Smithsonian Channel to Premiere 9/11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES, 9/8

We've all seen the horrific images of September 11, 2001 from New York City and Washington D.C. Across America, however, there are thousands of other images and sounds - ones that were seen and heard only in the cities in which they were created.

From the Peabody Award-winning production team led by Tom Jennings of 1895 Films, comes 9-11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES, a one-hour special premiering Sunday, September 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Smithsonian Channel. This program combines media from across the nation and fashions them into a compelling story of bearing witness, taking action and survival. This is the story of September 11th not seen before - from the outside looking in.

9-11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES uses the same successful technique used in the Smithsonian Channel Peabody Award-winning original documentary MLK: THE ASSASSINATION TAPES. There is no narration. There are no interviews. Instead, the program only uses documentary evidence from that day to tell this harrowing story - to give a detailed look at how the rest of the nation perceived and dealt with what was going on in the east.

Planes grounded. National Guard deployed. The scramble for news of loved ones. Martial law. Could it happen here? Even in places where the planes did not crash, terror was palpable. It could be heard in the voices of those reporting on local TV and radio stations, in the urgent radio recordings of air traffic controllers and the frantic calls of first responders.

The tragedy of September 11th had a different kind of impact outside of New York City and at the Pentagon. While New Yorkers were running for their lives, the rest of the nation could only look on and watch and grieve - and then react.

9-11: THE HEARTLAND TAPES is being produced by Tom Jennings of 1895 Films. Executive producers for Smithsonian Channel are David Royle and Charles Poe.

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Smithsonian Channel is owned by Smithsonian Networks, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution. Its programs are largely inspired by the assets of the world's largest museum complex. Smithsonian Channel features award-winning original documentaries, series, and groundbreaking programs highlighting America's historical, cultural and scientific heritage. Smithsonian Channel brings the American Experience home in high definition and Dolby Digital 5.1 and is available to customers of DirecTV, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Charter Communications, Cablevision, Verizon, AT&T, and more. Learn more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.