All Episodes 1997 - 2000

It was supposed to be the first permanent English settlement in the New World. It became one of the most enduring tantalizing mysteries in American history.

More than 1000 years ago in Mexico, the great temple-city of Palenque thrived as an important center of the Mayan world. Mysteriously abandoned in 835 AD, it has preserved countless secrets ever since. Journey to the Mexican jungle on a quest to unearth the mysteries of one of the great empires of the New World. Scale the height of Palenque's great palace to investigate the Temple of Inscriptions, and find out why the Mayans altered their historical records. Join archaeologist Alberto Ruz, who, in 1952, finally cleared away the rubble from the temple and discovered the bones of six children interred within. Explore the significance of this find with scholars and experts, and decide for yourself whether the rumors of the Mayan's practice of human sacrificeare justified. And find out what is known of the Mayan ruler Pacal, who had the great temple built. Take an extraordinary adventure into the confounding society that once dominated Central America, and whose legacy and history puzzles us to this day.

In the summer of 1925, history was made in the small town of Dayton, Tennessee. The issue at hand was the "Butler Law," which forbid the teaching of evolution in public schools. The fledgling American Civil Liberties Union wanted to challenge the law's constitutionality and chose to test it with the trial of John Scopes, a young high-school math and gym teacher who briefly taught Darwinism as a substitute biology teacher. The quiet procedural matter exploded into a media carnival when two great lawyers arrived to argue the case. William Jennings Bryan, the renowned orator, three-time presidential candidate, and self-proclaimed Bible expert, argued for the prosecution, and Clarence Darrow, the nation's most celebrated lawyer and an avowed agnostic, defended Scopes. Reporters from around the world descended on the tiny Bible belt town to chronicle the trial. Despite Darrow's best efforts, the jury convicted Scopes. Later, his conviction was overruled on a technicality by an appeals court, disappointing Darrow, who had hoped for an opportunity to take the case to the Supreme Court, where the constitutionality of the Butler Law could be challenged. Join IN SEARCH OF HISTORY for a look at the case that started this historic battle between Darwinism and creationism that continues today in a nation built around the separation of church and state.

This two-hour special chronicles the aviator's rise to fame, details her last flight, and examines theories about her disappearance held by a variety of experts and authors, which range from crash at sea to alien abduction.

One of the most compelling and misunderstood figures in all of history, Hatshepsut was the first woman to take command of the Kingdom of the Nile over a thousand years before Cleopatra. This in-depth profile of the legendary Pharaoh travels across Egypt in search of clues to her remarkable life and 20-year rule. The search is made harder by the fact that the rulers who came after her did everything in their power to eliminate all traces of her existence. What could she have done to inspire such hatred? Join the world's leading scholars as they sift through the evidence of Hatshepsut's life. Did she take a common man as her lover? How was she able to hold onto the crown for twenty years, while turmoil and controversy swirled around her? From her daring power play to the monumental tomb that commemorates this mysterious figure, this is the ultimate examination of EGYPT'S GREAT QUEEN.

As white settlers pushed west, resulting wars with Native Americans claimed more victims than the dead. Portraits of captives taken by both sides include: "White Indian" John Tanner who returned to his roots after 30 years of "civilization", and a woman rescued during a forced exchange who escaped to return to her Native-American husband.

Of all of Egypt's pharaohs, Tutankhamun remains the most famous and enigmatic. Despite amazing discoveries made when his tomb was unearthed, little historical information exists on him--and much of that is shrouded in debate. What really killed the boy king? Did the "curse of King Tut" kill three of his tomb's discoverers?

The year 1863, the President was Abraham Lincoln, a new law calling for more troops on the front lines came to pass and civil discontent was about to erupt in the worst violence our nation had ever seen. Soon there would be blood in the streets - the New York City Draft Riots of 1863. In the wake of the first federal draft in U.S.. history, the city exploded...and for a week it was chaos. With troops away in Pennsylvania, facing Lee’s invasion at Gettysburg, the city had been left virtually defenseless. Armed mobs of maily Immigrant Irish workers fought police and rampaged through the streets of America’s largest city. They burned government offices, sacked homes of wealthy republicans and destroyed newspaper offices. The rioters felt that the civil war had been transformed from a fight to save the Union into a struggle to free the slaves. They feared that thousands of emancipated slaves would head north and take their jobs. It was only the arrival of 30,000 troops fresh from Victory at Gettysburg, that brought the riots to an end.

