Most people think of Jamestown as the story of John Smith and Pocahontas, but new scientific research has revealed another prominent figure from America's first English colony. Discover the story of Sir George Yeardley, a commoner who became governor and went on to preside over the birth of the nation's democracy. Follow a team of archaeologists as they excavate the 1617 church where, according to English tradition, the leaders of the colony were buried, including our country's least known and first founding father.
It's 1940, and as the Nazi Army overruns Europe, Germany is also funding a well-financed attempt to rig the U.S. election in hopes of ousting FDR from office and keeping America out of the war. Shockingly, this secret plot isn't the brainchild of Hitler's, but of an American oil tycoon named William R. Davis. Today, a group of historians and political experts examine uncovered government reports and White House letters and contemplate just how close the Nazis came to rigging the American election and changing the outcome of World War II.
Film historian Tom Rice stumbled upon a rare artifact while researching depictions of the Ku Klux Klan in movies. It was fragments of a 1920s-era film that didn't simply show the Klan but made them the central part of the narrative. Who made this film? Why did they make it? And was it ever released? To answer those questions, and hopefully find a full version of the film, Tom will visit the Library of Congress, team up with KKK experts, and meet one of the filmmaker's descendants, revealing a story as shocking as any Hollywood production.
Before there was Martha Washington, there was Mary Philipse, a British loyalist who was not only George Washington's secret love but the key to his destiny. At least that's the legend. But is their story based in romantic fantasy or historical fact? Did their doomed relationship lead to his rebellion against Britain? And why did Revolutionary politicians condemn Mary to death? Join us as we search for the truth behind the rumors, uncovering a story about a young soldier who wanted so badly to be British and transformed into a symbol of America.
Modern historians are uncovering new truths about America's most iconic moments.
The CIA Museum opens its doors and vaults to reveal the top secret stories behind agency documents, "Argo" artifacts, a Soviet helicopter used in the hunt for Osama bin Laden and more.
Experts delve into the undelivered promise of rigid airships on the American military landscape, and the tragic fate of the USS Macon and efforts to explore its remains in the Pacific Ocean.