Series synopsis
Aerial America is an American documentary television series that premiered on Smithsonian Channel on July 10, 2010. It ended on January 12, 2020. It stars Jim Conrad.
Take off on a thrilling flight across America. This epic series offers rare glimpses of our nation's most treasured landmarks, all seen from breathtaking heights. From busy cityscapes to quiet landscapes, we capture the history and the pageantry of our amazing country, which is as diverse as the people who occupy it.
Premise
Take off on a thrilling flight across America. This epic series offers rare glimpses of our nation's most treasured landmarks, all seen from breathtaking heights. From busy cityscapes to quiet landscapes, we capture the history and the pageantry of our amazing country, which is as diverse as the people who occupy it.
Cast and characters
Leading cast
Episodes
This series spans 10 seasons with 72 episodes.
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 0 | 0 | ||
| Season 1 | 8 | July 10, 2010 | August 28, 2010 |
| Season 2 | 10 | July 10, 2011 | September 11, 2011 |
| Season 3 | 12 | January 8, 2012 | December 2, 2012 |
| Season 4 | 7 | July 14, 2013 | August 25, 2013 |
| Season 5 | 11 | February 23, 2014 | September 10, 2014 |
| Season 6 | 7 | April 26, 2015 | June 7, 2015 |
| Season 7 | 12 | April 24, 2016 | July 10, 2016 |
| Season 8 | 5 | June 4, 2017 | December 22, 2019 |
| Season 9 | 0 | December 5, 2021 | December 20, 2021 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
California The Pacific Coast Highway of California offers spectacular views while traveling along the edge of American culture. Buckle up for a non-stop flight over the mansion William Randolph Hearst built, the town Clint Eastwood governed and the farmland where Marilyn Monroe once held the title of Miss Artichoke. We soar over beaches and wine country, across Big Sur redwoods, under the Golden Gate Bridge and into the heart and soul of this magnificent state. |
July 10, 2010 |
| 2 |
Hawaii Join us on a non-stop journey by air over our nation's most exotic and breathtaking state. From lush green cliffs to black-sand beaches, from ancient ruins to modern city life, this aerial tour reveals the grandeur of the Aloha State. From Molokai to Maui, discover the stunning landscapes and astonishing stories of Hawaii's eight major islands without ever touching the ground. |
July 17, 2010 |
| 3 |
Virginia It's been called the New World and the Old Dominion. It is the birthplace of eight U.S. presidents, and the legend of Pocahontas. It's the site of Williamsburg, perhaps the most ambitious history lesson in America. Virginia proudly celebrates its past without losing its sense of fun. Join us as we travel across a diverse and rugged landscape into the realm of pirates, the source of myths and the heart of American democracy. |
July 24, 2010 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Maine Take a journey across distant isles, down rugged shores, and into the great wilderness seafarers once called "The Mainland." From Portland to Kennebunkport, Moosehead Lake to Casco Bay, this picturesque expedition offers a stunning bird's eye view of one of the most beautiful states on the Atlantic Coast. See why the Pine Tree State has attracted sailors, artists, presidents, and robber barons for centuries. Discover how Maine's storied past, rich resources, and varied cast of characters have helped shape not just the state, but the nation. |
July 10, 2011 |
| 2 |
Oregon Individualistic, eccentric and freethinking: a mix that's intrinsically "Made in Oregon." These traits belong not just to the people of this diverse state, but also to the landscape itself. From Crater Lake to the High Cascades to the perilous Pacific coastline, this state is full of natural beauty. From Lewis and Clark's search for "land's end" to the thousands of emigrants who arrived via the Oregon Trail, the state has always attracted the adventurous type. |
July 17, 2011 |
| 3 |
South Carolina The true spirit and rich history of the South are encapsulated in this first-class journey across the Palmetto State. From Fort Sumter, where the first shots of The War Between the States rang out, to Sullivan Island, the Ellis Island of Slaves, to the cypress swamp where freedom fighter Francis Marion helped turn the tide of the Revolutionary War. Take flight on a journey that showcases American history, pristine beaches, colorful cities, and wild spaces. |
