History Detectives(2003–2014)

New Jersey

Face Artifact The Place: Mantoloking, New Jersey Found on the beach, a pebble in the sand with sculpted human features. To unlock this riddle, the team must travel through time, across borders and between cultures. Fire Station The Place: Morristown, New Jersey The evidence suggests that President Ulysses S. Grant celebrated America's centennial at this old firehouse. The History Detectives try to prove it. "Pop" Lloyd's Baseball Field The Place: Atlantic City, New Jersey Black ball players, white politicians, prejudice and patrimony. All of these threads appear when the History Detectives begin to unravel the origins of a historic memorial to black ballplayer John Henry Lloyd.

The Mid West

Bonnie & Clyde The Place: Brodhead, Wisconsin Did these five .45 caliber bullets end one of the most infamous crime sprees in American history? The History Detectives try to link these bullets to Bonnie and Clyde using ballistics tests and some old-fashioned research. Al Ringling Theater The Place: Baraboo, Wisconsin Was this one of the country's first great movie palaces? The History Detectives set out to discover why such an ornate theater was erected and survived in such an obscure location. Sears Home The Place: Akron, Ohio The History Detectives investigate whether or not Sears & Roebuck could have built this home during the industrial boom. Does this couple live in a relic from years gone by?

New England

Morgan Whaling Ship The Place: Mystic, Connecticut Did this Charles W. Morgan whaling ship smuggle slaves out of the south as part of the Underground Railroad? The History Detectives are called in to find out. Witch's House? The Place: Essex County, Massachusetts Did Martha Carrier, who was hanged as a witch, once own Benjamin Abbot's house? The History Detectives must rely on historical research, Martha's descendents and even experts from around the world to solve the case. 1909 Jigsaw Puzzle The Place: Worcester, Massachusetts A quirky jigsaw puzzle of women playing football in the 1800s puzzles the History Detectives. A jigsaw expert, sport historian, magazine collector and antiquities society help solve the riddle.

The Capitol

Portrait of George Washington The Place: Frederick, Maryland Is this an authentic portrait of the nation's first president, George Washington? The History Detectives call in a fake buster and art historian to discover if this is a national treasure. Patty Cannon The Place: Federalsburg, Maryland Was Jack and Rose's home once the headquarters of kidnapper and slave trader Patty Cannon? Trumpet The Place: Bucks County, Pennsylvania Was this trumpet, bought by a Philadelphia man at auction, actually played during the battles that won America's independence from England?

The South East

Lee's Last Orders The Place: Beech Island, South Carolina Is the Beech Island Agricultural Club's copy of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's farewell address the original? Natchez House The Place: Natchez, Mississippi How could Robert Smith, a former slave, afford to build this magnificent home for himself in 1851? Napoleonic Sword The Place: St. Martinville, Louisiana A family legend has it that when a doctor treated Napoleon at the Battle of Wagram in Austria, the great General was so grateful he rewarded him with a fine sword, which has been kept in the family ever since.

California

John Brown's Letters The Place: Sacramento, California Does a Californian woman own a treasure trove of John Brown's documents? Tukufu sets out to authenticate the letters and delve into her family tree to prove if she is related to the famous abolitionist. Japanese Tea House The Place: Gilroy, California How did an authentic Japanese house become part of the famed San Francisco World Fair just before World War II? The history detectives attempt to reveal the origins of the house and how it got there. Poems The Place: San Francisco, California Kathleen Wong, a second-generation Chinese-American calls in the history detectives to trace her ancestors' perilous journey to America. She wants to know whether any of the hundreds of poems left on the walls at the West Coast Angel Island detention center relate to her family.

Texas

The Depot That Made Dallas The Place: Dallas, Texas A local historian calls in the History Detectives to find out if a disused depot was the first railroad station in Texas and if it was responsible for putting Dallas on the map. Mexico Peso The Place: San Antonio, Texas Searching through his great-grandfather's belongings, a San Antonio man finds Mexican currency and suspects a link to infamous bandits Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa. Did this money play a part in the Mexican revolution in the 1910s and how did it end up in the hands of a quiet family man? Pirate Spyglass The Place: Texas City, Texas Jean Lafitte was a fearsome pirate, an ingenious privateer, and a war hero. A Texas library is donated a spyglass said to be handed down from Lafitte to his ship captain. Was it?

