Host Leslie Mueller explores Chicago's premier destination, the Museum of Science and Industry. Take a 'Behind the Scenes', on board tour of the World Famous U-505 submarine...the centerpiece of an unforgettable exhibit. Experience life aboard this German Sub first hand, as it looked days before it's capture by Americans off the coast of Africa during World War II. We will also get to see some rarely seen artifacts from the sub's crew as well as from those who captured this piece of American Naval history.
Join host Leslie Mueller at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History as she meets Sue, the most intact Tyrannosaurus Rex ever discovered. Head of Geological Collections, Bill Simpson, takes us on a private tour of one of the fossil preparation labs to learn about the elaborate 12 year process of reconstructing Sue for exhibition. We also get a look at how this priceless piece of natural history is carefully cleaned twice a year.
Join Leslie Mueller in America's largest art museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Learn about this amazing 2 million sq. ft. museum that houses 5,000 years of world history, perched atop 5th avenue in New York City. Explore the centerpiece of the Egyptian Art Collection, the Temple of Dendur and get a peek at how this important piece of Egyptian history was carefully cleaned by museum curators. Then learn about the mystery that surrounds the most powerful female in ancient Egypt, Pharoh Hatshepsut.
Explore the John G. Shedd Aquarium, home to over 32,000 aquatic animals. Watch the beluga whales in one of their private training sessions. Take a peek into the bustling food preparation kitchen and visit the in-house veterinary hospital, then learn how one lucky lizard go an unusual gift, thanks to the creative staff and the 3-D printer located in the one of a kind Teen Learning Center.
Leslie Mueller travels from the 12th century world of astronomy to the Apollo XIII launch at the Adler Planetarium. Get a look at rare artifacts from the Webster Institute for the History of Astronomy. We will also see the hands-on NASA control center, take a closer look at the actual 2 man Gemini 12 capsule and meet commander of Apollo 13 mission, Capt. James Lovell. We'll hear about his journey from a young rocket enthusiast to NASA astronaut orbiting the moon.
Travel back to ancient China with host, Leslie Mueller as she visits the "Terra Cotta Warriors" exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago. Learn how the powerful First Emperor of China commissioned a 30 year project, creating more than 8,000 figures to be buried around him. These figures silently guarded his tomb for 2,000 years before being discovered. Enjoy a "Behind the Scenes" look at the Field Museum Team Members working on this very special exhibition and see why it has been described as the 8th Wonder of the World.
Explore Mother Nature with host Leslie Mueller in a living museum of plants, the New York Botanical Garden. Home to over 1 million plants, 50 gardens and the stunning Haupt Conservatory. Learn about what this 250 acre National Historical Landmark offers it's visitors year round. Experience fine art in a botanical setting at the special exhibition featuring the work of world renowned glass artist, Dale Chihuly. Get a 'behind the scenes' peek at his creative process and the herculean task of installing these massive yet delicate glass sculptures throughout the gardens, ponds and conservatory.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she steps back into the world of Leonardo DaVinci. Take a 'Behiind the Scenes' look at the workshop in Florence, Italy where the working models of DaVinci's inventions were hand crafted by skilled artisans according to his original drawings. Then visit the special hands-on exhibition that is traveling North America, 'the DaVinci Machines', on loan from the DaVinci Museum in Florence, Italy.
Step back in time with Leslie Mueller at this traveling living history museum of WWII aircraft. Learn about the Collings Foundation's 'Wings of Freedom' tour including the B-17 and B-24 heavy bombers and the P-51 Mustang fighter. We'll hear what it was like to fly a bombers in combat from retired Air Force Major Robert H. Mueller, go for a private tour and flight on the B-17 Flying fortress.
Dive into the creative process of Saturday Night Live at this special exhibition on view at Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications. Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores a week in the life of the show. Go behind-the-scenes to see the writing process, the table read, set construction, make-up and costume design and finally the live broadcast on Saturday night.
Tour this legendary American company's museum with host Leslie Mueller and one of the original Harley-Davidson founder's grandson, Bill Davidson. Go behind-the-scenes to the private motorcycle storage area, the conservation area and view archival pieces rarely on display in the museum. Learn first hand how Harley-Davidson has been a part of America's transportation history since 1903.
