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 area.

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Techniques Historical Research It's your turn to be a History Detective.
Investigations Civil War Submarine Is this submarine an example of new technology developed by the Confederates during the Civil War?
Investigations Modoc Basket What tales does this basket weave of the heroism of an American-Indian woman?
Techniques Archives - Checklist A printable 'To Do' list to use when using archives.
Investigations Nora Holt Autograph Book Why did this Harlem Renaissance luminary own a book filled with U.S. Presidents' signatures?
Investigations Mail Order Brides Are these images evidence of mail order brides in 1890s Chicago?
Techniques Learning From Skeletons What we can find out from a skeleton.
Techniques Document Examination How to determine authenticity and authorship of a document.
Techniques Geological Analysis Learn how to identify probable age and origin of ceramic, stone and tile objects
Techniques Case File: WWII Find out how this historian researched a relative.
Techniques African-American Genealogy
Investigations Japanese Carved Cane What can the message on this cane expose about life behind barbed wire in World War II America?
Techniques Case File: Soldiers In Skirts How to use military records to help you learn about your family.
Investigations George Washington Portrait Could this be an authentic portrait of the nation's first president?
Techniques Historical Research - Checklist Printable checklist to use when doing historical research.
Investigations Civil War Letters What can these letters reveal about a racially-charged massacre on a Civil War battlefield?
Investigations Galvez Papers What stories do these faded legal pages reveal about a revolutionary war hero’s role in an unexpected love affair?
Techniques Preservation Learn how to preserve papers, books, photographs and textiles.
Techniques Very Old Objects - Checklist Printable checklist to use when examining very old objects.
Techniques Appraising Getting a valuation using an independent source or expert opinion.
Investigations Society Circus Program Why are some of New York's wealthiest planning a circus at the depth of the Great Depression?
Investigations Fillmore Pardon Did President Fillmore pardon a Native American convicted of murder?
Techniques Do's And Don'ts Your definitive list of do's and don'ts when carrying out historical research.
Techniques Patent Analysis Find out the origin and detail surrounding an invention or innovation.
Investigations Leisurama Homes What happened to the Leisurama homes apparently widely sold in Florida?
Investigations Revolutionary War Poem How did this poem, written by an American prisoner in England in 1780 end up in Oregon 200 years later?
Investigations Amelia Earhart Plane Was this piece of metal ripped from one of the most famous missing planes in history?
Techniques Case File: Quirky Quilts How to look after a very old quilt.
Investigations Unwed Mother's Home Is this small medallion enough information to help a woman find her birth parents?
Techniques Case File: A Soldier's Fortune Find out how this historian used archives when investigating his family's history.
Techniques Building Background Discover more about a building's history.
Investigations Flint Lock Rifle Was this the gun of one of the most infamous bandits operating to undermine the birth of our nation?
Investigations Cesar Chavez Banner What role did this banner play in one of the most famous civil rights campaigns in U.S. history?
Investigations Lincoln Forgery Could this piece of sheet music have come from Abraham Lincoln's private collection?
Techniques Property Search How to carry out a property search.
Investigations Civil War Sabotage? The steamship Sultana exploded one night in 1865, killing more than 1,800 people. Was the disaster a result of Civil War sabotage?

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