Smithsonian TV Guide — Wednesday, 13 May 2026

Browse the full Smithsonian TV guide for Wednesday, 13 May 2026. 24 programmes listed , including 6 tonight. US listings updated daily — scroll down to tonight's highlights or use the day tabs above to browse the weekly schedule.

Early Morning

00:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S4 · E8 · Sky Princess Travel

Sky Princess

The Sky Princess carries passengers from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to three Central American stops, and it manages to get into and out of ports despite its size.

01:00 1h

Mighty Trains

S1 · E5 · The Ghan Science

The Ghan

Passengers can explore the heart of Australia aboard a luxurious cruise train called The Ghan, which offers additional off-rail excursions at every stop.

02:00 1h

Mighty Trains

S3 · E2 · Rovos Railway Science

Rovos Railway

The luxurious Rovos Rail travels from Pretoria to Cape Town, South Africa, in classic carriages pulled by a series of steam, diesel and electric locomotives.

03:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S1 · E4 · Celebrity Solstice Travel

Celebrity Solstice

The Celebrity Solstice carries nearly 3,000 passengers on a luxurious journey along Australia's northern coast, with 10 restaurants and 12 bars.

04:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S3 · E6 · Marina Travel

Marina

The MS Marina is Oceania Cruises' largest ship and makes a 12-day voyage with stops at ports in Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Iceland.

05:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S1 · E6 · Marco Polo Travel

Marco Polo

The Marco Polo delivers travelers to cities such as Copenhagen, St. Petersburg and Helsinki in late autumn, when crowds are smaller but travel is riskier.

Morning

06:00 1h

Mighty Cruise Ships

S4 · E4 · Nieuw Statendam Travel

Nieuw Statendam

Pinnacle-class cruise ship MS Nieuw Statendam is the world's largest boutique cruise ship at 300 meters long and can carry over 4,000 passengers.

07:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E9 · Curved & Cables Science

Curved & Cables

A new performance center with a tent-like glass-and-steel lobby tests engineers in Kansas City; two twisting apartment towers make heads spin in Ontario.

08:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S2 · E10 · Radical & Resplendent Science

Radical & Resplendent

The engineering and design history behind the Museum of African American History, the Montreal Tower once abandoned and the Equinor building in Oslo.

09:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E3 · Speedcore & Steambend Science

Speedcore & Steambend

Host Jay Ellis learns more about the construction of a library spanning a railway line and how a skyscraper was built in record time.

10:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S1 · E8 · Arctic Modules & Auditoria Science

Arctic Modules & Auditoria

An examination of unusual and inventive structures around the world includes a mobile research station in Antarctica and a concert hall on the Canary Islands.

11:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S2 · E3 · Retrofits & Airport Glitz Science

Retrofits & Airport Glitz

Host Jay Ellis goes to Hearst Tower in Manhattan and the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore and learns how designers try to create a worthy museum.

Daytime

12:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E6 · Shipyards & Slender Builds Science

Shipyards & Slender Builds

A wooden skyscraper built from 1,200 bespoke pieces tests fire safety limits in Milwaukee; a decaying Amsterdam crane transforms into elegant glass offices.

13:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E2 · Heavy Cargo Express Science

Heavy Cargo Express

Host Mike Davidson goes on board some heavy-hauling trains and learns about the logistical and mechanical challenges of a multimillion-dollar cargo delivery.

14:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S2 · E4 · Super Stallion Helicopter Science

Super Stallion Helicopter

Mike Davidson meets the US Marines' "Heavy Haulers" squadron as they keep their fleet of CH53 'Super Stallion' choppers in the air.

15:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S1 · E3 · Euro Hauler Science

Euro Hauler

On a massive million-dollar freight run across four European countries, the drivers, engineers and maintenance teams all have important roles to play.

16:00 1h

How Did They Fix That?

S4 · E7 · Scream Machines Science

Scream Machines

Host Mike Davidson works with the repair and construction teams of Australia's largest theme park and helps them finish an expensive expansion.

17:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E2 · Medals & Marinas Science

Medals & Marinas

Jay Ellis pays tribute to the U.S. National Medal of Honor Museum, looks at the leaning tower of gambling and explores a building that allows sunshine.

Evening

18:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E1 · Space Stations & Super Inventions Science

Space Stations & Super Inventions

Host Jay Ellis learns about the construction of the International Space Station and about the engineering marvels that were involved in its assembly.

19:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S4 · E9 · Facelifts & Scaffolds Science

Facelifts & Scaffolds

A new museum building bends 1,100-glass tubes to form a facade & tunnels below the water table; an 11-storey glass atrium is built on the former Berlin Wall.

20:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E10 · Boxes & Birds Science

Boxes & Birds

Host Jay Ellis visits the American Museum of Natural History, an arts center inspired by migrating birds and built on a lake and Boston University.

21:00 1h

How Did They Build That?

S3 · E5 · Heights & Balance Science

Heights & Balance

Host Jay Ellis goes to a 1.2 million square foot office building, a building that landed on a parking garage and the world's longest suspension footbridge.

22:00 1h

Disasters Engineered

S2 · E2 · Construction Catastrophe Documentary

Construction Catastrophe

Experience the shockwaves that rocked Britain after a towering inferno killed 72 residents in a building with a fatal design flaw.

23:00 1h

Mayday: Air Disaster

S4 · E1 · Desperate Escape True

Desperate Escape

After a difficult landing in a severe thunderstorm, Air France Flight 358 skids off the runway and crashes, causing a fire to start in the left engine.