This program is a full account of the spectacular double-murder trial that resulted in the execution of two Italian immigrants, Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, despite a jailhouse confession by another man. Arrested in Massachusetts in 1920, Sacco and Vanzetti were thought by some to have been picked up because of their anarchist views. Their trial sparked demonstrations around the world; newspapers went wild. In 1925, another prisoner confessed to the murders-yet Sacco and Vanzetti were executed still in April 1927. The debate continued for decades: Was this a case of false identification or really a political trial? Did Massachusetts put two innocent men to death?

The Nazca lines in Peru stretch for miles, forming perfect images of animals visible only from the air. Immense and precise, the pyramids remain among mankind's greatest accomplishments, and experts still debate how they were built. Span the globe in this riveting look at the most incredible accomplishments of the ancient world achievements that rival and even surpass those of today. From the secret formula of Damascus steel which helped drive the Crusaders from the Holy Land to the "computer" from Ancient Greece, probe the origins of these incredible inventions. Take to the skies in a balloon made from a design 1,000 years old, and join scientists, engineers and historians as they probe the mysteries of ancient devices that cannot be replicated today!And examine the extraordinary innovations of Leonardo Da Vinci, whose drawings included designs for a tank, machine, gun, helicopter and parachute!

In A.D. 79, Mount Vesuvius erupts, engulfing the city of Pompeii on the Bay of Naples.

Tells the story of the 'siege of the Western legations' by Chinese troops and rebels in 1900. For the first time, the Chinese angle is scrutinized with the help of newly released Chinese documents and Chinese historians. The episode was one of the greatest humiliations in recent Chinese history. To this day, it influences the way that Chinese politicians conduct their foreign affairs.

It is one of the holiest relics of Christianity the cup from which Jesus drank at the Last Supper, and in which Joseph of Arimathea collected the blood of the savior as he was crucified. Journey from the Holy Land to the museums of Europe in search of The Holy Grail. Ancient legends say the relic was transported to Britain and passed down among the descendants of Joseph, but could the Grail remain hidden somewhere in England? Experts explore the tangled web of stories surrounding the Grail in search of clues to its existence and purported powers. Is it possible that the Grail is a pathway to a higher power, or that the descendants of Jesus walk among us today, protected by the Grail's power? Trace the incredible history and extraordinary tales of power and superstition, magic and mystery that surround one of Christianity's most sought-after relics.

The Great Depression saw the rise of Franklin Delano Roosevelt to lead America in its time of economic crisis. FDR answered the call with his New Deal. While rank and file Americans saw FDR as a hero, there were those that hated his populist ideas. This program tells the story of their plan to wrest power away from the President of the United States. The revelation of the plot brought scandal, and a Congressional investigation. Archival news clips, photographs, personal accounts, and historic commentary tell of the plot to overthrow FDR.

This installment in the History Channel series In Search of History takes an in-depth look at a mysterious phenomenon, with this investigation into the infamous flight of several top-ranking Nazi officers from Allied authorities after WWII. Because many of these men faced prosecution for their crimes during the Third Reich, they went into hiding in countries like Syria, Argentina, and even the US - but some believe that this mass exodus was orchestrated by a high-powered organization, which masterminded their escape and asylum.

Scandinavian sagas tell the tales of Leif the Lucky and the Land of Grapes, but are these merely boastful yarns of magical heroes or historical facts? VIKING EXPLORERS investigates the oft-repeated claim that the Vikings landed on America's shores 1,000 years ago. Follow the incredible journey that these hardy sailors had to make across the North Atlantic, and go aboard a restored longboat like the one that carried them to the New World. Noted historians tell the remarkable story of Leif Ericsson and his father, the legendary Eric the Red, and attempt to separate fact from fiction in the sagas of these heroes. And in a remarkable interview, archaeologist Helge Ingstad recalls how her discovery of a Viking settlement in North America helped to rewrite history.

Experts debate the true age of the Great Sphinx.

