All upcoming Daytime programs

Through the story of a pebble, paleobiologist Jan Zalasiewicz illuminates a complex history that begins in the farthest reaches of space and continues on Earth with volcanic eruptions, extinct animals and plants, long-vanished oceans, and transformations deep underground. The pebble’s story shows how geologists reveal the Earth’s past by forensic analysis of even the tiniest amounts of mineral matter crammed into a pebble.

Cappadocia in central Türkiye is best known for its surreal landscapes of sculpted tuff, fairy chimneys, and ancient underground cities. But Cappadocia is more than just a natural marvel. Its valleys and rock-cut dwellings reveal a rich tapestry of history, from Hittite strongholds and Persian satrapies to Roman and Byzantine settlements to cave churches. Turkish tour guide Serif Yenen brings Cappadocia to life by weaving together its natural beauty, historical depth, and religious significance.

Tens of billions of birds share the planet with us, an astonishing array of species that are present nearly everywhere humans call home. They are delicate creatures with hollow bones and thin skin protected by feathers, but birds actually evolved from dinosaurs over 150 million years ago. Evolutionary biologist Steve Brusatte investigates why birds were the only dinosaurs to survive the cataclysmic asteroid impact 66 million years ago and chronicles how these survivors proliferated to produce the many species seen today.

Over nearly 250 years, the National Mall has evolved as the center stage of the nation’s capital. The Founding Fathers saw the District of Columbia as a shining beacon of democracy for a newly independent nation, reflected in the L’Enfant Plan’s vision of the National Mall as its ceremonial core. In the first program of a 2-part series, Carolyn Muraskin, founder of DC Design Tours, traces the Mall’s transition from pasture lands to military training grounds and from mud flats to grand monuments, sharing the complex and lesser-known history of some of the most enduring national landmarks. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Long before modern art found its home in museums, it thrived in salons, collections, and networks cultivated by women. From gatherings in Europe to avant-garde circles in early 20th-century New York, these women nurtured artists, championed emerging talent, and shaped the tastes that defined modern culture. In a 3-session series, art historian Jennie Hirsh highlights the salonnières and patrons who forged spaces where innovation flourished. This session focuses on Gertrude Stein, Helene Kröller-Müller, and Margherita Sarfatti. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

After Napoleon toppled the Venetian Republic in 1797, Venice passed from French to Austrian control before joining Italy in 1866. The city was reshaped for industry—churches razed, canals filled, streets widened—sparking fierce debate. Critics condemned the loss of artistic heritage, fueling a struggle between preservation and modernization that eventually redirected Venice toward tourism. Historian Dennis Romano explores how the 19th century became one of the most consequential periods in Venice’s 1,600-year history, reshaping both its physical landscape and cultural identity.

As the Impressionist movement evolved, it became a symbol of modern art and began to transcend national boundaries. Today, the development and practice of Impressionism is seen less as a uniquely French movement and instead as a major influence on the world’s visual culture. In a 4-session series, art historian Joseph Paul Cassar surveys its influence in Russia, Italy, Holland, Belgium, and Great Britain. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

At the center of classical Greece stood Athens and Sparta. Together, they defeated the Persians, the era’s only superpower. Yet later, they spread conflict and destruction across the eastern Mediterranean, culminating in the horrors of the Peloponnesian War. Historian Adrian Goldsworthy examines the complex and often volatile relationship between militarized Sparta and radically democratic Athens—opposites in ideology and culture, each driven by the Greek longing to excel and experimenting in radically different ways to govern a state.

Every two years, the Venice Biennale transforms Venice into a living museum. This cultural extravaganza has grown into one of the world’s most influential exhibitions of contemporary art, architecture, cinema, dance, music, and theater, showcasing groundbreaking work from more than 90 nations. In a 2-session series, art historian Jennie Hirsh explores the biennale’s rich past and its landmark 2026 edition. This session focuses on the history of the Venice Biennale. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

By the end of the 1950s, New York Abstract Expressionism had begun to wane. Painters adopted the large scale and rich palette of artists like Barnett Newman and Mark Rothko but with new processes and goals in mind. Many of these painters lived in Washington, D.C., where their originality earned them the name Washington Color School. Morris Louis, Kenneth Noland, Gene Davis, and Paul Reed, among others, were important innovators in new working methods based on staining unprimed canvas. Art historian David Gariff examines this golden age in the history of modern American art. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)