Investigations

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The History Detectives have traveled the length and breadth of the country, delving into family legends, local folklore and stories behind potentially extraordinary objects in everyday American homes, cities and small towns.

Browse the investigations on the map and see what we've revealed in your local area.

If you've got an object that you think may have played a starring role in American history, let us know.

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Techniques Building Background Discover more about a building's history.
Techniques Case File: Quirky Quilts How to look after a very old quilt.
Investigations Quaker Map Did this faded map once guide slaves to freedom on the underground railroad?
Investigations "Scottsboro Boys" Stamp Did a penny stamp help save the Scottsboro Boys from the electric chair?
Techniques Case File: Detecting Daguerreotypes Learn more about daguerreotypes.
Techniques Analyzing Art - Checklist A printable 'To Do' list for analyzing art.
Investigations 32' Ford Roadster Was this car among the popular hot rods that raced out at the dry lakes in the 1930s?
Investigations Japanese House How did a Japanese house come to be at the San Francisco World's Fair just months before WWII began?
Investigations Jefferson Pledge Did the transformation of the nation's public education system begin with this $200 pledge?
Techniques Archives Learn how to successfully use archives for your research.
Investigations Society Circus Program Why are some of New York's wealthiest planning a circus at the depth of the Great Depression?
Investigations Red Cloud Letter How was a leader of the Lakota people connected with the controversial sculptor of Mount Rushmore?
Investigations Mussolini's Dagger Did a World War II GI return home with Mussolini's dagger?
Investigations Lookout Mountain Painting What can this painting tell us about a turning point in the Civil War?
Investigations Ince Ledger What does this accounts ledger for a movie company have to do with the changing world of the Lakota Sioux?
Techniques Preservation - Checklist Printable checklist to use when preserving an item.
Techniques Forensic Anthropology How to use a multi-disciplinary approach to uncover the secrets hidden in bones.
Investigations Cherokee Bible What can this bible written in Cherokee tell us about one of the darkest chapters in Indian history?
Techniques Case File: Hidden Meanings Finding out more about the author of a diary.
Investigations Long Expedition Is this the site of the one of the most significant expeditions in the United States?
Investigations First Movie Studio Could a broken gateway once have been the grand entrance to a Hollywood studio?
Techniques Glossary A list of useful words and phrase for carrying out historical research.
Techniques African-American Genealogy
Techniques Military History - WWII Learn how to research a WWII veteran’s military record.
Investigations King Kong Camera Was this old movie camera used to film the original version of King Kong?
Investigations Josh White Guitar What role did this guitar play in the transformation of the music industry in the 1960's?
Investigations World War II Leaflets How did this scrap of paper help change the course of World War II?
Techniques Gun Timeline A timeline of firearm history.
Investigations Cemetery Alarm Was this explosive device used to stop a morbid black market trade?
Techniques Stones And Minerals - Checklist Printable checklist to use when studying stones and minerals.
Investigations Lewis & Clark's Cane Was this family heirloom a gift from the famous explorers Lewis and Clark?
Techniques Paper Analysis Learn how to analyze paper to determine its age and origin.
Techniques Case File: WWII Find out how this historian researched a relative.
Techniques Genealogy Learn how to successfully investigate your family history.
Techniques Military Research Using military records in your research.
Techniques Case File: Rock n' Research How to identify rocks.

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