Modern Marvels

6,41

1993

8 / 10

Episodes

EP 1: Demolition

While a civilization’s greatness is reflected in the achievements of architects and engineers, equally impressive are spectacular ...

EP 2: The Atlantic Wall

The Atlantic Wall explores the construction of the shore fortifications built by the Nazis during World War II. We highlight the l...

EP 3: History of Tall Buildings

A look up at the symbol of the American Century–the skyscraper, the construction of which is a triumph of engineering and capitali...

EP 4: Aquariums

Public aquariums have undergone dramatic changes since inception in mid-19th century. A series of technological innovations has tr...

EP 5: Las Vegas Hotels.

Out of the bleakness of a vast desert arose a city built on wish fulfillment and indulgence. Unencumbered by tradition or notions ...

EP 6: The Oakland Bay Bridge.

San Francisco's Oakland Bay Bridge stands as an incredible feat of engineering against the nearly impossible. Once chosen as one o...

EP 7: Monumental Statues

What inspires societies to create sculptures on a superhuman scale? We’ll examine gigantic statues and the monumental commitment o...

EP 8: Antibiotics: The Wonder Drugs

In 1941, penicillin was first used to save human life. But now, bacteria has emerged resistant to every known antibiotic, and scie...

EP 9: The Police Car

More than the gun, more than the billy club, it is the critical weapon in law enforcement’s arsenal. But for decades, police have ...

EP 10: Plastics

Plastics are everywhere–the home, the workplace, the car, the human body, outer space, and most conspicuously, the garbage heap an...

EP 11: Medical Imaging

The story of medical imaging, the technology that allows us to see inside the human body, is full of amazing stories. Learn how X-...

EP 12: Extreme Sports Gadgets

To run faster, jump higher, and play longer–the ultimate goal of all athletes. But when training runs its course, science and tech...

EP 13: Bombs

Bombs…the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation’s arsenal. What began as incendiary devices in the 7th century has evolved...

EP 14: Prosthetics

From the earliest recorded account of an amputation and subsequent prosthesis in ancient Hindu writings, to a 16th-century fully a...

EP 15: Weather Prediction

A study of the discoveries, inventions, and technological advances that have helped us understand and predict weather accurately. ...

EP 16: Stereos

The ability to transmit sound in stereo transformed the music of life into a rich symphony of sound. For over 100 years, enthusias...

EP 17: Mail Delivery

Through rain, snow, heat, or gloom of night, we expect postmen to deliver the mail. The U.S. Post Office handles over 603-million ...

EP 18: Clocks

Does anybody really know what time it is? Set your clocks as we explore the relativity of time from antiquity–when man attempted t...

EP 19: Airships.

First there were balloons and blimps. Then, visionaries enlarged, reinforced, and motorized them and the airship was born. The big...

EP 20: Physical Fitness

Meet the Strong Men and Women who go beyond mere fitness to pursue major muscle mass–from ancient Greeks, to performers in the 180...

EP 21: Engineering Disasters

Throughout history, the builders and engineers who paved our way out of the caves and into the modern world have also caused some ...

EP 22: City Parks

Even in ancient times, city dwellers needed a scenic break from the urban landscape. But parks play a more important role than mer...

EP 23: Spy Technology

Espionage has been used for at least the last 4,000 years. And where there are spies, you find gadgets! We focus on the last 100 y...

EP 24: Battlefield Medicine

“He who would become a surgeon should join the army and follow it,” Hippocrates counseled nearly 2,500 years ago. In this history ...

EP 25: U.S. Mints: Money Machines

Whether it jingles in our pockets or folds in our wallets, it flows by the billions from government factories that have mastered t...

EP 26: Rescue Equipment

Avalanches, earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings–all mean human tragedy unless rescuers respond within a moment’s notice of disaster....

EP 27: Scuba And Deep Sea Diving

In antiquity, a hollow reed served as an underwater link to oxygen. As in days of old, humans still need self-contained breathing ...

