Mysteries at the Museum

A transparent roll of film that revolutionized the retail industry; A scary event at Sitka, Alaska; Richard The III possible burial site; A very special ink pen; A Arkansas boy who becomes a hero during the Civil War; A mayor in Oregon who tries to correct a road problem;

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 Wilder examines a road sign that was part of a plan to bring America's roads some order; A woman who acts unusual is accused of a crime; a honey production problem causes continental concern.

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.

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.

A precious metal that cured alcoholism; disgruntled spouses in Reno; the mystery around a president's untimely death.

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

Examining a plane; Beethoven's metronome; a musical instrument.

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

A forged European painting; eight tiny boxes that looked like coffins; a mysterious rubber block washed up on the beach.

Inspecting 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.