New York

Ventriloquist Dummy The Place: Brooklyn, New York Where did ""Sam"" the first black ventriloquist dummy, come from? Did he change the way Americans viewed race in the early 20th century? Home of Lincoln Assassination Plot? The Place: Greenwich Village, New York Did John Wilkes Booth, the infamous assassin of Abraham Lincoln, spend time in this woman's house planning the assassination? 34 Star Flag The Place: Staten Island, New York Did a 34-star Civil War-era flag in the possession of a New York historical society once save a boarding house from being burned down? Legend says it replaced a confederate flag hung at the height of Civil War hysteria.

Oregon

Sheridan's House? The Place: Grand Ronde, Oregon Although the locals have little interest in this abandoned Dutch Colonial Style home, new research suggests the house may originally have been built as officer quarters for the Union Army by a young Philip Sheridan, before he became a famous general. Mark Twain Watch? The Place: Oregon The grandson of prominent Oregonian Captain Ainsworth wants to know if his watch was a gift from noted American author Samuel Clemens. Prisoner Poem The Place: Salem, Oregon Where did this Revolutionary War poem, recently discovered in an antique trunk, come from? Did the author, an American prisoner of war in England, write it there? If so, where was it for over two centuries, and how did it end up in Oregon?

Civil War Submarine / Red Cloud's Peace Pipe / Thomas Edison's House

Civil War-Era Submarine The Place: New Orleans, Louisiana In Louisiana's bustling French Quarter sits a surprising remnant of American warfare - a Civil War-era submarine. Salvaged from the depths of a New Orleans lake, the origin of this vessel remains a murky mystery. Now a New Orleans man wants to know if his great-grandfather helped build the iron-clad wonder. Red Cloud's Peace Pipe? The Place: Livermore, California Was this peace pipe given to a Californian woman's ancestor by the famous warrior Chief Red Cloud? The ancestor was the Indian agent who moved the Oglala Lakota to a Reservation in South Dakota. Would Chief Red Cloud have given such a gift to a U.S. government official? The History Detectives go back to the turbulent days of the 1870s and a battle of wills and political scandal that reached the highest levels of government. Thomas Edison's House? The Place: Union, New Jersey This strange house is said to have been designed and built by Thomas Edison. Did the

The Chisholm Trail; Harry Houdini Poster; McKinley Casket Flag

Puzzles involving the Chisholm Trail, Houdini posters and a flag that may have draped the coffin of President William McKinley, assassinated in 1901. Included: determining how far south the Chisholm Trail extended; checking the authenticity of Harry Houdini posters for a Chicago magic show; learning if a flag handed down to the great-grandson of McKinley's bodyguard actually adorned the 25th president's casket.

Wartime Baseball; Confederate Eyeglass; Howard Hughes' Invention

Questions surrounding a baseball autographed by Dizzy Dean, a brass eyeglass containing an image of Jefferson Davis, and a question on credit for an oil-drilling device. Included: investigation of a 1944 baseball game in which the players supposedly included Dean, Satchel Paige and an Air Force staff sergeant; whether an eyeglass belonged to a Confederate supporter; whether a twin-cone roller-rock bit was invented by Howard Hughes or a San Jose resident's grandfather.

Coca-Cola Trade Card; Vicksburg Map; Lawrence Strike

Puzzles involve an 1886 Coca-Cola trade card, a map connected to a Civil War battle and a billy club from a 1912 textile-factory strike in Lawrence, Mass. Included: a trip to Coca-Cola headquarters in Atlanta to try to verify the trade card info; digging up details pertaining to the 1863 siege of Vicksburg, Miss.; a journey to Lawrence to investigate the Bread and Roses strike.

Alternative Service Certificates; Carolina Mystery Books; Mickey Mouse’s Origin

Puzzles pertaining to 1943 certificates labeled “alternate service to war”; a set of books that may have belonged to 19th-century politician John C. Calhoun; and a toy mouse named Micky that bears a patent date of 1926 (two years before Walt Disney created Mickey).

U.S.S. Indianapolis; Highlander Badge; Spirit of St. Louis

Puzzles concerning items believed to have come from a WWII kamikaze attack; a badge that may have belonged to a British soldier in the Revolutionary War; and two New Jersey brothers who suspect that their uncle built the Spirit of St. Louis's Wright Whirlwind J-5C engine.