The Celts are one of the least understood of all the ancient people. They left no written records, and the Greek and Roman accounts tell us of little beyond their prowess in battle. This much is certain they were the fiercest warriors of the ancient world, and the most unusual. They often fought naked and cut off the heads of their enemies for souvenirs. Search for clues to the life of these legendary people beyond the battlefield. Wander the English countryside to see their incredible monuments including the legendary Stonehenge and ponder their significance. Join archaeologists as they trace the origins of the Celts, and see ancient evidence of their advanced culture they were among the most advanced farmers, artists and metalworkers of their time. And explore the influence of their powerful holy men the Druids whose true role and significance remains shrouded in mystery.

Their fanatical courage struck terror in their enemies. Their fabulous wealth made them the most powerful men in Europe. Their secret rites inspired rumors of heresy. In the Crusades, these ferocious sword-wielding monks were charged with protecting the Kingdom of Jerusalem. In defeat, they were burned at the stake. Journey from Middle Ages Jerusalem to modern day Europe to unravel the extraordinary story of the legendary Knights who some say survived their supposed execution at the end of the Crusades and have preserved their order to this day. Leading historians reveal their fantastic origins, and period accounts bring their legendary battles to life. Ancient documents and artifacts hint at the mysteries that surround them. Did they discover ancient secrets buried beneath Solomon's temple, and conspire to seize part of Europe for themselves? Explore the incredible history of the Crusade's mightiest and most puzzling warriors.

This In Search of History program travels back to 1912, to the town of Piltdown, East Sussex, England, where workmen digging a gravel pit uncover a collection of bones which seem to confirm Darwin's theory of evolution and provide the "missing link" in the evolution of man. In reality, the Piltdown Man is perhaps the most famous archeological hoax of all time, confounding scientists for decades.

Some people believe it was sent by God to punish the sins of the world. First recognized in 542 AD, the plague swept from Egypt through Asia Minor and Europe on a path of destruction, killing more than 100 million in countless outbreaks and plunging the world into the Dark Ages. Today, much is known about this ancient scourge, and modern medicine is largely able to contain it. But its origins remain unclear, and there is always the threat that a new, disease-resistant strain could once again prove to be a major threat to mankind. THE SCOURGE OF THE BLACK DEATH is a comprehensive look at the deadliest disease to ever strike mankind. Historians trace its incredible, apocalyptic spread and detail the sweeping changes it forced. Scientists including Dr. Kenneth L. Gage, Plague Section Chief at the Center for Disease Control explain how the disease lives, spreads and kills, and reveal the latest breakthroughs in the ongoing battle to contain it. And incredible archival art, artifacts and accounts, along with location footage from throughout Europe, bring the horrific years of the plague's dominance to life.

Even today, some 2,000 years after they were built, the roads of the Roman Empire remain one of the most astonishing accomplishments in the history of mankind. Built on the backs of many and often awash in the blood of conquest and suppression, they were absolutely vital to the process of building a society the likes of which the world had never seen. ROMAN ROADS: PATHS TO EMPIRE journeys back to the age of Caesar to tell the story of these remarkable highways that helped forge an empire. Discover how they were built, and why so many have lasted to this day. Historians detail their central role in the expansion and maintenance of the Empire. See how they grew from a local network to a vast web stretching across three continents and embracing 50,000 miles.And visit sites throughout the world where these ancient arteries remain, sometimes still in use! Walk in the steps of emperors and explore one of the most fascinating artifacts in the history of humanity.

Their exploits were recorded in stories passed down from generation to generation, their images the basis of some of the most beautiful artworks ever created, and their names echo through history to this day. From their mythical home high atop Mount Olympus, the great Greek gods were an integral part of every aspect of life. Explore the fascinating story of these enduring figures in this comprehensive program. Hear from renowned classicists why the Greeks endowed their deities with such human failings, and explore the significance of the most famous myths. See the astonishing artworks that have preserved their images for all time, and how these epic figures have been integrated into modern life. And visit the phenomenal temples that were built in their names, and where the most important rituals of Ancient Greece were carried out. From Aphrodite to Zeus, it's an entertaining and illuminating look at THE GREEK GODS.

