Smithsonian to Premiere 50th State of AERIAL AMERICA, 6/7

Mission accomplished! The most expansive aerial series in the history of U.S. television has completed its epic quest to capture all 50 states from the air. AERIAL AMERICA, the signature Smithsonian Channel series, will premiere its 50th state, AERIAL AMERICA: ILLINOIS, on Sunday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Preceding Illinois, Smithsonian Channel will broadcast a marathon of the previous 49 states beginning at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 5.

First launched in 2008, AERIAL AMERICA is filmed from helicopters armed with state-of-the-art Cineflex V-14 HD camera systems. Each episode uses breathtaking aerial cinematography to reveal what makes each of the 50 United States unique - from beautiful natural landmarks, to sites of important turning points in history, to fascinating locations far off the beaten path... and the rich variety of wildlife that calls each state home.

To cover all 50 states and Washington, D.C. from the air, the AERIAL AMERICA production team flew more than 2,500 hours and covered well over 150,000 miles, enough to have circled the globe six times. Over its seven years of production, the series hasn't simply told stories from the air; it has captured events large and small that define our nation: the excitement of the Kentucky Derby, a 2,000-foot climb in Colorado by firefighters honoring 9/11 heroes, colorful Civil War re-enactments in Pennsylvania, damage from an E5 tornado in Mississippi, and baseball's spring training in Florida, to name just a few.

AERIAL AMERICA began its epic adventure with the spectacular beauty of Hawaii and caps off the 50 states with the heartland riches of Illinois, soaring from Chicago's famous skyline to its southern-most tip, the Garden of the Gods in the Shawnee National Forest. Beginning with mysterious mound-builders who created the largest known prehistoric earthwork in the western hemisphere, the story of Illinois offers a startling variety of characters and sights. Michael Jordan. Al Capone. The birth of the John Deere steel plow. The final resting place of Abraham Lincoln. Told from the air, it's an endlessly intriguing journey.

AERIAL AMERICA is still in production. Future specials include a two-part feature that expands on the stunning variety of the California landscapes, as well as a 4K Ultra High Definition episode showcasing Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

AERIAL AMERICA is produced by Tusker Television for Smithsonian Channel. Tusker Television's Executive Producer is Toby Beach. Executive Producers for Smithsonian Channel are David Royle and Charles Poe.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Boomtowners, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Civil War 360, 9/11: The Heartland Tapes; MLK: The Assassination Tapes and The Day Kennedy Died. Find out more at www.smithsonianchannel.com.

To post a comment, you must register and login.