Orphan Film Reel; Chinese Opium Scale; Hermann Goering’s Shotgun

Puzzles involve a film reel of 1920s stuntman Eddie Polo; scales used by Chinese immigrants in the early 20th century; and a shotgun that belonged to Nazi henchman Hermann Goering.

Survivor Camera; Alcoholics Anonymous Letter; Tallahassee Mystery Cross

Puzzles involve a camera that belonged to a Holocaust survivor; the link between a 1942 letter and the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous; and a cross found at a Tallahassee excavation of a 17th-century mission.

Calf Creek Arrow; Doc Holliday’s Watch; Black Star Line Stock Certificates

Puzzles include a bison skull that may date to 3000 B.C.; a watch that may have belonged to gambler-gunman Doc Holliday; and stock certificates possibly signed by black nationalist Marcus Garvey.

Grace Kelly Automobile; Illicit P.O.W. Photos; Mystery Motorcycle

Puzzles involve a car that may be the one driven by Grace Kelly in “To Catch a Thief”; possible Civil War POW photographs; and a 1914 motorcycle that might have been used in WWI France.

Lou Gehrig Autograph; Cleveland Electric Car; Philadelphia Freedom Paper

A baseball ticket possibly signed by Lou Gehrig on the day of his farewell speech; an electric streetcar from Cleveland; and a document that may have granted freedom to a slave.

The Spirit of St. Louis

The Spirit of St. Louis Two brothers from New Jersey suspect that their uncle may have built the engine in Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis plane. Suicide Pin A Kansas City man bought a used toolbox that contains two pins similar to the “poison pins” U2 pilot Francis Gary Powers had with him when he was shot down in 1960 over the Soviet Union. Image of Apache Warrior Geronimo A woman in New Mexico has a photo that she thinks is the Apache warrior Geronimo.

Black Star Line Certificates

Black Star Line Certificates Mickey Mouse's Origin Pro-Nazi Newspaper in Texas

Arthur Szyk's Earliest Cartoons

Arthur Szyk's Earliest Cartoons Professor Lowe's Hot Air Balloon Chemical Warfare Map

Cherokee Bible

Cherokee Bible Slave Banjo United Empire Loyalists

Portrait of George Washington

Portrait of George Washington Revolutionary War Poem Revolutionary War Cannon

Secrets of the Tape

Secrets of the Tape Mountain Mail Bag Banned Birth Control Box

Doc Holliday's Watch

Doc Holliday's Watch Civil War Female Soldiers Japanese Internment Camp Artwork

Hermann Goering's Shotgun

Hermann Goering's Shotgun Calf Creek Arrow The Edison House

Coney Island Lion

Coney Island Lion Legacy of a Doll Ballet Shoes

Leisureama Homes

Leisureama Homes Jim Thorpe Tickets 1667 Land Grant

Slave Songbook; Josh White Guitar; Birthplace of Hip Hop

Psychophone; War Dog Letter; Pancho Villa Watch Fob

Season 7 begins with a closer look at the "Psycho-Phone," a device presumed to have been built by Thomas Edison and was designed to communicate with the dead. Then, a WWII letter between two soldiers which talks about a third man's qualifications to become a dog trainer. Lastly, a watch fob which commemorates Pancho Villa's infamous raid on Columbus, New Mexico in 1916.

Manhattan Project Patent; Galleon Shipwreck; Creole Poems

Manhattan Project Patent - Could this drawing have been part of America's secret plans to fuel the atomic bomb? Galleon Shipwreck - Is this a piece of treasure from a Spanish galleon washed up on an Oregon beach? Creole Poems - Does this manuscript contain words of love or illegal acts of rebellion?

St. Valentine's Day Massacre; Booth Letter; Cemetery Alarm

Items include a shotgun believed to have been used by a member of Al Capone's gang during the St. Valentine's Day Massacre; a threatening letter to President Andrew Jackson believed to have been written by John Wilkes Boothe's father; and an alarm which is thought to have been an alarm against grave robbers in a cemetery.

Sideshow Babies; Lubin Photos; Navajo Rug

A woman wonders whether her mother was used as an infant as part of the incubator expedition at the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago. Also, a look at the Siegmund Lubin Studios, which made silent films in Philadelphia. And lastly, a closer look at a Navajo rug which may have a taboo symbol on it of a man in a feathered headdress holding lightening bolts.