Once it was a priceless jewel in the crown of the Roman Empire a vibrant seaport where the streets overflowed with traders and merchants from around the world. But well before the fall of the Empire, the city of Ostia began a long decline, and for nearly 1,600 years it was abandoned, left to crumble into the sea. This illuminating program tells the complete history of the ruined city that has become second in importance only to Pompeii to modern scholars of Rome. See why its decline and desertion make Ostia so valuable to archaeologists and historians today, and examine their latest finds. Go beneath the waves to view remnants of Rome's ancient glory engulfed by the waters of the Mediterranean. And meet the men and women who are uncovering its long-hidden secrets. From the seaport at the center of an ancient empire to one of the most important archaeological sites in the world, this is a comprehensive look at ROME'S LOST HARBOR.

Examines the Five Points area of Manhattan, NY, which in the 1840's became the birthplace of American gang activity. Looks at the rise of organized crime from its humble beginnings with the Irish, Jewish and Italian immigrants. Important personalities that are covered include "Big Tim" Sullivan, Paul Kelly, "Monk" Eastman, "Dopey Benny" Fein, Frankie Yale, and Al Capone.

The ancient monuments of Rome stand as moving reminders of one of the most powerful empires the world has ever seen. Every year, millions of people visit the Forum, Coliseum and other legendary sites in search of a glimpse into the past. Explore what these imperial monuments symbolized and uncover the secrets of the society that built and sustained them with this in-depth examination of Romeís legendary ruins. Who were the egomaniacal men responsible for these imposing structures? What drove them to build bigger and better monument regardless of cost? There were arenas where no form of torture was deemed too cruel, places of worship where gods were honored with shocking ritualistic sacrifices, and pleasure palaces where wanton sexual depravity was not only accepted but encouraged. ROME'S ETERNAL WONDERS exposes the empire that dominated the Western world for thousands of years.

One of the holiest sites of ancient Greece, Delphi was the pre-eminent shrine of Apollo. Cradled by Mount Parnassos and a valley of olive groves, it was also sacred to Dionysus, who was supposedly buried there. But Delphi is chiefly known for its legendary oracle the most famous of the ancient world. Journey back to the golden age of Greece, when the mysterious oracle of Delphi predicted the futures of kings and countries. In the smoky, haunting, and hallucinogenic atmosphere of the sacred shrine, predictions were uttered by a priestess in a delirious trance and interpreted by a priest speaking in verse. Dramatic re-creations bring the oracle to life, and leading historians explain how Delphi grew wealthy through the offerings of those seeking a glimpse at their destiny. Explore the ruins of this mystical site with archaeologists, and see the latest discoveries that are shedding new light on the legendary city.

Present day Mexico City sits atop of what was once a great civilization, the Aztec Empire. Drawing on newly discovered artifacts, anthropologists can now give us a more in depth picture and shed new light on what life was like for this ancient civilization. Watch in awe as Ancient Mysteries reveals the Secrets of the Aztec Empire.

Archival documents and stunning re-creations bring the defining moments of the standoff to life, and Mormon historians explore the legacy it left behind. THE MORMON REBELLION reveals the truth behind an often-overlooked chapter in American history.

In 1600, London citizens poor and rich attend the theater to enjoy grand spectacles of drama, music and dance. These huge playhouses like Shakespeare''s Globe Theatre offer the highest form of entertainment to the masses of Elizabethan England. Nowhere inthe world is there a better stage. The impresarios are rich; the actors are worshipped and the playwrights immortalized. Yet in 1642, the stroke of a pen wipes British theater off the face of the earth. The stages are demolished and many plays are lost. What was it like to experience the grand theater of old England, and why was it outlawed?

It is the richest burial site ever discovered in the Western Hemisphere a massive royal tomb on the outskirts of Sipan, Peru, where the ancient treasures of the Moche civilization rested undisturbed for centuries. But in 1987, a sudden flood of priceless gold and silver artifacts was the first clue that a major new find had been made not by archaeologists, but by grave robbers who were selling the spoils of an ancient, little-known people. TOMBS OF SIPAN tells the incredible tale of archaeologists and art-dealers, investigators and looters that led to one of the most important archaeological finds in history. The case was broken when one looter, upset with his take, confessed and turned in the others. The thieves and many stunning artifacts were captured, but most importantly, they revealed the location of their trove. From the saga of their discovery to the ongoing investigations, this is the remarkable saga of the TOMBS OF SIPAN.

