The Smithsonian Institution is the world’s largest museum and research complex, with 19 different museums, 9 research centres, and even a research centre on an island in Panama. But like the British Museum and museums all over the world, it is bursting at the seams and can’t display all its collection. In the Smithsonian’s case it has an estimated 156 million artefacts, works of art and specimens. So, what’s hiding behind the scenes?
Canadian comedian and actor Tom Cavanagh (‘The Flash’, Golden Globe nominee for ‘Ed’) gives an offbeat tour of the Smithsonian’s labyrinthine vaults and cutting-edge labs, revealing some of the amazing artefacts and treasures that visitors seldom see in Stories From The Vaults. From visiting the National Zoo and the National Air and Space Museum, to the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Tom explores the stories behind some amazing and surprising artefacts – and, in ‘Life After Death’ (Thursday 2nd, 8.30pm), looks at items relating to the afterlife.