Join host Leslie Mueller for this very special episode as she tours the private museum within C.I.A. headquarters. Learn how the agency has gathered intelligence from outer space to the ocean's floor worldwide, 24/7 using everything from camera carrying pigeons to dragonfly drones to intelligence gathering fish. This is a rare opportunity to learn about America's intelligence history.
Tour this New England coastal whaling village recreated on the Mystic River with host Leslie Mueller. Hear from the craftsmen as they forge iron and craft wooden barrels in their vintage workshops. Step into the preservation boatyard for a behind-the-scenes look at the Mayflower II project. Then go aboard the last wooden whaling ship in the world, the Charles Morgan for a very special activity.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores the largest railway museum in the United States. See the historic collection of trains outside and in 13 storage barns, an original Pullman car and miles of tracks. Ride the streetcar loop on a restored electric streetcar. Then go behind-the-scenes to see a steam locomotive engine project in progress.
Visit a world class exhibition of Toulouse-Lautrec portraits from the Herakleidon Museum in Athens, Greece. Learn how it's collector amassed this amazing collection over many years. Then take a behind-the-scenes look at the difficult color lithography process that Lautrec used so successfully in depicting the Parisian nightlife of the Belle Epoque.
Tour the flight deck of this incredible piece of WWII Naval history on NY's Hudson river with host Leslie Mueller. Learn about the spacecraft Enterprise housed below deck and get a behind-the-scenes look at the restoration hangar where a Blue Angels aircraft and the prototype for the US Navy Skyraider are undergoing meticulous restoration.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she tours the tree tops deep in the Adirondacks on the eco bridge called Wild Walk. See how Mother Nature and the Wild Center are partners in the annual monarch butterfly migration to Mexico and get a behind-the-scenes up close look at a red tail hawk training session.
Explore a classic 1921 Washington, DC home turned world class art museum. Join host Leslie Mueller as she learns about a famous group of paintings called the 'Migration Series' by Harlem, NY artist Jacob Lawrence. Then take a behind-the-scenes look into the private conservation area where an important discovery regarding an early painting by Pablo Picasso made news worldwide.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Money Museum. Learn about the history of money, its circulation, detecting counterfeit currency and how the Federal Reserve monitors economic conditions and guides monetary policy. Then go Behind-the Scenes to the secure cash processing area as a daily shipment arrives and is processed.
Join host Leslie Mueller in Santa Fe, New Mexico at the Museum of International Folk Art and learn about this global art form and a collection that represents over 100 countries. See an incredible one-of-a-kind exhibit with over 10,000 detailed objects. Then go Behind-the Scenes into 2 of the private collection areas to see artifacts that are rarely on view.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores the world of modern day law enforcement in Washington, DC at the National Law Enforcement Museum. Learn about this state-of-the-art museum and it's interactive exhibits like the Police Training Simulator. We'll go Behind-the-scenes to see how a real S.W.A.T team member is transformed using plaster for a special exhibit called, 'Being an Officer'.
Take a walk in the 4-legged world of the AKC Museum of the Dog in NYC with host, Leslie Mueller. Join as she explores this fun, interactive museum that features dog art from around the world including sculptures, paintings, photographs and ceramics. Later, we try our hand at training a digital dog named Molly using state of the art technology in an amazing exhibit featuring man's best friend.
Join host Leslie Mueller at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago, IL. Learn about the incredible collection of medical artifacts and artwork and take a closer look at the history of x-rays. Then, take a behind-the-scenes look at the latest advances in diagnostic imaging at nearby Northwestern Memorial Hospital and hear from today's neurological specialists.
Learn about the history of tennis as host, Leslie Mueller visits the International Tennis Hall of Fame Museum in Newport, RI. From the game of lawn tennis at the turn of the century to a Roger Federer hologram giving tennis tips, this historic building has been part of the social scene in Newport since 1880. Later, tennis legend Todd Martin talks about the present day world of tennis!
Join host Leslie Mueller in Los Angeles, CA in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains at the J. Paul Getty Museum. Learn about the history of the camera as we visit the Center for Photographs. We'll see historic wood box cameras with primitive lenses, the 1st mass marketed digital camera and everything in between. Later, we'll see rare artifacts that are not on display to the public!
