WISEOWL Resources

Home and business owners of historic urban and rural North Carolina structures "show and tell" the experiences and rewards of historic preservation.

A UNCTV program which discussses the art of August Rodin, focusing on the pieces on exhibition at the NC Museum of Art.

Discusses how the technology of steam railroads brought a social revolution to the United States and to North Carolina. Spencer Shops in North Carolina is one of the few steam railroad facilities that survives today.

This program documents a reunion and reconciliation of former USS North Carolina and Japanese submarine I-19 crews. The I-19 inadvertently torpedoed and severely damaged the North Carolina during World War II.

North Carolina artist, Tom Sayre, explains his philosophy as he constructs a large piece of outdoor sculpture. The intersection of artistic ideals and economic principles are seen from the artist's point of view.

Viewers learn how to solve mysteries of local history through the use of nearby architecture. (Features locations in Asheville, Durham, New Bern, and Wilmington.) As a supplement to this documentary, see the UNC collection of NC Postcards. The collection contains more than 1,000 postcards, including at least one from each of North Carolina’s one hundred counties. Many of the postcards are from the golden age of postcard publishing in the early twentieth century and show a fascinating array of street scenes, churches, colleges and universities, businesses, courthouses, and landscapes.

A master landscape painter from Eastern North Carolina explains his philosophy and displays his work.

Square dancing in the mountains of North Carolina is viewed from a historical perspective. Archival film, old photos, and interviews with dancers of the 1920's and 30's illuminate a golden era of this folk art form.

The pork industry in North Carolina is explored as actors try out for a play

The Adventure Begins - Scientific research, public service, and personal adventure are the themes of this documentary.

Viewers learn about the architectural history, the prison laborers who built the mansion, and other interesting stories about the home of North Carolina's governors.

An overview of the Carolina Department of Cultural Resources as seen from the viewpoint of the people served by this agency.

This program explores the fragile economy of Beaufort, a coastal North Carolina fishing village. (Special Note: Correlates to North Carolina history, environmental studies, science, ELP, and social studies.)

This program recounts the adventures of the Theater in the Park acting troupe when the cast and crew took their production of "A Christmas Carol" to Raleigh's sister city, Hull, England.

Viewers explore three hundred years of North Carolina history from the execution of colonial Surveyor General John Lawson that ignited the Tuscarora War, through the reign of the feared Blackbeard to the greatest theatrical attraction that sailed our coastal waters, the Showboat. It all happened in Bath, the first town.

Rainforests and the place they hold in the Earth's ecology. Well known voices tell the story.

A behind-the-scenes look at the State theater and the work involved in putting on a top performance.

Uncovering the oldest shipwreck ever discovered in North Carolina. It may be the Queen Anne's Revenge, Blackbeard's own vessel

Viewers visit five archaeology sites in North Carolina-- Montgomery, Burke, Buncombe, and Washington Counties and Bermuda Beach near Topsail--to learn how archaeologists are working to preserve the state's buried history.

A trio of turkey quilters discuss basic facts about North Carolina and the turkey industry.

(9:47) Salt and brackish marshes are some of the world's most self-sufficient habitats. Marsh-dwelling animals and plants are specially adapted to their ever-changing environment. Shorelines Biomes Series: Beach/ Bay/ Marsh

9:49) Focusing on the ecology of shoreline habitats on both rocky and sandy coasts, this program describes the forces that shape shorelines and features habitats ranging from the inter-tidal zone to the maritime forest. Shorelines Biomes Series: Beach/ Bay/ Marsh

(9:43) North America's estuarine communities, where fresh water from rivers and streams mixes with salt water from the ocean, are amazing nurseries for marine life. Shorelines Biomes Series: Beach/ Bay/ Marsh

(9:46) Examine the hydrologic cycle and such timely topics as wetland alteration, water conservation, and wetland restoration. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:46) Follow a river as it journeys from its headwaters to the sea and examine North America's diverse waterways, including meandering blackwater streams and raging whitewater rivers. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:45) North America's widespread freshwater marshes, such as the prairie potholes, are havens for wildlife. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:37) North America's still water habitats include temporary vernal pools, backyard beaver ponds, and remote glacial lakes. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:49) Wade into the mysteries of nonriverine wetlands, ranging from spongy bogs in the Northeast to southern bald cypress swamps. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:47) The ebb and flow of rivers energize lively floodplain forests and swamps. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