Tokyo Rose; Crazy Horse; World War II Diary

Items explored include a recording believed to be from the trial of Iva Toguri, better known Tokyo Rose, the Japanese American woman who made propaganda broadcasts for the Japanese during WWII; a possible photograph of the legendary Crazy Horse, the Lakota warrior. Also, a diary written by a pilot during WWII who perished in action is returned to his family.

Amelia Earhart Plane; Fillmore Pardon; Boxcar Home

A Honolulu flight mechanic's grandson believes he possesses a piece of Amelia Earhart's airplane but needs help identifying it. Next, the 1851 presidential commutation of a death sentence to life in prison in the case of See See Sah Mah, a Native American who was charged with murdering a a St. Louis trader. Lastly, a home in Colorado which is believed to have been built solely from railroad boxcars.

Hindenburg Artifact; John Adams Book; Birthplace of Hip-Hop

A man from New Jersey claims to have the instrument panel from the Hindenburg in his possession, in which his family lore claims it came from the blimps 1937 crash site. Then, an 18th-century book titled "Trials of Patriots," may contain John Adams signature and an inscription to his son, Charles. And a search is on at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx to see, as legend has it, the origins of hip-hop music.

Mussolini Dagger; Liberia Letter; N.E.A.R. Device

A man from Nevada believes he holds a dagger which was owned by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, including a letter which indicates it was retrieved from Mussolini's apartment following his death. Also, a stack of letters from post-Civil War from a freed slave emigrating from the US to Liberia; and a Cold War era, hand size device that has "National Emergency Alarm Repeater, Civilian Warning Device" printed across them.

WPA Mural Studies; George Washington Miniature; Japanese Balloon Bomb

Items look at include six paintings by Thelma Johnson Streat, which may have been mural studies commissioned by the WPA in the 1930s or '40s; a 1790 miniature color portrait of a "G. Washington" which was found stored above a Manhattan tavern in a box of documents; and a scrap of material believed to have come from a Japanese balloon bomb used during WWII.

Stalag 17 Portrait; Seadrome; Black Tom Shell

A woman from Arizona wants to find out the fate of the man who sketched a picture of her father while in a WWII P.O.W. camp in Krems, Austria. Next, the Seadrome was a floating airport which would enable transatlantic flights was proposed in the 1920s, is investigated for a man in New York who inherited photos of Seadrome from his grandfather. Also, a woman in New Jersey has possession o an unusual artifact: a live artillery shell believed to date to the 1916 sabotage attack of Black TomIsland , N.Y., munitions depot by a German spy ring.

Duke Ellington Plates; Scottsboror Boys Stamp; Civil War Bridge

Duke Ellington Plates - Are these plates the first edition of Duke Ellington’s “Take the A Train”? "Scottsboro Boys" Stamp - Did a penny stamp help save the Scottsboro Boys from the electric chair? Civil War Bridge - Has a new discovery rewritten Civil War history?

3D Cuban Missile Crisis; Amos 'n Andy Record; Women's Suffrage Painting

The fifth season begins with a portable projection screen that may have been used by President Kennedy to view spy photos during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Also: an aluminum record that might contain an original recording of the “Amos 'n' Andy” program; and a painting that may have been an original portrait used in the women's suffrage movement.

Continental Currency; Short-Snorter; Liberty Bell Pin

A possible Colonial-era $6 bill found by a Nebraska family; and a British 10-shilling note said to have been signed by FDR, Winston Churchill and George Patton. Also: A North Carolina woman has a pin she claims was made from metal taken from the Liberty Bell.

GAR Photograph; Jefferson Pledge; Dempsey Fight Bell

A fight bell that may have been used in a Jack Dempsey boxing match; a photo that may depict white Civil War soldiers standing with two black men, all of whom are thought to be members of the Grand Army of the Republic. Also: a document that may have Thomas Jefferson's signature on it, along with a pledge that would help finance a school.

Atocha Spanish Silver; Ernie Pyle's Typewriter; Lucy Parsons Book

Two bars of silver that may have been from a Spanish ship that went down off Florida; a book that might have belonged to social activist Lucy Parsons; a typewriter that may have belonged to WWII journalist Ernie Pyle.