On a cold Paris morning in January 1895, as 20,000 people shouted, "Death to the traitor, death to the Jew," French Army Captain Alfred Dreyfus was publicly stripped of his rank for committing high treason. That the evidence against him was flimsy and fabricated did not matter; he was Jewish, and that alone was enough to sustain a gross miscarriage of justice that unraveled over a dozen years before his name was finally cleared. THE INFAMOUS DREYFUS AFFAIR details the travesty which exposed the ignorance and prejudice of a nation. See how high-ranking officers set up Dreyfus to take the blame for a critical security leak, and how others who questioned his guilt were silenced and even court-martialed. Examine the evidence against Dreyfus, forged by an anti-Semitic colonel. And discover how an article by novelist Emile Zola brought the world's attention to the Army's actions, ultimately leading to Dreyfus's exoneration in the face of overwhelming evidence. It's an important portrait of hate, injustice and a man who bore the indignities thrust upon him with dignity and honor.

Explores the fall of the Romanov dynasty and the fate of some of its members. Examines the enduring mystery of Anastasia in some detail.

A search for the lance that pierced the side of Christ.

Using rare footage and interviews with leading historians, this program offers a revealing look at the ways different societies around the world and throughout history have dealt with death.

Examines the mysteries surrounding the construction of the pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Great Sphinx.

Scientists examine ancient ruins, artifacts and texts from around the world that lead them to believe extraterrestrials have visited Earth.

This program goes to Mexico to unravel the enigmatic history of Teotihuacán, a 2,000-year-old urban wonder and one of the largest settlements of the ancient world.

Hawaii emerged steaming from the sea millennia ago, the product of thousands of years of continual volcanic eruptions that finally broke the ocean's surface and gave birth to a tropical paradise famed the world over. Since the very first people settled here, they have revered and feared the volcanoes and tried to appease their legendary mistress, the goddess Pele. She is one of the most captivating, capricious and enduring of all pagan deities. Even today, her name and power are taken seriously by many Hawaiians, whose lives are subject to the whims of the volcanoes she is said to control. HAWAII'S VENGEFUL GODDESS is a fascinating look at this enigmatic figure. Experts in Hawaiian history and legends trace her origins, and explore the possibility that there is a real person at the heart of this enduring belief. Ancient tales and art help bring her story to life, while footage of modern Hawaiian ceremonies show the very real role Pele continues to play in the islands today.

In Search of History looks the historical influences that shaped the story of King Arthur and the Knights of Camelot.

For hundreds of years, the glorious history of Ancient Egypt remained a mystery to the world, its secrets locked away in the baffling language of the hieroglyphs. But in 1799, French troops near the Egyptian town of Rosetta discovered an ancient basalt slab that would prove to be the key to unlocking Egypt's mysteries. Carved in 196 BC, the Rosetta stone bore a decree praising the Egyptian king Ptolemy V etched in hieroglyphs, demotic Egyptian and Greek. From the discovery and the long struggle to uncover the secrets of the ancient language to the birth of modern Egyptology, this is the fascinating saga of the Rosetta Stone. Trace the many failed attempts and dead-ends that stumped scholars. Leading experts tell the story of the brilliant, obsessed Jean Francois Champollion, who finally broke the code. And see how, within a few years, the secrets revealed because of the Rosetta Stone had transformed our understanding of the ancient world.

The Molly Maguires was an Irish 19th-century secret society active in Ireland, Liverpool and parts of the eastern United States, best known for their activism among Irish-American and Irish immigrant coal miners in Pennsylvania. After a series of often violent conflicts, twenty suspected members of the Molly Maguires were convicted of murder and other crimes and were executed by hanging in 1877 and 1878. This history remains part of local Pennsylvania lore.

In the late 1600s, more than 150 men and women were accused of being witches. After the infamous Salem Witch Trials, 19 people were hanged for their alleged crimes, and one person was pressed to death under heavy stones. This History Channel documentary travels back to one of America's darkest times and reveals startling facts about who the real accusers were and what the community did to make restitution to the loved ones of the dead.

Navajo Marines devise an unbroken code.

The rituals and history of Japan's Samurai.

North African pirates imperiled early American sea trade, inspiring Congress to re-establish a Navy to protect merchant ships.

Alexander Selkirk was the real name of the sailor immortalized in Daniel Defoe's classic tale. In "The Real Robinson Crusoe", we learn that Selkirk was marooned on a Souith American island for five years, then accrued a fortune in Spanish loot after being rescued. But did wealth and marriage bring happiness?

