History Originals

Background
This is the original production unit of History (formerly The History Channel), a network of A&E Networks.

1st Logo (January 1, 1995-1998)
Visuals: On a brown background of moving patterns, there is the text "For The History Channel", followed by Roger Mudd's hosting credit. Then it fades to the gold letter "Serif" rotating, along with the text "This has been a presentation of" above and the text "The History Channel" below with a copyright date.

Variant: A still version exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A majestic/bombastic fanfare.

Availability: Can be seen on older History Channel shows and specials from the period, such as the 1997 documentary Highway Hangouts.

2nd Logo (1996-2000)
Visuals: On a marble background, there is a frame that has the text "Serif" zooming out. Light shines, and the text disappears as the letter from before zooms out, and the text "Serif" fades in below the logo.

Variant: Sometimes, a copyright date fades in below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A bombastic fanfare that ends in a hit.

Availability: Can be seen on History Channel shows from the era, such as The 20th Century with Mike Wallace and the first seasons of Secrets of War, among others.

3rd Logo (1999-2003)
Visuals: Over a background of historical objects and clocks, there is the text "A Presentation of" spread out. Then it flashes to the History Channel logo, now with a box inside. The words from the last logo, now in white zoom out.

Variants:
 * Sometimes, a copyright date wipes in below the logo.
 * A Spanish-translated version of the logo exists.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A bell, followed by a different bombastic fanfare. Sometimes, the end theme plays over the logo.

Availability: Seen on many History Channel shows from the era, like History IQ, Secrets of War, Unsung Heroes of Pearl Harbor and reruns of Black Sheep Squadron.

4th Logo (2003-September 26, 2006)
Visuals: The screen pans up to the History Channel logo sliding. Then it crossfades to the same logo zooming out on a background with  lights. The words from the last logo zoom out, and a copyright date fades in below.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A hip-hop theme.

Availability: Seen on many History Channel original shows from the era, like reruns of A&E's The American Revolution.

5th Logo (November 7, 2006-February 15, 2008)
Visuals: Over a background, the logo starts with squares and outlines of the History logo. Then a border flips in, and we see the History Channel logo.

Variant: An in-credit version of the logo was seen on The Exodus Decoded.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: Same as before.

Availability: Seen on History Channel's video games from the era, like Civil War: A Nation Divided, as well as many original shows from the era.

1st Logo (February 16, 2008-May 30, 2012)
Visuals: On a background, a play button wipes in, followed by the letters of the word "HISTORY". Then, the "H" from the last logo flips in, and the play button draws a square.

Variant: A still version exists on a white background.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: The end theme of the show.

Availability: The normal version was seen on Hatfields & McCoys. The still version was seen on the Canadian show Nazi Fugitives.

2nd Logo (2012-April 21, 2016)
Visuals: On a white background, a spotlight appears, revealing the text from the last logo. The play button appears, and the History logo appears, then the logo shines.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on many History shows from the period, like seasons 1-4a of Vikings.

3rd Logo (February 8-April 4, 2016)
Visuals: Over a black background, the logo starts with close-ups of the "Serif" letter from the last logo zooming out. Then once it reaches, it reveals the letter and a line draws in. The text "HISTORY" appears below the logo.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: A harp theme, with whooshing sounds.

Availability: Can be seen on Billion Dollar Wreck.

4th Logo (May 30, 2016-December 6, 2021)
Visuals: The screen zooms out to reveal a  bar, which reveals to be the "H" from the last logos over a dark spotlight background with dust effects. Then it rotates, and the History logo is formed.

Technique: CGI.

Audio: None or the end theme of the show.

Availability: Seen on History's scripted programming from the era, like Roots, later episodes of Vikings and Knightfall.