EP 28: Offshore Oil Drilling

Offshore drilling is one of the greaest technological dances mankind has ever attempted. From the very beginning of oil discovery,...

EP 29: Dynamite.

Join us for a highly charged hour as we see why Alfred Nobel's invention of dynamite took on earthshattering dimensions as his pro...

EP 30: Hoover Dam.

The task was monumental: Build the world's largest dam in the middle of the desert, and tame the river that carved the Grand Canyo...

EP 31: Baseball Parks

Step up to the plate and play ball as we take you on a tour of those amazing edifices of the national pastime–baseball stadiums! F...

EP 32: New York Bridges

Much of New York City’s history can be viewed via its bridges–all 18 that connect Manhattan Island to its neighbors. Join us for a...

EP 33: Crash Testing

Delves into the little-known, hugely important, multi-billion-dollar industry of product testing–where wrinkles get ironed out and...

EP 34: Parachutes

The idea of floating to earth from great heights dates back centuries, and from the beginning parachutes combined entertainment wi...

EP 35: Newspapers

Tracks the technological innovations that made newspapers what they are today, while exploring the stories of the publishing tycoo...

EP 36: Fireworks

Since the invention of gunpowder, fireworks have thrilled audiences around the world. We’ll view highlights of fireworks exhibitio...

EP 37: Simulators

Though “simulations” date back to cave paintings, devices for interacting with “synthetic realities” are a recent invention. See h...

EP 38: The Tool Bench: Power Tools

The history of civilization could easily be measured in terms of our ability to make, use, and improve tools–an activity that is a...

EP 39: The Tool Bench: Hand Tools

Well over two million years before the evolution of modern man, his primitive ancestors were making tools. The use of tools is tho...

EP 40: More Earthmovers.

Join us for a second look at the big earth-moving machines used to tackle the most challenging jobs on, under, and off Earth! We'l...

EP 42: Emergency Room

Emergency room medicine has only been a recognized specialty since 1989, and it took close to two millennia to get to this point. ...

EP 43: Motorcycles

Set the sedan’s safety brake and hop on your “hog” for a 2-hour high-speed history of the motorcycle–from the 1868 “steam velocipe...

EP 44: Security Systems

Since civilization’s earliest days, man has sought protection from those who would rob him of riches, knowledge, and even life. Th...

EP 45: More Engineering Disasters.

Throughout history the same builders and engineers that paved man's path out of the caves and into the modern world also caused so...

EP 46: Niagara Power

An exploration of the rich history of one of the world’s greatest technological achievements–the harnessing of power from Niagara ...

EP 47: Casino Technology

Place your bets and join us for an exciting spin through the history of the casino. We’ll go behind the neon lights, free drinks, ...

EP 48: Lost Marvels

The very spirit that drives man to dream up ever more fantastic creations can also conceive changes that destroy old treasures. We...

Overview

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.

  • en
  • Documentary,

Episodes >>

Demolition

Episode 1

While a civilization’s greatness is reflected in the achievements of architects ...

The Atlantic Wall

Episode 2

The Atlantic Wall explores the construction of the shore fortifications built by...

History of Tall Buildings

Episode 3

A look up at the symbol of the American Century–the skyscraper, the construction...

Aquariums

Episode 4

Public aquariums have undergone dramatic changes since inception in mid-19th cen...

Las Vegas Hotels.

Episode 5

Out of the bleakness of a vast desert arose a city built on wish fulfillment and...

The Oakland Bay Bridge.

Episode 6

San Francisco's Oakland Bay Bridge stands as an incredible feat of engineering a...

Monumental Statues

Episode 7

What inspires societies to create sculptures on a superhuman scale? We’ll examin...

Antibiotics: The Wonder Drugs

Episode 8

In 1941, penicillin was first used to save human life. But now, bacteria has eme...

The Police Car

Episode 9

More than the gun, more than the billy club, it is the critical weapon in law en...

Plastics

Episode 10

Plastics are everywhere–the home, the workplace, the car, the human body, outer ...