This installment of "in Search of History" is about the discovery of the last living member of a Native American tribe, the Yahis, in 1911.

London, 1483. The War of the Roses rages, threatening the throne. Newly orphaned Edward V and his younger brother, placed in the care of their uncle, are declared illegitimate. They then disappear, the bodies never found. Did Richard III have them murdered? Or was he the victim of a Tudor plot to claim the throne and discredit him?

Master thief Bruce Reynolds and a rag-tag crew of career criminals rob a British mail train carrying $2.6 million in 1963.

This documentary takes a look at new evidence that indicates anthropologists and archaeologists may have been wrong in their theories about the first inhabitants of North and South America.

Nathan Freudenthal Leopold Jr. and Richard Albert Loeb were two wealthy students at the University of Chicago who in May 1924 kidnapped and murdered 14-year-old Robert Franks in Chicago. They committed the murder—characterized at the time as "the crime of the century"—as a demonstration of their perceived intellectual superiority, which, they thought, rendered them capable of carrying out a "perfect crime", and absolved them of responsibility for their actions.

Just in time for the Olympics, we'll travel back to 776 B.C. to the world's first sports complex, Olympia, where every four years ancient Greek city-states set aside differences and laid down arms to compete in these peaceful games established to honor Zeus.

For the vulnerable European settlers making their way west on the uncertain plains of the American frontier, the threat of death lurked around every twist of the trail. In the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries, America's western lands were a place of both isolation and primitive conditions. At each step in the march westward, new settlers fought cunning and ubiquitous enemies in the form of deadly diseases and rampant epidemics. Where battle wounds, poor sanitation, and deadly animals were common, appropriate medical care was not. To survive in these harrowing conditions, the settlers had to find a doctor - or someone calling him or herself one. In this captivating program, The History Channel® journeys deep into the American frontier to discover the stories behind the pioneering men and women whose courage and heroism both helped to save lives and make medical history.

MERCURY 13: THE SECRET ASTRONAUTS tells the surprising story of these would-be pioneers who had the right stuff but the wrong sex. Three of the surviving members of the 13 tell their personal stories of how they came to the program, the tests they endured, and their feelings about never getting into orbit. Hear from one of the physicians who was responsible for selecting the "astronaut candidates," and discover how they paved the way for present-day astronauts like Bonnie Dunbar. Overlooked and ignored for decades, the first women in the space program finally get their due.

A look at the various things commonly associated with Ramses and his political motivations.

Recognized as one of the oldest named cities in the world and the leading city of ancient Greece, the cultural achievements of Athens laid the foundation for Western civilization. This episode of In Search of History examines the remarkable monuments dedicated to the patron goddess, Athena. But was the real purpose of these ancient marbled treasures to house a new brand of politics called “democracy”, or to serve as a platform for a brutally intense cult of worship?

This episode describes the Shuar people of the Amazon rain forest. The Ecuadorean government recently outlawed their practice of headhunting so as to encourage commercial development in their territory.

Nobel laureate Werner Heisenberg leads the World War II German atomic-bomb project.

This episode describes an inventive, forceful and, some scholars say, wicked culture that predated and greatly influenced nearby ancient Rome.

This episode discusses some details of American military history that have withstood many efforts to sweep them under the rug of time.

This episode explores the controversial story of Ted Hall, a brilliant 19-year-old physics whiz kid who helped ignite the Cold War by leaking America's nuclear secrets to the Soviets after being recruited in 1944 to work at a Los Alamos A-Bomb laboratory.

This program promises to delve into the age-old question of whether astrology really does hold answers.

The Allies launch an elaborate deception to cover D-Day plans.

A look at 200 years of "dirty laundry" coming out of that house on Pennsylvania Avenue.

This documentary describes several ancient Native American cultures in North America that built impressive, mysterious structures, such as giant, snake-shaped mounds.

Described as the "world''s most notorious penal colony" the tropical outpost established by the French government in 1852 (and used until 1945) was so inhospitable that half of the prisoners have died or gone insane.

The Borgia family of Renaissance Italy.

Impressive ruins of ancient cultures, including the structures at Stonehenge, Easter Island, Machu Picchu and Chaco Canyon and in Egypt and Jerusalem.

