Investigations
Map
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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Investigations
Flint Lock Rifle
Was this the gun of one of the most infamous bandits operating to undermine the birth of our nation?
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Investigations
Korean War Letter
What does this letter reveal about a forgotten act of heroism during the final days of the Korean War?
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Investigations
Alcoholics Anonymous Letter
Is this letter proof of one man's contribution to this secretive society?
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Investigations
Charlie Parker's Saxophone
Could this be jazz legend Charlie "Bird" Parker's saxophone?
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Investigations
Whaling Ship
Might a ship docked in Mystic Seaport, hold secrets to the Underground Railroad?
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Investigations
Leisurama Homes
What happened to the Leisurama homes apparently widely sold in Florida?
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Investigations
Mail Order Brides
Are these images evidence of mail order brides in 1890s Chicago?
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Techniques
DNA Analysis
How to prove a person's identity.
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Techniques
Tracking People - Checklist
Printable checklist to use when tracking people.
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Investigations
Lindbergh-Sikorsky Fabric
How do the signatures on this patch of fabric connect Charles Lindbergh to another first in flight?
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Investigations
Booth Letter
Did the father of John Wilkes Booth threaten to assassinate the President?
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Investigations
Slave Songbook
Are these tattered pages the earliest record of music created by slaves?
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Techniques
Oral History
Learn how to record oral or spoken history.
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Techniques
Geological Analysis
Learn how to identify probable age and origin of ceramic, stone and tile objects
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Techniques
Genealogy - Glossary
A list of useful words to know when using genealogy.
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Investigations
Anti-Slavery Flag
Did this old sheet found in a family trunk contribute to the end of slavery in America?
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Techniques
Stones And Minerals
How to study stones and minerals.
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Investigations
Grace Kelly Car
Is this the car driven by an actress turned princess, which would give it a place in cinematic history?
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Investigations
Independence Trumpet
Is a Pennsylvania man's trumpet somehow tied to the Revolutionary War?
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Techniques
Case File: Soldiers In Skirts
How to use military records to help you learn about your family.
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Investigations
Lincoln Oath
Was this note penned by Abraham Lincoln?
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Techniques
Preservation
Learn how to preserve papers, books, photographs and textiles.
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Investigations
General Lee's Farewell Address
Could this be a signed copy of one of the most famous documents in the history of the Civil War?
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Investigations
George Washington Miniature
Did the artist paint this portrait from life, and what is its surprising connection to the abolitionist White Matlack?
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Techniques
Timber Dating
Using ring sequences or radiocarbon dating.
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Techniques
Case File: Marriage Of Convenience
How to discover things you didn't know about people.
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Investigations
N.E.A.R Device
Was this device invented to help Americans believe they could survive a Soviet nuclear attack?
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Techniques
Appraising
Getting a valuation using an independent source or expert opinion.
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Investigations
Cleveland Electric Car
What happened to the electric street car network in Cleveland?
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Techniques
Building Background
Discover more about a building's history.
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Techniques
Military Research
Using military records in your research.
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Techniques
Case File: My Indiana Home
Finding out more about your home.
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Techniques
Analyzing Art - Checklist
A printable 'To Do' list for analyzing art.
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Techniques
Analyzing Art
Taking a closer look at works of art.
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Techniques
Case File: Detecting Daguerreotypes
Learn more about daguerreotypes.
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Techniques
Learning From Skeletons
What we can find out from a skeleton.