Medical Imaging

Episode 11

The story of medical imaging, the technology that allows us to see inside the hu...

Extreme Sports Gadgets

Episode 12

To run faster, jump higher, and play longer–the ultimate goal of all athletes. B...

Bombs

Episode 13

Bombs…the most feared and powerful weapon in any nation’s arsenal. What began as...

Prosthetics

Episode 14

From the earliest recorded account of an amputation and subsequent prosthesis in...

Weather Prediction

Episode 15

A study of the discoveries, inventions, and technological advances that have hel...

Stereos

Episode 16

The ability to transmit sound in stereo transformed the music of life into a ric...

Mail Delivery

Episode 17

Through rain, snow, heat, or gloom of night, we expect postmen to deliver the ma...

Clocks

Episode 18

Does anybody really know what time it is? Set your clocks as we explore the rela...

Airships.

Episode 19

First there were balloons and blimps. Then, visionaries enlarged, reinforced, an...

Physical Fitness

Episode 20

Meet the Strong Men and Women who go beyond mere fitness to pursue major muscle ...

Engineering Disasters

Episode 21

Throughout history, the builders and engineers who paved our way out of the cave...

City Parks

Episode 22

Even in ancient times, city dwellers needed a scenic break from the urban landsc...

Spy Technology

Episode 23

Espionage has been used for at least the last 4,000 years. And where there are s...

Battlefield Medicine

Episode 24

“He who would become a surgeon should join the army and follow it,” Hippocrates ...

U.S. Mints: Money Machines

Episode 25

Whether it jingles in our pockets or folds in our wallets, it flows by the billi...

Rescue Equipment

Episode 26

Avalanches, earthquakes, hurricanes, bombings–all mean human tragedy unless resc...

Scuba And Deep Sea Diving

Episode 27

In antiquity, a hollow reed served as an underwater link to oxygen. As in days o...

Offshore Oil Drilling

Episode 28

Offshore drilling is one of the greaest technological dances mankind has ever at...

Dynamite.

Episode 29

Join us for a highly charged hour as we see why Alfred Nobel's invention of dyna...

Hoover Dam.

Episode 30

The task was monumental: Build the world's largest dam in the middle of the dese...

Baseball Parks

Episode 31

Step up to the plate and play ball as we take you on a tour of those amazing edi...

New York Bridges

Episode 32

Much of New York City’s history can be viewed via its bridges–all 18 that connec...

Crash Testing

Episode 33

Delves into the little-known, hugely important, multi-billion-dollar industry of...

Parachutes

Episode 34

The idea of floating to earth from great heights dates back centuries, and from ...

Newspapers

Episode 35

Tracks the technological innovations that made newspapers what they are today, w...

Fireworks

Episode 36

Since the invention of gunpowder, fireworks have thrilled audiences around the w...

Simulators

Episode 37

Though “simulations” date back to cave paintings, devices for interacting with “...

The Tool Bench: Power Tools

Episode 38

The history of civilization could easily be measured in terms of our ability to ...

The Tool Bench: Hand Tools

Episode 39

Well over two million years before the evolution of modern man, his primitive an...

More Earthmovers.

Episode 40

Join us for a second look at the big earth-moving machines used to tackle the mo...

Forts

Episode 41

now-playing-animation

Emergency Room

Episode 42

Emergency room medicine has only been a recognized specialty since 1989, and it ...

Motorcycles

Episode 43

Set the sedan’s safety brake and hop on your “hog” for a 2-hour high-speed histo...

Security Systems

Episode 44

Since civilization’s earliest days, man has sought protection from those who wou...

More Engineering Disasters.

Episode 45

Throughout history the same builders and engineers that paved man's path out of ...

Niagara Power

Episode 46

An exploration of the rich history of one of the world’s greatest technological ...

Casino Technology

Episode 47

Place your bets and join us for an exciting spin through the history of the casi...

Lost Marvels

Episode 48

The very spirit that drives man to dream up ever more fantastic creations can al...