In the years following his violent death, Abraham Lincoln became the most revered president in US history. But as time passed, what happened to the real story behind the myth? Lincoln's friend, William Herndon, wanted to leave an accurate and personal record. He spent 30 years documenting the most confidential memories of Lincoln's closest friends and family. But for more than a century, these recollections were buried in a disorganized and near illegible collection of papers in the Library of Congress. Now, William Herndon's documents are surfacing for the time, and what they reveal is a portrait of Lincoln as an Earthy, fallible, and often troubled man.

Reveals exciting and controversial military campaigns that have all but faded from American history--a showdown with Britain that began over a pig; a war in Korea fought in 1871, not 1950; and a U.S. citizen's attempt to seize control of Nicaragua! Covers little-known invasions in Russia, Central America, and the Caribbean as well. (cc) [TV G] 9:00/6:00 Top Secret Missions of the CIA. Bodysnatch/The War That Never Was. First, CIA officer Duane Clarridge engineers a clandestine operation with the FBI to "kidnap" international terrorist Fawaz Yunis from Cyprus and bring him to the U.S. to stand trial. Then, CIA Officer Bill Lair launches Operation Momentum, a covert mission to arm and train mountain tribesmen in Laos to battle communist infiltration.

The Tulsa race riot was a large-scale, racially motivated conflict on May 31 and June 1, 1921, in which a group of white people attacked the black community of Tulsa, Oklahoma. It resulted in the Greenwood District, also known as 'the Black Wall Street' and the wealthiest black community in the United States, being burned to the ground.

Behind the scenes interviews with Hell's Angels leaders and members reveal the fascinating life and danger of the Hell's Angels. Hunter S. Thompson shares his notorious experiences and ultimate betrayal by the Angels, and law enforcement gang specialists provide perspective on the gang's violence and criminal activities.The story of how the Angels got their start in the 1940s how the 1954 film The Wild One made them famous. See the Angel's explain their point of view about many of most controversial incidents, including the infamous Rolling Stones concert at Altamont where the club was hired to provide security, with explosive results.

Whether miracles really take place, including a look at those believed to be "miracle workers," from Jesus to Edgar Cayce.

Visionary authors, historians, and scientists reveal how fiction and reality merge.

Modern explorers continue to search for El Dorado, the legendary South American country rich in gold.

The Gypsies were driven from India in the year 1000 and wandered Europe as performers.

Documentary that examines the medicine shows and snake oil salesmen of the 19th century and how their legacy has resurfaced throughout the 20th century. The program also examines the popularity of today's herbal remedies and asks if they are just the latest incarnation of exaggerated health cures.

The hunt for Communists in the United States clearly reached the point of hysteria by the early 1950s, but what is often overlooked is that it had its origins in a very real phenomenon. The opening of the Soviet archives in the 1990s, and the declassification of certain intercepted Soviet messages from the late 1940s, indicates that Soviet agents had penetrated the U.S. government before and during World War II, in some cases at very high levels, including the Office of Secret Services, the Los Alamos nuclear lab, the State Department and the U.S. Congress. Now evidence gleaned from declassified secret Russian cables and newly opened KGB files shows that Soviet penetration indeed ran deep; even the Congressman who set up House Un-American Activities Committee was on the KGB payroll!

In 1934, a photo of a dinosaur-like aquatic creature sparked a worldwide obsession with Scotland's Loch Ness Monster and stood as concrete evidence of its existence--until 1993, when it was proven to be a hoax! Believers and skeptics track Nessie's history from an ancient Pictic representation to modern Loch explorations.

For 5,000 years, the sacred site of Stonehenge has stood on the plain of Salisbury, England, silent witness to a myriad of mysteries. Who built the prehistoric stone circle? Druids? Merlin the Magician? Was it an altar for human sacrifice, or landing pad for UFOs? Experts, anthropologists, and astronomers assess the mystery.

This documentary is about the wall built almost 2,000 years ago during the Roman occupation of the British Isles in a failed attempt to keep Scottish and other tribes out of England.

Return to a glittering city who's saga begins and ends with the sea. It rose from a malarial swamp to dazzle and dominate the world. But is it destined for a watery grave?

"Saints and Sinners of the California Missions" tells the story of Spanish priests and soldiers who established permanent settlements along the California coast in the late 18th century. Included: obstacles in the way of the group's mission, such as natural disasters and human resistance.