Great Mexican War Posters; Muhlenberg Robe; Nora Holt Autograph Book

Movie posters for a film that might contain footage of fighting during the Mexican Revolution; and an autograph book that may have signatures from Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. Also: a robe that might have belonged to Gen. Peter Muhlenberg, who led troops during the American Revolution.

NC-4: First Across the Atlantic; Howard Hughes Crash; Civil War Balloon

A square of fabric that may have been part of an NC-4 aircraft, which was the first to fly across the Atlantic; and an altimeter that might have been part of the XF-11 aircraft flown by Howard Hughes in 1946. Also: a piece of material that may have been part of a Civil War-era hot-air balloon designed for the U.S. Army.

Grace Kelly Car; Harley-Davidson Motorcycle; Civil War POW Photos

Coca-Cola Trade Card; Lawrence Strike; Vicksburg Map

Red Cloud Letter; '32 Ford Roadster; Cast Iron Eagle

A 1932 Ford Roadster that may have been used in dry-lake races; a letter that may have been written by Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum to James Red Cloud of the Lakota tribe; a cast-iron eagle that might have been a decoration for a New York post office

Lincoln Letter; Quaker Map; U.S.S. Indianapolis

A letter that may have been signed by Abraham Lincoln; a map that might have markings for the Underground Railroad in Ohio; and artifacts that may have been aboard the USS Indianapolis when the ship was sunk by a Japanese sub during WWII.

Bill Pickett Saddle; Hitler Films; McKinley Casket Flag

A saddle that may have been owned by cowboy legend Bill Pickett; a flag that might have been draped over the casket of President William McKinley; and film cans that may contain archival footage of Nazi officials.

Space Boot; Satelloon; Moon Museum

Was this magnetic boot designed to allow walking in space? Could a three-inch square of metallic material be part of America's first satellite program? Did the Apollo 12 space mission smuggle Andy Warhol's artwork to the moon?

Iwo Jima Map; Copperhead Cane; Theremin

Iwo Jima Map - What role did this map play in one of WWII’s fiercest battles? Copperhead Cane - How did this cane inspire a fiery political movement that threatened Lincoln’s presidency? Theremin - How did this strange instrument help spark a rock n’ roll revolution?

Lauste Film Clip; Baker's Gold; Transatlantic Cable

A collector who may possess part of the first talking movie; a Cape Cod beachcomber's discovery of what may be a section of the first transatlantic cable. Also: the story behind sketches of five- and eight-pound gold nuggets.

Barton Letter; Andrew Jackson's Mouth; Spybook

Sculpture piece may be part of one that featured Andrew Jackson; Clara Barton letter; a notebook may have belonged to a World War I spy.

Cromwell Dixon; Bartlett Sketchbook; Duke Ellington Plates

Cromwell Dixon: A four-inch square of fabric tells the story of one of America's first barnstorming pilots. Bartlett Sketchbook: Does this sketchbook illustrate scenes from the first ever US-Mexican border survey? Duke Ellington Plates (R): Could this dumpster find be the printing plates for Duke Ellington's hit "Take the A Train"?

Korean War Letter, Diana, Lookout Mt. Painting

Korean War Letter: What does this letter reveal about a forgotten act of heroism during the final days of the Korean War? Diana: How did this alleged lesbian autobiography escape censorship in the 1930’s? Lookout Mountain Painting: What can this painting tell us about a turning point in the Civil War?

St.Valentine's Day Massacre; G. Washington Miniature; Stalag 17 Portrait

St.Valentine's Day Massacre: Family lore says their shotgun played a role in the Chicago St. Valentine's Day Massacre. G. Washington Miniature: Why is this miniature of Washington more than a piece of art? Stalag 17 Portrait: A portrait sketched in a WWII prison leads to a meeting 65 years later.

Hot Town Poster, Face Jug, Lost City of Gold

Hot Town Poster: What role did this striking poster play in the explosive events of 1960s America? Face Jug: Did the artist mean to scare someone with the grimace on this face jug? Lost City of Gold: What does the inscription on a rock tell us about when Spain first arrived in America?

Jackie Robinson All-Stars; Modoc Basket; Special Agent Five

JACKIE ROBINSON SCORECARD What does this scorecard reveal about the desegregation of our national pastime? MODOC BASKET What tales does this basket weave of the heroism of an American-Indian woman? SPECIAL AGENT FIVE How did this tale of robbery and murder help FBI director J. Edgar Hoover consolidate his power?

