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History Detectives

History Detectives
America's top gumshoes are on the case to prove once again that an object found in an attic or backyard might be anything but ordinary. Exploring historical objects and the stories behind them, History Detectives crisscrosses the country delving into legends, folklore and personal histories to discover potentially extraordinary objects in everyday American homes.
For more info: http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/

Latest Episodes

Mysteries from the Wild West
Mysteries from the Wild West
Air date: 04-02-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2354955653/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false We investigate four stories from the American West. Did this biography of legendary frontiersman Kit Carson once belong to members of his family? Then, a rodeo saddle tells the story of movie stuntman Yakima Canutt. Discover the meaning behind an inscription on sheet music of the popular western... /episodes/get/8437 /episode/8437 History Detectives: Mysteries from the Wild West /episode-player/8437
Bill of Sale, Cobb Powder Horn and the Star Spangled Banner
Bill of Sale, Cobb Powder Horn and the Star Spangled Banner
Air date: 01-08-2013 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2323355629/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false In this episode, Eduardo investigates the life story behind with a Bill of Sale for a 17-year old “negro girl.” Gwen traces a powder horn from a muddy Minnesota field to the American Revolution. Elyse asks what role a handwritten score played in the creation of our national anthem. Finally, notes... /episodes/get/6624 /episode/6624 History Detectives: Bill of Sale, Cobb Powder Horn and the Star Spangled Banner /episode-player/6624
Colored Heroes, Valley Forge Map and a Transistor Radio
Colored Heroes, Valley Forge Map and a Transistor Radio
Air date: 10-09-2012 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2285042567/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false In this episode, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer helps us find the details behind the heroic acts pictured in a poster about two WWI African American soldiers. Then, do we have a hand-drawn map of Valley Forge that George Washington used during the American Revolution? Finally we investigate an early... /episodes/get/5801 /episode/5801 History Detectives: Colored Heroes, Valley Forge Map and a Transistor Radio /episode-player/5801
Vietnam Diary, Bootlegger’s Notebook and a Hollywood Ledger
Vietnam Diary, Bootlegger’s Notebook and a Hollywood Ledger
Air date: 10-02-2012 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2284993448/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false In this episode, can History Detectives return the diary of a fallen North Vietnamese soldier to that veteran’s family? Then, a notebook full of recipes for large volumes of liquor makes an Indiana man wonder if his rich uncle was a Prohibition-era bootlegger. And what can an old ledger tell us... /episodes/get/1468 /episode/1468 History Detectives: Vietnam Diary, Bootlegger’s Notebook and a Hollywood Ledger /episode-player/1468
Titanic Picture Frame, Woolworth Signs, Nazi Spy Toys
Titanic Picture Frame, Woolworth Signs, Nazi Spy Toys
Air date: 08-07-2012 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2264466371/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false In this episode, was this picture frame was crafted from wood from the Titanic, the Lusitania, or neither? Were these Woolworth signs at the 1960 Winston-Salem lunch-counter sit-ins? And, for 70 years the owner of these toy soldiers has wondered if the father of his childhood friend was a Nazi spy. /episodes/get/1466 /episode/1466 History Detectives: Titanic Picture Frame, Woolworth Signs, Nazi Spy Toys /episode-player/1466
Bird of War, Lincoln Oath and War Spoils of a Peace Chief
Bird of War, Lincoln Oath and War Spoils of a Peace Chief
Air date: 07-31-2012 Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/2261437792/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false In this episode we investigate an evocative symbol of a bird dropping a bomb. Did these patches belong to a World War II unit? Then, Gwen connects a swatch of tattered red fabric to a pivotal moment in U.S. Civil War history. And, did this neckpiece and these leggings once belong to Chief Black... /episodes/get/1419 /episode/1419 History Detectives: Bird of War, Lincoln Oath and War Spoils of a Peace Chief /episode-player/1419
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Episode Archive

Elyse Luray on Being a History Detective
Elyse Luray on Being a History Detective
Elyse covers the tough questions about being on the History Detectives beat.
Air date: 06/01/2005
Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/1484812433/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Elyse covers the tough questions about being on the History Detectives beat. /episodes/get/1427 /episode/1427 History Detectives: Elyse Luray on Being a History Detective /episode-player/1427
Season 5, Episode 5
Season 5, Episode 5
Does a movie poster reveal a bizzare alliance between an American filmmaker and a Mexican revolutionary? Why do the names of some of the America's most powerful leaders appear in a cabaret singer's autograph book? Did a preacher's robe once conceal a rebel's military uniform?
Air date: 01/06/2007
Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/1366365632/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Does a movie poster reveal a bizzare alliance between an American filmmaker and a Mexican revolutionary? Why do the names of some of the America's most powerful leaders appear in a cabaret singer's autograph book? Did a preacher's robe once conceal a rebel's military uniform? /episodes/get/1434 /episode/1434 History Detectives: Season 5, Episode 5 /episode-player/1434
Season 6, Episode 1
Season 6, Episode 1
Does this diary hold the key to understanding the fate of a missing bomber pilot from World War II? Was this coin a target for one of the Wild West's most popular female sharpshooters? Is this tattered book a true account of female slavery in the old West?
Air date: 06/30/2008
Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/1138240842/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Does this diary hold the key to understanding the fate of a missing bomber pilot from World War II? Was this coin a target for one of the Wild West's most popular female sharpshooters? Is this tattered book a true account of female slavery in the old West? /episodes/get/1435 /episode/1435 History Detectives: Season 6, Episode 1 /episode-player/1435
Season 6, Episode 2
Season 6, Episode 2
Is this peculiar flag one that African-American soldiers marched under in the war to end all wars? Is this painting an original depiction of Native American life from one of the premiere painters of the American West? Was this building a safe haven for persecuted immigrants, or a hub for organized...
Air date: 07/07/2008
Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/1139152390/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false Is this peculiar flag one that African-American soldiers marched under in the war to end all wars? Is this painting an original depiction of Native American life from one of the premiere painters of the American West? Was this building a safe haven for persecuted immigrants, or a hub for organized... /episodes/get/1437 /episode/1437 History Detectives: Season 6, Episode 2 /episode-player/1437
Camp David Letter
Camp David Letter
A Californian has memorabilia revealing a story behind the Presidential retreat Camp David. One letter, from Ronald Reagan, reads "...Captain John H. Kevers gave many years of service to Presidents... Because of Captain Kevers, we have the enjoyable facility of Camp David..." In California, host...
Air date: 07/14/2008
Watch
http://video.pbs.org/widget/partnerplayer/1912310040/?player=WGBY-PBS&w=512&h=288&chapterbar=true&autoplay=false A Californian has memorabilia revealing a story behind the Presidential retreat Camp David. One letter, from Ronald Reagan, reads "...Captain John H. Kevers gave many years of service to Presidents... Because of Captain Kevers, we have the enjoyable facility of Camp David..." In California, host... /episodes/get/1421 /episode/1421 History Detectives: Camp David Letter /episode-player/1421
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