Asteroids. From bullet-sized rocks to massive slabs as big as a city, they hurtle through the solar system pulverizing anything they crash into. Decimating vast forests in the Siberian wilderness. Gouging out huge chunks of the planet, killing off the dinosaurs. Asteroids have had an enormous literal impact on history. As we go IN SEARCH OF HISTORY we'll discover if our fate is truly in the heavens...and in the path of an asteroid.

The spectacular Incan city of Machu Picchu, high in the Andes Mountains, was long thought to be legendary. Then in 1911, the intrepid explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon its remains. But while the walls and chambers have been extensively studied in the years since, the purpose of this ancient site remains unclear. Go to the top of the world to unravel the mysteries of this enigmatic place. See incredible footage of the earliest expeditions to Machu Picchu, and meet the men and women who have dedicated their lives to unearthing its secrets. Wander through the incredible ruins and feel the eerie presence of the past and the timeless secrets that are locked somewhere within. Was it a pleasure palace, an observatory, a fortress or something else entirely? The answers await just below the clouds in LOST CITY OF THE INCAS.

The history of the Cardiff Giant and the reality about it's existence just south of Syracuse, New York.

Venture into the life of the historical Dracula, Vlad Tepes, the fifteenth century Wallachian warlord. He ruled from a mountain fortress with an iron fist, and had a penchant for impaling his enemies - and often his own countrymen. A hero to some and a horror to others, discover the link between the man and the immortal vampire created by Bram Stoker.

The Black Sox Scandal was a Major League Baseball match fixing incident in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of intentionally losing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate led by Arnold Rothstein.

Visit the French village where a girl is said to have seen a vision of the Virgin Mary.

Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were Italian-born American anarchists who were wrongly convicted of murdering a guard and a paymaster during the April 15, 1920, armed robbery of the Slater and Morrill Shoe Company in Braintree, Massachusetts, United States. Seven years later, they were electrocuted in the electric chair at Charlestown State Prison.

Charles Ponzi became known in the early 1920s as a swindler in North America for his money-making scheme. He promised clients a 50% profit within 45 days, or 100% profit within 90 days, by buying discounted postal reply coupons in other countries and redeeming them at face value in the United States as a form of arbitrage. In reality, Ponzi was paying earlier investors using the investments of later investors. His scheme ran for over a year before it collapsed, costing his "investors" $20 million. While this type of fraudulent investment scheme was not originally invented by Ponzi, it became so identified with him that it now is referred to as a Ponzi scheme.

The Nazi party grew out of several occult groups that sprung up in the late 19th century as a reaction to the advanced materialism and technology of the era. These groups spoke of the coming of a new Messiah that would save Germany. Young Adolf Hitler developed the notion that perhaps he was the chosen one to save the German people. The political parties created in the wake of the country's defeat in World War I combined nationalistic sentiment and occultist practices to forge an image of a superior German people. Hitler's imprisonment after the failed 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch would make him a national hero for his defense of a strong German state, convincing him that he was the Messiah who could save Germany. Hitler appropriated Christian religioussymbols such as the Spear of Destiny and the Holy Grail for his own purposes. He adopted the swastika, which contained occult significance from earlier cultures, as the symbol of Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler's rise was the product of forces and events conne

Alexander the Great’s most highly regarded general, Ptolemy the First, designs the Alexandria Library. For the first time in history, scholars from all fields of study and from every known corner of the world have a place where they can pursue pure knowledge. The Alexandria Library houses the largest collection of books ever assembled in the ancient world. But no trace of it exists today. Who was responsible for the destruction of the Alexandria Library and what secrets about the ancient world were forever lost in the rubble?

In the more than 3,000 years since Troy's fabled fall, its mysteries have yet to be unraveled. The legends of the Trojan Horse, Helen of Troy and Achilles have fueled some of archaeology's most celebrated expeditions, yet continue to baffle scholars and ignite controversy. THE TROJAN CITY is an exhaustive exploration of the legendary city. Travel to the site of Troy in modern-day Turkey and visit with the scientists and archaeologists who are probing its secrets. Search for answers to the central questions of this eternal mystery: Did the Trojan War really occur? Was the abduction of Helen its cause? And what do we know of Homer, the poet whose Iliad immortalized Troy's contentious history? The astonishing findings add a new and intriguing chapter to this legendary story!