Join host Leslie Mueller as she traces America's journey into the Nuclear age during WWII at the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History in Albuquerque, NM. Learn more about this pivotal point in our history and the scientific aspects of the Atomic Age, beginning with the Manhattan Project. Later, we go into private archives to learn more about an incident codenamed, 'Broken Arrow'.
The Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT hosts a very special exhibit called 'Masterpieces from the Cartoon Art Museum'. Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores the colorful world of cartooning with Brian Walker, son of Mort Walker of the 'Beetle Baily' comic strip. Later, we'll tour the private studio of late cartoonist Jerry Dumas and visit NYC's Nathan Love Animation Studios.
The La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles is one of the most unique museums in America. Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores this urban ice-age excavation site, boasting a collection of millions of fossils found in the tar pits including mammoths, saber-toothed cats and more. Learn about the work of fossil labs scientists and a very special, on-going excavation area called 'Project 23'.
Join host Leslie Mueller as she explores the world of American literary giant, Mark Twain at the Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT. See where he lived and where he wrote about Huck Finn, Tom Sawyer, King Arthur’s count, princes, paupers and more. Then go behind-the-scenes to see his personal artifacts and handwritten comments or ‘marginalia’ in the museums’ private archives.
Join host Leslie Mueller at the oldest federal museum in the country, the West Point Museum in West Point, NY. Explore the unequaled collection of military artifacts from the American Revolution to present day battlefields. Go behind-the-scenes to see how the cadet uniforms are skillfully produced each year. Then hear from 3 outstanding cadets as they share their personal journeys in the spectacular visitor’s center overlooking the mighty Hudson River.
Join host Leslie Mueller in Sarasota, FL at the spectacular Ringling Museum. Follow John Ringling’s journey from the rural Midwest to the national stage during the golden days of the circus. See one-of-kind circus artifacts from under the big top and John Ringling’s personal rail car. Then go behind-the-scenes to the private conservation lab to see where artifacts from the circus collection and the massive fine art collection are carefully conserved and protected.
Join host Leslie Mueller on the Chicago river at the unique McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. Learn about the history of the Chicago River, the importance of its moveable bridge system and the dynamic relationship between the river and the city of Chicago. Then go behind-the-scenes to see one of the massive gear systems in action as it powers the ‘bridge lift’ at Michigan Avenue and the river.
Join host Leslie Mueller in NYC at the New York City Fire Museum. Celebrate the history of the fire service from the days of bucket brigades to carriage to engines. Salute the New York firefighters lost on September 11, 2001. Then go behind-the-scenes at a firehouse in Norwalk, CT to see modern apparatus and learn how firefighters continue training year round.
Join host Leslie Mueller at the world class American Heritage Museum in Stow, MA. We visit 3 locations on the property learning about civilian and military transportation technology in the classic automobile barn, the historic aircraft hanger and the main museum that houses rare artifacts, tanks and vehicles used in WWI to the present day. Then go behind-the-scenes as Leslie drives an original WWII M4 Sherman Tank.
Join host Leslie Mueller in Astoria, NY at the Museum of the Moving Image. Learn about the history of moving images from early wooden cameras to present day digital tools. Explore the immersive Jim Henson exhibition and learn about his career and legacy including the beloved Muppets. Then go behind-the-scenes in the private projection room to see how films fill the screen at our local theaters.
Join host Leslie Mueller in Chicago at the American Writer’s Museum. Explore over 400 years of history through writing at this interactive museum. Learn about the mind of the writer, the tools of the trade and the sometimes challenging creative process. Then see rare museum artifacts from the private archives of this unusual museum.
Join host Leslie Mueller in St. Petersburg, FL at the architecturally breathtaking Dali Museum. Learn about artist Salvador Dali, said to be the father of surrealism. See the unparalleled collection of work from oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, prints, photographs, sculptures and more. Then go behind-the-scenes into the museums private archives to see dazzling jewelry designed by this prolific artist.
Join host Leslie Mueller in NYC at the world class American Museum of Natural History. See the striking exhibits throughout the museum and walk into the world’s largest jewelry box in the Hall of Gems and Minerals. From the 12′ tall amethyst geode to gems and minerals from around the world. Then go behind-the-scenes to see how this jaw-dropping exhibit was created.
