Stories from the Vaults

Stories from the Vaults

Ever wonder what's hiding behind the scenes of America's most renowned museum complex? Find out as host Tom Cavanagh ("Ed") takes you on an entertaining insider's tour of the private rooms, high-tech vaults, and cutting edge labs of the Smithsonian Institution, revealing some of the amazing artifacts and rarely seen treasures that visitors can't see. Follow along as Tom uncovers the history of each object-its origins, how it's being preserved and studied, and what it might tell us.

Stories from the Vaults: Top Secret (Full Episode)

Spies, missiles and the Hope Diamond. Unlock the mysteries hidden inside the Smithsonian vaults with host Tom Cavanagh.

Season 2

Season 1

Tom Cavanagh

Tom Cavanagh

Sure, he spends most of his time cracking up curators, but make no mistake, Stories from the Vaults host Tom Cavanagh isn't always a class clown. Tom graduated from Queens University in Ontario with three degrees in English, biology and education. Having spent his early childhood growing up in Ghana and studying in Quebec, he's quite the cultured fellow. Exploring the vaults of the world's largest museum complex is right up his alley. Tom's entertainment career spans television, film and theater. In his native Canada, a commercial for Labatt Blue beer made Tom a recognizable face. Since then, he's appeared in numerous television shows, including "Trust Me," "Eli Stone," and "Scrubs." Tom's most memorable television role was the title character in the series "Ed," where he won critical acclaim for his role as Ed Stevens, as well as a faithful legion of fans who still mourn the cancellation of the show after four seasons. Tom's film roles include How to Eat Fried Worms, Two Weeks, Alchemy and Gray Matters. His theater appearances include "Cabaret," "A Chorus Line," "Grease," and more. Tom is a life-long sports enthusiast and is often seen on a basketball court and, most recently, finishing the New York City Marathon. In March 2009, he traveled with the United Nations Foundation to refugee camps in Rwanda to distribute mosquito nets for the charitable organization Nothing but Nets. The nets help prevent the spread of malaria.