare him to Sergeant Vincent Carter, a character in the Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. television program.
Mail Call 2002
Engineering an Empire
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Engineering an Empire
Engineering an Empire is a program on The History Channel that explores the engineering and/or architectural feats that were characteristic of some of the greatest societies on this planet. It is hosted by Peter Weller, famous for his acting role as RoboCop but also a lecturer at Syracuse University, where he completed his Master's in Roman and Renaissance Art. The executive producer is Delores Gavin. The show started as a documentary about the engineering feats of Ancient Rome and later evolved into a series. It originally ran for one full season of weekly episodes.
Engineering an Empire 2005
Life After People: The Series
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Life After People: The Series
Life After People is a television series on which scientists, structural engineers, and other experts speculate about what might become of Earth should humanity instantly disappear. The featured experts also talk about the impact of human extinction on the environment, and the vestiges of civilization thus left behind.
Life After People: The Series 2009
Civil War Combat
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Civil War Combat
Civil War Combat was a series hosted by The History Channel in 1999 to 2003. It described battles of the American Civil War in a graphic, realistic level. Veteran voice actor Tony Jay served as narrator. The series included such battles as the Battle of Gettysburg, Battle of Cold Harbor, Battle of Shiloh, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of Antietam and Battle of Petersburg. One of the objectives of the series was to associate people with lesser known regiments and commands. Another one was to provide little known facts of the fields of conflict and to also give an accurate portrayal of the bloodiness of the fighting of the day.
Civil War Combat 2000
History's Mysteries
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History's Mysteries
History's Mysteries was an American documentary television series on the History Channel.
History's Mysteries 1998
The Men Who Built America
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The Men Who Built America
Influential builders, dreamers and believers whose feats transformed the United States, a nation decaying from the inside after the Civil War, into the greatest economic and technological superpower the world had ever seen. The Men Who Built America is the story of a nation at the crossroads and of the people who catapulted it to prosperity.
The Men Who Built America 2012
Jesus: His Life
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Jesus: His Life
Explore the story of Jesus Christ through a unique lens: the people in his life who were closest to him. Each of the eight chapters is told from the perspective of different biblical figures, all of whom played a pivotal role in Jesus’ life including Joseph, John the Baptist, Mary Mother of Jesus, Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter.
Jesus: His Life 2019
Grant
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Grant
This documentary-series examines Grant's life story using his perspective and experiences to explore a turbulent time in history: the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Grant 2020
FDR
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FDR
The three-part miniseries chronicles the life of Franklin D. Roosevelt, the thirty-second President of the United States.
FDR 2023
How the Earth Was Made
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How the Earth Was Made
HISTORY goes to the ends of the earth to find where our world began. Forged from fire and ice, formed by floods, volcanoes, asteroids and earthquakes, our planet tells a dynamic geological story. What are mega-tsunamis? What happens when you have millions of years of rain? Visual effects, location filming and stunning aerial photography bring viewers back 4.5 billion years to enjoy a unique window on our world. How the Earth Was Made peels back time like layers of rock to reveal the origins of the place we call home.
How the Earth Was Made 2009
America: The Story of Us
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America: The Story of Us
America: The Story of Us is a six-part, 12-hour documentary-drama television miniseries that premiered on April 25, 2010, on History channel. Produced by Nutopia, the program portrays more than 400 years of American history. It spans time from the successful English settlement of Jamestown beginning in 1607, through to the present day. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the series recreates many historical events by using actors dressed in the style of the period and computer-generated special effects. The miniseries received mixed reviews by critics; but it attracted the largest audiences of any special aired by the channel to date.
America: The Story of Us 2010
In Search Of
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In Search Of
Inspired by the iconic 1970s’ franchise, this series examines unexplained phenomena from all over the world.
In Search Of 2018
Ancient Mysteries
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Ancient Mysteries
Ancient Mysteries is a television series that was produced by FilmRoos and originally broadcast on A&E between 7 January 1994 and 3 May 1998 with reruns airing until 2000. Reruns were also re-broadcast on The Biography Channel during the 2000s. The series deals with historical mysteries and is mostly hosted by Leonard Nimoy, which recalls the late-1970s TV Series In Search Of.... As of June 2013, some episodes of this series were available on Netflix instant streaming.
Ancient Mysteries 1994
The Toys That Built America
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The Toys That Built America
This four-part docuseries showcases visionaries such as the Parker Brothers, Milton Bradley and Ruth Handler who transformed a small toy company into the billion-dollar empire now known as Mattel. It reveals the little-known stories behind groundbreaking innovations like the Frisbee® and accidental discoveries like how the Slinky was created.
The Toys That Built America 2021
Blood and Glory: The Civil War in Color
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Blood and Glory: The Civil War in Color
Blood and Glory: The Civil War in Color 2015
The Mega-Brands That Built America
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The Mega-Brands That Built America
The innovations, failures and incredible achievements of some of the most successful businesses in history, from megastores like Costco and Walmart to shipping giants like FedEx and UPS, that forever changed the way Americans live.
The Mega-Brands That Built America 2023
History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan
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History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan
Since the creation of currency, money has made the world go round and people have done anything and everything in their power to get their hands on a lot of it, including formulating some of the most devious and high-stakes heist attempts of all time. Using dramatic recreations, dynamic storytelling and cutting-edge visual effects, alongside first-person witness accounts from the people who were there, “History’s Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan” delves into the intricate schemes and audacity of the criminal masterminds who risked their freedom for a shot at a lifetime of wealth and riches. Brosnan, who is embedded into each heist through state-of-the-art technology, brings each global news headline to life by putting viewers at the heart of the action and breaking down every aspect of the plan including the conniving team, the mark, the execution and finally the aftermath.
History's Greatest Heists with Pierce Brosnan 2023
Deep Sea Detectives
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Deep Sea Detectives
Deep Sea Detectives was a television show on The History Channel. The show began airing in 2003. In a post dated September 1, 2006 on the Deep Sea Detectives' message board, series producer Kirk Wolfinger stated that the show would not be renewed for another season.
Deep Sea Detectives 2003
The Real West
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The Real West
This documentary series shows stories of how the real West was created and separates fact from fiction.
The Real West 1992
Big History
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Big History
Explores many facets of epic moments in history from the past 13.7 billion years, from a Big History perspective.
Big History 2013
America's Book of Secrets
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America's Book of Secrets
Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of the most legendary monuments and powerful organizations in the United States? America’s Book of Secrets lifts the veil of mystery, giving you unparalleled access to historical narratives and insider information previously hidden from the public. Through in-depth research and exclusive channels, this series delves into a variety of familiar but enigmatic American institutions, from the FBI and the Pentagon to Fort Knox and Area 51. Go beyond the locked doors and security checkpoints of government agencies, famous landmarks and stealthy societies to glimpse the hidden worlds you were never intended to see.
America's Book of Secrets 2012
America Unearthed
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America Unearthed
Forensic geologist Scott Wolter explores mysteries, artifacts and relics to reveal a history of the North American continent not taught in school.
America Unearthed 2012
UFO Files
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UFO Files
UFO Files is an American television series that was produced from 2004 to 2007 for The History Channel. The program covers the phenomena of unidentified flying and submerged objects, close encounters with alleged extraterrestrial life, and alleged military and government cover-up conspiracies. In 2008, a following series called UFO Hunters premiered on the same channel.
UFO Files 2005
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