WB Cartoons; Galvez Papers; Mussolini's Dagger

WB Cartoons:This box of cartoon drawings and cels tells an unexpected story about animation's early days. Galvez Papers: Why did a regional governor care enough about a slave to sign her emancipation papers? Mussolini's Dagger: Did this dagger once belong to Benito Mussolini?

Bob Dylan Guitar; Beatles Autographs; Frank Zappa Collage

The Season 10 premiere investigates the history of an electric guitar to determine if Bob Dylan played it at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Also: possible Beatle autographs from 1964 Miami Beach; a $5 thrift-store find that may have a Frank Zappa link.

Civil War-era pistols; KKK records; Motown Amp

A matched set of Civil War-era pistols; a 78 rpm record from KKK Records that features the songs "The Bright Fiery Cross" and "The Jolly Old Klansman." Also: Eduardo Pagán attempts to prove that Motown bassist James Jamerson owned an Ampeg B-15 amp that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame wants to display.

100th Episode: Clint Black's book of wanted posters; Molten metal; Pinup Slide

Country star Clint Black learns about an old book of wanted posters that he owns. Also: a chunk of molten metal that may be from a B-25 bomber that crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945; a 1950s-era slide that may be of pinup queen Bettie Page.

World War II patches; Cheyenne possessions; Lincoln note; Civil War Fabric

Whether two patches that feature a symbol of a bird dropping a bomb are from a World War II unit; if a neckpiece and leggings belonged to Chief Black Kettle, a Cheyenne leader; whether a President Lincoln-signed note is authentic. Also: A tattered piece of red fabric is linked to a pivotal moment in the U.S. Civil War.

Picture Frame from the Titanic or Lusitania; Woolworth Signs; Toy Soldiers

Is this picture frame a piece from the Titanic, Lusitania or neither? Were these signs part of the scene in an early victory for Civil Rights? Did a Nazi spy buy these toy soldiers?

N. Vietnamese soldier's diary; Notebook with recipes for large volumes of liquor; Hollywood ledger

A North Vietnamese soldier's diary; Notebook with recipes for large volumes of liquor; ledger sheds light on how American Indian actors were treated in Hollywood.

WWI poster; Map of Valley Forge; Transistor radio; Prohibition-era business card

World War I poster; a map of Valley Forge that George Washington may have used during the American Revolution; Transistor radio; business card may tie a man's father to Prohibition-era underworld crime.

A Kit Carson Biography; Yakima Canutt Saddle; Inscription on Sheet Music; Modoc Indian Basket

A Kit Carson biography that may have belonged to his family members; a saddle linked to Hollywood stuntman Yakima Canutt; "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" sheet music with curious inscription; a basket that may have been woven by a pivotal player in the Modoc Indian wars.

Civil War Sabotage?

The 11th season premiere of "History Detectives," which has been reformatted to focus on one iconic mystery per episode, opens with a look at the April 27, 1865, explosion of the Mississippi steamboat SS Sultana, which was packed with Union soldiers. One of the worst maritime disasters in U.S. history, the official death toll was 1547. The team reviews the original investigative report; and examines theories about the cause, including that it was an act of sabotage by a Confederate agent.

The Disappearance of Glenn Miller

An investigation into the disappearance of Glenn Miller during World War II. On December 15, 1944, the Army Air Force plane carrying him from England to France vanished while flying across the English Channel. The report makes use of a plane spotter's notebook that was discovered in 2012 to pinpoint the path of Miller's plane; and digs into several theories, including one that friendly fire downed the plane and another that he was on a secret mission to end the war.

Texas Servant Girl Murders

The unsolved case of the Servant Girl Murders in 1884-85 Austin, Texas, is investigated. Over the course of a year, six African-American servants and two white women were brutally murdered. The modus operandi was similar in each instance: the assailant attacked the victim with an ax while she slept in bed; and then he dragged her outside, where he raped and mutilated her.