July 24, 2011 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Louisiana Visit the state where the Big Muddy comes to an end and the Big Easy comes to life. Louisiana is home to both great celebrations and great devastation. From cool jazz to hot cooking; from a vast paradise of wetlands to the giant industries endangering its fragile ecosystems, explore the stark contradictions of the Sugar State from soaring heights. Having survived natural and manmade disasters, Louisiana proves it has never lost its festive, fighting spirit. |
January 8, 2012 |
| 2 |
New Mexico Georgia O'Keeffe once said, "If you ever go to New Mexico, it will itch you for the rest of your life," and this aerial tour of the state will show you exactly why. Take flight over 121,000 square miles of timeless beauty and national treasures, from the Rio Grande, to adobe structures and dormant volcanoes. See what brought O'Keeffe to the Land of Enchantment, as well as Billy the Kid, the makers of the atomic bomb and perhaps even visitors from far away galaxies. |
January 15, 2012 |
| 3 |
Michigan Michigan is a Midwestern powerhouse, where one man's assembly lines brought the automobile to America and another man's "Hit Factory" brought the Motown sound to the world. Named after the Native American term for "big lake," Michigan is defined not only by the Great Lakes that shape it, but how its residents shaped America. Discover its diverse history and its visionaries who built empires, started unions, and helped win a World War. |
January 22, 2012 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Amazing Destinations From its Great Lakes to its Grand Canyon, its Rocky Mountain peaks to its Key West reefs, America is a land of amazing destinations. This adventure over the nation's most remarkable landscapes and landmarks captures her breathtaking beauty, while demonstrating how its sense of wonder has inspired countless artists, thinkers, and revolutionaries. Join us on this cross-country tour over iconic and unknown sights, and discover a side of America you've never seen before. |
July 14, 2013 |
| 2 |
Montana Big skies, big adventure, and big spirits: this is Montana. It's where fertile plains collide with the Rocky Mountains and the country's fastest land mammals run the grasslands known as the American Serengeti. It's also where Lewis and Clark faced towering stone obstacles and Custer faced an even more daunting foe. This aerial journey showcases the Treasure State's mountains and milestones, its legends and landmarks, all from spectacular heights. |
July 21, 2013 |
| 3 |
Ohio It's where the Wright brothers' visions of flight fully took off and where a young Neil Armstrong first dreamed of the Moon. Take flight over the Buckeye State and witness centuries of American history etched in its soil. From the Ohio River, where Revolutionary War veterans started life anew, to Marietta, where runaway slaves sought shelter, this aerial tour celebrates the state's spirit: built on freedom, sports, and rock and roll. |
July 28, 2013 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Texas To capture Texas, you need to go big, and this aerial exploration spans thousands of square miles to reveal the great sites of the Lone Star State. Witness its lush forests, forbidding deserts, and shimmering modern cities. High-altitude views of landmarks reveal a rich, complex past where bloody battles for independence began and where the era of American idealism ended one dark November day. From humble beginnings to boastful proclamations, see why "everything's bigger in Texas." |
February 23, 2014 |
| 2 |
Idaho Soar over a state with much more to offer than just potatoes! This state contains millions of acres of untamed land, great ancient spines of stone, and the deepest canyon in America. Idaho's past is as rich as its volcanic soil and this tour over the Gem State reveals unique visual treasures. From Hemingway's haven to Hell's Canyon, and from the world's first atomic city to the birth of the potato boom, discover the beauty and history of Idaho. |
March 2, 2014 |
| 3 |
Kentucky Kentucky: home of young Abe Lincoln, old family feuds, and the most exciting two minutes in sports. This overhead exploration reveals the fertile stories of America's 15th state, from Daniel Boone's wilderness trail to the Country Music Highway, and from the legends of the Kentucky Derby to the secrets behind its beloved bourbon. With its rich history and breathtaking beauty, the Bluegrass State is a stunning, hard-won paradise, best viewed from high above. |
