Plot Synopsis

Xavier Carnegie, the Creative Director at the National Museum of American History, walks through the Smithsonian Institution, surprising museum-goers with an opportunity to learn more about objects that changed the world by going behind the scenes, speaking with world-renowned experts, or experiencing history first-hand. Some people venture into the Smithsonian's vaults, while others get to go even further, as they're whisked off to Montana for a recreation of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, or soar the wild blue yonder in an antique biplane. From the Spirit of St. Louis to the Model T, and from Edison's light bulb to Seinfeld's puffy shirt, this one-hour series celebrates America's explorers, trailblazers, and megastars, sharing their stories through the unforgettable objects at the Smithsonian. SERIOUSLY AMAZING OBJECTS premiered one month after Richard Kurin's book, "The Smithsonian's History of America in 101 Objects," was published, and in conjunction with "Smithsonian" magazine's November Special Issue, 101 Objects That Made America.
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Season 2 of SERIOUSLY AMAZING OBJECTS premiered on Monday, February 3, 2020 at 8pm ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel. In the season opener, "Survivors," Xavier Carnegie gives select Smithsonian visitors a one-of-a-kind opportunity to interact with artifacts and animals that represent amazing stories of survival. One guest will learn how the idea of camouflage was developed. Another gets an up-close look at the kite that helped America win World War II. And finally, one guest enters the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, where scientists are racing to save cheetahs from the brink of extinction.