Yakima Canutt's Saddle; The Ni'ihau Incident; Civil War Cannon

A veteran collector of cowboy gear, our contributor thinks he may have a saddle that once belonged to rodeo champion and Hollywood legend, Yakima Canutt. History Detectives’ first ever Hawaii story takes us to the island of Ni’ihau, the backdrop for a fascinating tale often overshadowed by the enormity of the raid on Pearl Harbor. A Charleston, SC antique dealer discovered a century old puzzle in a corked test tube. The tube contained what appeared to be metal filings along with a note that reads: "Old Secession was rebored at the Charleston Iron Works May 4/99 and fired by Palmetto Guard Company U.C.V. in honor of U.C.V. reunion May 10/99."

Spanish Civil War Eulogy; Word War II Leaflets; Tiffany Window

War traumatized Sol Fellman. He rarely discussed his Spanish Civil War experience until shortly before his death when he passed on his mementos. Going through her brother’s belongings in El Paso, TX, a History Detectives fan came across a leaflet with Japanese writing and startling war images. Our contributor cherishes a small, framed watercolor handed down from his great-great grandmother, Anne Weston.But he has reason to believe the value of this painting may extend beyond his family bond.

Siberian Bullet; John Brown Pike; Ronald McDonald Costume

Rummaging through a box of shells and bullets at a Colorado gun show, a History Detectives fan discovered a World War I vintage cartridge with a curious etching: Leo V. Thompson, CO E 31st Inf., A.E.F. Siberia. Our contributor bought a spear, or pike, from an antique shop in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. He knows abolitionist John Brown lived near Chagrin Falls and wonders if rebels used this blade in John Brown’s famous raid at Harpers Ferry, VA. Have we found the original costume that launched Ronald McDonald? The label credits a well-known costume designer, and the costume looks similar to the suit we see in an early Ronald McDonald commercial: the yellow balloon coverall, red and white striped shirt and long stockings, and red oversized shoes.

African American Comic Book; Lindberg-Sikorsky Fabric; Civil War Letters

Our contributor found an unusual 1950's comic book at an auction, titled Negro Romance. For over 50 years our contributor has cherished an object he inherited from his late father. It’s a piece of fabric in Plexiglass with signatures of Charles Lindbergh and Igor Sikorsky and dated August 1943. A couple of stamp enthusiasts found far more than stamps in a box they purchased. In the box, along with Civil War era stamps, we find letters addressed to a William Blackford, Senate Post, Washington, D.C.

Drone Propeller; Clara Barton Letter; Teddy Roosevelt War Club

Tucked into the pages of an antique book, our contributor from Osceola, Indiana found what he thinks may be a letter written by Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross. More than 30 years ago, while tearing the aluminum roofing from a farm house, a Chicago man discovered an oddly carved piece of wood in the dark recesses of the attic. Working beside a rural airstrip, an Illinois man dug up an intriguing find: an eight-foot long wooden airplane propeller. A little research online made him believe that his propeller might be from a TDR-1 plane, a pioneering U.S. drone plane from World War II.

Baker's Gold; Kittery Telescope; Japanese Carved Cane

A viewer from Colorado thinks he may have discovered a gem of Gold Rush memorabilia when he found an unusual drawing. When a Kittery Point, ME man moved into his great aunt’s house he discovered an unusual wooden telescope. No one in his family knows where it came from or how long it’s been in the family. A California man hopes the Japanese characters on this hand-carved cane will unlock the mysteries of his family’s past.

Andrew Jackson's Mouth; Modoc Basket; Hot Town Poster

A 1960s poster suggests a battle between citizens and police; carving of Andrew Jackson; a basket tells the story of a Modoc War heroine.

Drug Smuggling Doll; Florida Map; Marion Carpenter Camera

A camera may have been used to photograph President Truman; Civil War doll may have been used to smuggle medicine; a 15th-century map shows how Europe colonized Florida.

1775 Almanac; Exercise Records; Moon Museum

What a 1775 almanac reveals about a family's history; the story behind the "Get Thin to Music" phonograph records of the 1920s; a NASA mission that may have transported Andy Warhol's art to the moon.

Leopold Medal; Suffrage Pennant; WB Cartoons

Continental Club Card; Saint Valentine's Day Massacre; Society Circus Program

WWII Diary; Annie Oakley Coin; 1856 Mormon Tale

WWII Diary: Does this diary hold the key to understanding the fate of a missing bomber pilot from World War II? Annie Oakley Coin: Was this coin a target for one of the Wild West's most popular female sharpshooters? 1856 Mormon Tale: Is this tattered book a true account of female slavery in the old West?