Mysteries at the Museum

Don examines a transparent roll of film that revolutionized the retail industry; a jacket that belonged to a prankster with an explosive sense of humor; and an unconventional excavation that puts a 500-year-old mystery to rest. 

Don explores an aeronautical device with a notorious claim to fame; a cane that thwarted a would-be presidential assassin; and a souvenir T-shirt from an outlandish event that became an all-out rampage.

Don Wildman examines a copy of a play that sparked riots; a monocular used by a soldier who made a daring and unusual escape from behind enemy lines; and the wrapper from a product so pungent that it caused an interstate postal feud.

Don Wildman examines a concert program that marks one of the most infamous nights in the history of a prestigious music venue; a space capsule used by a heroic astronaut during a harrowing mission; and a DVD from an unusual film that blurred the lines between fact and fiction.

Don Wildman examines an iconic road sign that was part of a revolutionary plan to bring order to America's roads; a tiny bee specimen that unleashed madness; and a gas mask that was invented by a bold and pioneering man.

Don examines a classic toy that became a pop-culture phenomenon; a delicate silk sample that symbolizes a stunning tale of international espionage; and a quirky car designed to travel on both land and water.

Don examines one of America's most explosive candies; a pinball machine that represents a gutsy player who saved the game from obscurity; and a flare stick that guided Londoners through a unique time period.

Don examines a peanut that played a role in an unusual fad that took 1 man on a daring adventure; a standoff that pitted a man against some of Hollywood's most powerful people; and a set of gold relics that became the subject of an intense battle between 2 rival nations.

Don examines a trinket that symbolizes the stormy evolution of a beloved holiday; a novel contraption deployed to save a bevy of wild beavers in Idaho; and a scandalous machine that titillated Victorian England.

Don Wildman examines a painted wooden sign that once advertised a vaudeville act so bad it was good; a famous cow's-milk can from the White House; and a program from one of the most polemic films of the 20th century.

Don inspects a set of tools that belonged to a man who changed the course of America's railroads; a risky experiment to save Colonial Boston; and an armband worn by a US deputy marshal who protected a brave little girl on a historic trip to school.

Don inspects a crossword puzzle with hidden clues that could have jeopardized D-Day; one of the most important maps in world history, which was nearly lost forever; and an odd-looking traffic signal that became a cultural symbol for communist East Germany.

Don examines a sleek American race car that took on a top Italian automaker; a pulp-fiction science magazine that threatened to expose an explosive World War II secret; and a set of teeth that was key in the biggest public health experiments of the 20th century.

Host Don Wildman studies the inspiration behind a famous play, examine a strange device, and visit a Renaissance sculpture.

Host Don Wildman examines a bird specimen, tiny camera, and popularity of poker.

The underground gallery at the West 14th Street subway stop in New York City boasts a whimsical sculpture of an alligator emerging from a manhole. Although this work of art is fantastical, it depicts a monster that may have been lurking in the city sewers. Amongst the San Diego Automotive Museum's collection of iconic cars is a one-of-a-kind souped up automobile. Its custom modifications greased the wheel for an incredible and record-breaking journey. Paul Revere is remembered by history for his famous Midnight Ride. But an 18th Century advertisement at the Boston Athenaeum speaks to a seldom told chapter in the life of the American patriot - one that saw him practicing a very unusual trade.

Among the many artifacts in the the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago, Illinois is a multi-chambered glass device invented by famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, who hoped to cure a relative of a grave heart condition. At the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, is a historic collection of automobiles and other national treasures. But among this Americana is a set of items that were involved in one of the famed industrialist's most audacious gambles -- a venture in the Brazilian rainforest that ended in destruction and financial loss. And the Harvard University campus boasts a natural history collection with 21 million animal specimens: the Museum of Comparative Zoology. Hidden in its storage area is a rare creature: the preserved body of an Indian forest owlet. Once thought to be extinct, this bird served as evidence in a bizarre case of deception that rewrote 20th century ornithology - not once, but twice.

Host Don Wildman examines in Louisiana a precious metal that reportedly cured alcoholism, discovers how Reno was once a destination for disgruntled spouses, and uncovers the mystery around a president's untimely death.

Don Wildman explores a rare food fight, a race around the globe, a bird uniform.

Don Wildman examines a plane, Beethoven's metronome, and a musical instrument.

Don Wildman examines a coded letter, a classic novel, and a legendary lamp.

Don Wildman examines a forged European painting that fooled museums everywhere, eight tiny boxes that look like coffins and a mysterious rubber block that was found washed up on a beach.

Host Don Wildman inspects a presidential paperweight, jewelry, and a wartime cage.

Host Don Wildman uncovers the heroics of a First Lady who fought to preserve Washington's treasures, travels to England to examine a soccer ball linked to a WWI game of peace, and studies an explosive tale of a whale in Oregon.

Don Wildman examines a porcelain washbasin used to fight a deadly disease, studies a Colt .45 that once belonged to Wyatt Earp and learns how a small circular artifact changed personal hygiene practices across America.