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, an ... Show More
Mar 4
Dark Matter, Bright Mind: How Vera Rubin Saw the Unseen
Something dark and invisible makes up as much as 90 to 95 percent of the universe—and it took a little girl staring out a bedroom window at the night sky to bring it to light. As a child, Vera Rubin built her own telescope. As an adult, she uncovered a problem no telescope could ... Show More
34m 1s
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
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
<p>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.</p> <p>Research:</p> <ul> <li>Agence France-Presse. “New Easter Island moai statue discovered ... Show More
42m 13s