logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2022
37m 20s

Spooked at the Smithsonian

SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
About this episode

The Smithsonian Institution was founded on principles of reason and scientific inquiry. So why is the museum home to countless tales of unexplained phenomena and —dare we say — ghost sightings? Inspired by an apparition at the National Museum of American History, we creak across the floorboards of the museum's attics, sneak into an old house in the woods, and even travel back in time to bring you a collection of spooky stories that can only be found at the Smithsonian.

Guests:

Molly Horrocks, Collections Manager, Division of Political and Military History at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History

Pamela Henson, Institutional Historian at the Smithsonian Libraries and Archives

Cpl. Ronald Howlin, Security Officer at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Deborah Hull-Walski, Collections Manager, Education Collections at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

Melissa Johnson, daughter of Deb Hull-Walski and former skeptical teenager

Kim Dixon, former volunteer at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo

Up next
Oct 10
A Message Regarding the Shutdown
Please be advised that new episodes will not be released during the government shutdown. For up-to-date information on the status of the Smithsonian, please visit our website at si.edu. 
15s
Oct 1
Monkey Mystery: The Case of the Capuchin Kidnappers
Why are capuchin monkeys kidnapping howler monkey babies in Panama? We investigate this bizarre case of primate abduction with researchers working with the Smithsonian to get to the bottom of this bizarre behavior. We'll talk about their discoveries, the social dynamics between c ... Show More
23m 14s
Sep 17
The Music of Jeopardy! From a Lullaby to $100,000,000
It’s the most recognizable TV theme in America. But Jeopardy’s “Think Music” wasn’t originally written for a game show… It was written for a toddler. In this episode, we trace the unlikely journey of the Jeopardy theme, from Merv Griffin’s living room to over 10,000 episodes acro ... Show More
23m 40s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2021
The Smithsonian Institution Building
Since its establishment in 1855, the Smithsonian Institution Building in Washington, D.C. has been a place of science and wonder. Its hallowed halls have seen generations of brilliant minds dedicated to their work — and it seems some of them carried their commitments beyond the g ... Show More
44m 7s
Jan 2022
Inside the Vault - Behind the Scenes in the National Museum
One of the most important buildings in terms of Irish history or archaeology is located in North County Dublin. Strange as it may sound, this building is not very old. It actually only dates from the later 20th century and it was originally an electronics factory.  However it is ... Show More
34m 7s
Oct 2021
EP95: The 40s "Bombshell" Mind Behind Secure WiFi, GPS And Bluetooth and A Museum Dedicated to Southern Jewish Heritage
On this episode of Our American Stories, we hear about the Austria-born turned Hollywood movie star, Hedy Lamarr. She was known for her beauty, but her accomplishments go far beyond her appearance. Jane Leavey and Sandy Berman tell the story of the museum they created—The Breman ... Show More
38m 13s
Oct 2022
Museo Nacional de Antropología
Bienvenidos y bienvenidas a un viaje maravilloso por los Museos de América Latina. Esta nueva serie la comenzamos por un capítulo en el que hablamos de una de las principales “joyas” de México y del mundo: el Museo Nacional de Antropología. Les contamos historias monumentales, no ... Show More
1h 2m
Oct 2021
Skeletons In The Closet
In a small suburb of Washington, D.C., a non-descript beige building houses thousands of Native human remains. The remains are currently in the possession of the Smithsonian Institution. But for the past decade, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has been fighting to get some of them ... Show More
32m 14s
Jun 2022
Sideshow 13: The Legacy of Looking
Centuries of history have led us to this point. The show continues to go on. But even though the sideshow looks a bit different these days… we still see its signature everywhere. We haven’t looked away. Want to hear more even though our time is up? The sideshow curious should be ... Show More
28m 50s
Feb 2023
Connecting People Through Salt and Pepper Shakers
On this episode of Our American Stories, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, right below the Great Smoky Mountains you will find the Salt and Pepper Shaker Museum. Andrea Ludden, daughter of the original collector, shares the story of how this amazing collection came to be a museum. Suppor ... Show More
20m 18s
Apr 2023
Unearthed! in Spring 2023, Part 2
To wrap up Unearthed! for spring 2023, we've got potpourri, jewelry and adornments, edibles and potables, mistaken identity stories, repatriations, and the always popular shipwrecks. Research: Agence France-Presse. “New Easter Island moai statue discovered in volcano crater.” The ... Show More
42m 13s