March 9, 2014 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Washington D.C. Washington, DC, does not boast towering buildings, but its skyline still inspires awe through its history, purpose, and what happens inside its walls. Explore the Nation's Capital from above as we swoop over its monuments, memorials, historic neighborhoods, and beckoning waters. We celebrate a city of stately American symbols and turbulent history, including scandals, protests, assassinations, and battles that rocked it to its core. But through it all, D.C. has survived and thrived, proving itself a city worthy of the nation it represents. |
April 26, 2015 |
| 2 |
Wisconsin It's a state ruled by beer and dairy, a place full of wild, scenic beauty and bustling urban landscapes. This is Wisconsin, and this aerial tour celebrates the unique brew of dazzling landscapes, rich history, and contemporary culture that can only be found in the Badger State. Join us as we soar over colorful autumn forests, family-owned farms, the Door Peninsula and share stories of the ancient tribes, European settlers, and American icons who gave Wisconsin its one-of-a-kind identity. |
May 3, 2015 |
| 3 |
New Jersey New Jersey is one of America's 13 original states, and one of its most fascinating. It's where the nation's first industrial city was built, where some of Hollywood's biggest studios began, and where a brilliant inventor devised a way to light the world. We trace the Garden State's most dramatic historic moments, from Washington's fateful Delaware crossing to Hindenburg's fiery crash to Superstorm Sandy's furious attack. We also celebrate Jersey's quiet misty valleys, fields of plenty, miles of sunlit shores, and plucky, innovative spirit. |
May 10, 2015 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
On the Water An aerial tour of America's waterways, wetlands, dams and canals. |
April 24, 2016 |
| 2 |
Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands A flyover tour of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
May 1, 2016 |
| 3 | Natural Wonders | May 8, 2016 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
New York City 24 There's nothing like a day in the life of New York City, and there's no better way to appreciate it than from above. Join us as we span the five boroughs, capturing the city's man-made and natural wonders and revealing the surprising ways its citizens live, work, and play. From crane operators working 1,000 feet over Manhattan to beachgoers frolicking at Coney Island to the pulsing lights of Times Square, this aerial tour captures the excitement of a city that is always on the go. |
June 4, 2017 |
| 2 |
Yellowstone When you soar above Yellowstone, it's easy to see why it became the world's first national park in 1872. It's a place of staggering beauty and fragile creatures, of stunning granite peaks that pierce the sky and colorful springs that may hold secrets about the origins of life. This aerial voyage takes you over high elevation lakes, snaking canyons, sputtering hot geysers, and snow-covered landscapes. Explore Yellowstone's history of Native Americans, European explorers, and 10 million years of tectonic upheaval. |
March 3, 2019 |
| 3 |
Boston 24 No city has played a bigger role in America's independence than Boston. Famous for its rowdy revolutionaries, America's oldest battleship, its busy harbor, and the nation's first subway system, Boston is a city of firsts and continues to shine as America's cradle of liberty. Fly over this city and see New England's largest metropolis like never before, in Aerial America: Boston 24. |
December 8, 2019 |
| Episode | Title | Air date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Coasts An aerial tour over America's coastlines explores the visual splendor and rich history of the nation's varied borders. |
December 5, 2021 |
| 2 |
Outdoor Adventures Grab your ticket for a scenic cross-country flight, from the mountains to the prairies, and from sea to shining sea. Visit the nation's beaches, mountains, national parks, and other sites that attract adventurers and tourists. |
December 13, 2021 |
| 3 |
Dazzling Destinations A scenic cross-country flight, from the mountains to the prairies and sea to shining sea, of the country's most magnificent cultural landmarks. |
December 20, 2021 |
Production
Release
| Original network/platform | Smithsonian Channel |
|---|---|
| First aired | July 10, 2010 |
| Last aired | January 12, 2020 |
| Runtime | 45 minutes |
| Status | ended |
| Schedule | Sunday at 20:00:00 |