Fri, Dec 10, 1993
The completion of the Grand Coulee Dam proved America's industrial might could overcome any obstacle, even mother nature. Construction of this massive dam on Washington's Columbia River began in 1931. But the sheer magnitude of the project brought on unique problems that demanded inventive solutions. When bedrock was exposed, a huge mass of clay began moving forward, threatening to swallow up the foundation. After much frantic deliberation, the engineers froze the clay, stopping its ominous advance and allowing construction to continue. With rare footage of its construction, interviews with the men who helped build it, and a behind-the-scenes tour of the massive dam today, this is the complete story of the Grand Coulee Dam.
1994
Despite its detractors in the French art world, Gustave Eiffel's tower quickly won the hearts of Parisians and came to symbolize the spirit of Paris during the city's tribulations over the century that followed. This program provides a romantic perspective on the construction of the tower, the accomplishments of Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower's place in the culture of Paris.
Sun, Nov 24, 1996
The history of the development of the computer, starting with Charles Babbage's mechanical Difference Engine in the 1820s and Herman Hollerith's punch-card tabulating machines of the 1890s, through the development of the first vacuum-tube machines in World War II (Colossus and ENIAC) followed by continuing miniaturization enabled by the transistor, integrated circuit, and microprocessor, to the beginnings of the personal computer revolution led by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates.
2000
The men behind the most famous names in aircraft, such as Boeing, Grumman, and Douglas spent the thirties fighting for air passenger superiority. That all changed when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and thrust the United States in World War II. From that point on all resources were dedicated the American war machine. Profiled are some of the greatest American War planes including the B-17 and B-24 bombers, the DC-3 / C-47 cargo plane, and the P-51 Mustang and the F-4 Wildcat fighter planes.
Wed, Aug 18, 2004
Under the bustling metropolis of Athens a unique engineering project is transforming the city, building a new underground Metro system to meet the needs of its modern inhabitants, while uncovering the secrets of its people of the past. The new Metro serves the very centre of Athens and aims to alleviate her chronic traffic problems. It is part of a grand urban development plan to transform Athens for the 21st century and prepare the city to host the 2004 Olympics Games.
Mon, Jun 19, 2006
This program tells the story of the transformation of American coinage and currency from a haphazard mess that stunted economic growth to the advanced technology operated by the United States Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Intertwined with the history are explanations of processes used to manufacture our money.