Following the Civil War, a group of young ex-slaves from Fisk University traveled throughout the United States and Europe bringing the power of spirituals and religious anthems to new audiences.
History
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
NOVA
Decoding da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci was a Renaissance genius. Not only did he paint masterpieces of art, but he was an obsessive scientist and inventor, dreaming up complex machines centuries ahead of his time, including parachutes, armored tanks, hang gliders, and robots. On the 500th anniversary of Leonardo’s death, with the help of biographer Walter Isaacson, NOVA investigates the secrets of Leonardo’s success.
NOVA
Dead Sea Scroll Detectives
What can new technology reveal about the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls? Join scientists as they investigate suspicious, newly surfaced fragments to see if they’re forfeited, and use imaging techniques to digitally unravel the charred remains of a scroll.
PBS HAWAIʻI PRESENTS
Under a Jarvis Moon
This film tells the story of 130 young men from Hawaii who, from the late 1930s through the early years of World War II, were part of a clandestine mission by the U.S. federal government to occupy desert islands in the middle of the Pacific. The first wave of these colonists was a group of Hawaiian high school students, chosen because government officials assumed Pacific Islanders could best survive the harsh conditions present on the tiny, isolated islands. For the young men, who were unaware of the true purpose of their role as colonists, what ensued is a tale of intrigue, courage, and ultimately, tragedy.
Preview
FRONTLINE
Fire in Paradise
A year after the devastating Camp Fire, who’s to blame and why was it so catastrophic? With accounts from survivors and first responders, the inside story of the most destructive fire in California history, its causes and the impact of climate change.
GREAT MUSEUMS
The Art of Islam at the Met and the Louvre
Today, at a pivotal moment in world history, two great museums beckon us to explore the splendor of Islamic art – lifting the veil on our shared cultural heritage. GREAT MUSEUMS: THE ART OF ISLAM AT THE MET AND THE LOUVRE showcases the objects on display in the Islamic galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and The Louvre in Paris to reveal a roadmap of connections that explains why the foreign seems familiar. Narrated by Philippe de Montebello, the former director of The Met, GREAT MUSEUMS: THE ART OF ISLAM AT THE MET AND THE LOUVRE examines the extraordinary artistic masterpieces in the museums’ Islamic Art collections, and reveals a surprising number of connections that unite Western and Islamic traditions, in art, science, and literature. The film explores the surprising cultural relationships between the Islamic and the Western worlds. The art of Islam reflects 14 centuries of changing political and cultural landscapes across three continents. The term “Islamic art” – coined by 19th century art historians – includes all art produced in Muslim lands from the 7th century forward, from Spain to Morocco, Egypt, the Middle East, Central Asia and India, to the borders of China. Universal museums like The Louvre and The Met help dispel the idea that cultures are exclusive, when, in fact, they are intertwined and connected.
Silent Sacrifice:
Stories of Japanese American Incarceration
Silent Sacrifice: Stories of Japanese American Incarceration is a two-hour documentary film that will shed light on the ramifications of Executive Order 9066. This landmark film shares the experience of Japanese Americans before, during and after WWII with a focus on the Merced, Tulare, Fresno and Pinedale Assembly Centers.
Preview
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Feud
Discover the real story behind the most famous family conflict in American history – the bloody backwoods battle between Appalachian clans, the Hatfields and McCoys.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
Mine Wars
Go inside the bitter battle to unionize coal miners at the dawn of the 20th century. The struggle over the power that fueled America led to the largest armed insurrection since the Civil War, and turned parts of West Virginia into a bloody war zone.
Secrets of Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle might be famous for being the backdrop to the world’s most successful costume drama, but behind the doors of this fairy tale castle still lives a real Lord and lady. It’s been the seat of the Carnarvon family for the last 300 years and It’s steeped in history. Highclere has been host to an ensemble of illustrious former inhabitants, including a fabulously wealthy heiress who saved the day, and an adventurer, maverick and real life Indiana Jones who made one of the most important archaeological discoveries in the world. This is the behind the scenes story of the one of the England’s most spectacular country houses.