(9:43) The so-called "true prairie", tall grass prairie was once the most dramatic North American grassland, reaching up to 12 feet in height. Today this habitat covers only 1% of its former range. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(9:46) Better known as the Great Plains, this is the largest grasslands biome in North America. The grasses are less than two feet tall and are kept down by grazing animals such as buffalo. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(10:00) This program provides an overview of the various grasslands in the continental United States and examines distinct habitats such as California, desert, and intermountain grasslands. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(9.46) A combination of both short and tall grass prairie, mixed prairie contains more plant species than any prairie type. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(9.45) Public and private environmental groups are working together to save North America's relict grasslands and restore them to their original condition through prescribed burning and the reintroduction of native species. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(9.50) Many people are surprised to discover that remnant grasslands can be found along the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana and within the Everglades. American Grasslands Biomes Series: N American Grasslands/ Tallgrass Prairie/ Mixed Grasslands/ Shortgrass Prairie, /Coastal Grasslands/ Grasslands Conservation

(9.44) This overview of the four North American deserts explains the natural processes that create deserts, provides maps that pinpoint the deserts, provides maps that pinpoint the deserts' locations, describes the difference between the deserts, and showcases representative plants and animals. Desert Biomes Series: What is a Desert?/ Life in the Desert/ Water in the Desert

(9.49) The desert world revolves around water. The program illustrates how plants and animals have developed special adaptations to cope with the scarcity of water in the desert and highlights how peoples' thirst for water is altering the desert environment. Desert Biomes Series: What is a Desert?/ Life in the Desert/ Water in the Desert

(9.41) This program demonstrates how the desert's diverse plants and animals have evolved special adaptations in response to their challenging environment. It also illustrates how every species fills a specific niche and how all life is interconnected through biological communities. Desert Biomes Series: What is a Desert?/ Life in the Desert/ Water in the Desert

Examine the hydrologic cycle and such timely topics as wetland alteration, water conservation, and wetland restoration. Freshwater Wetlands Biomes Series: Lakes, Ponds, and Pools/ Marsh/ Forested Wetlands/ Rivers and Streams/ Floodplain Communities/ Water: A User’s Guide

This ecosystem is sometimes land and sometimes sea that supports the estuary and acts as a buffer. It is one of most productive ecosystems in the world. Many plants and animals are shown. The Big Sweep clean-up program is also profiled. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh

The Reef at the End of the Road The reefs that parallel US 1 in the Florida Keys face a variety of dangers. The mangrove and sea grass ecosystems are crucial in reef health. The effects of population growth are killing the reefs. The Key Largo National Marine Sanctuary is spotlighted. The Last Days of the Manatee (begins 18:15). Only about 1000 of these endangered “sea cows” survive. They are not equipped to compete with the development and population growth. Their migratory behaviors make preservation more difficult. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh

3 people are profiled. The first is an instructor and conservationist. The other two are disabled and have worked hard to make the sport available to everyone. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh

200 shipwrecks rest near Cape Hatteras NC. Most are sailing ships, but others, about 70, are from WWII. Truk Lagoon in Micronesia holds more than 60 Japanese ships sunk during WWII. Corals, sponges and fish have taken over all the wrecks for their own. Preservation of the shipwrecks is also discussed. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh

Two videos: The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez. The Ocean at Night What seems to be mysterious in the dark is actually much like what is found during the day. The species not seen during daylight are highlighted. The Sea of Cortez (begins 14:17) Youngest of earth’s oceans, this environment supports soft rather than hard corals. The currents bring in food that supports many species of fish, marine mammals, and birds. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh

Photography has improved and brought an expansive view of the ocean. It is also a tool to closely study the environment and its residents. What animals see is also explored. There are 10 videos in the Return to the Sea video series: Oceans Under Glass/ Swimming With Whales/ A Day On the Reef/ Secrets of the Shark/ The Art of Underwater Photography/ The Ocean at Night and The Sea of Cortez/ The Graveyards of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans/ People Who Make a Difference/ The Reef at the End of the Road and The Last Days of the Manatee/ Life in a Salt Marsh