History's Greatest Mysteries

Hidden in the Nevada desert, a top-secret military base remains one of the most heavily restricted sites in the United States. Since the 1950s, speculation has swirled about its true purpose.

At the end of World War II, many Nazi officials were captured and tried for their crimes. But one of the architects of the Holocaust, Adolf Eichmann, slipped through the cracks…repeatedly eluding Nazi hunters from around the globe.

It's one of humanity's oldest nightmares–at the full moon, werewolves that once were men hunt human prey and then feast on their flesh. Stories of this terrifying transformation persist to this day.

The world's most famous painting vanishes in a daring heist, sparking international outrage and a global manhunt. A master detective is called in, who zeroes in on a handful of suspects with the motive and means to pull off the theft.

It's one of the most legendary monsters said to be lurking in the vast open seas. With stories going back hundreds of years, this elusive creature has terrorized sailors and baffled scientists.

The notorious mafia kingpin, Sam Giancana, is shot execution style in his own home. The larger-than-life mobster had many enemies, from inside the mafia to the CIA. Was his death a crime of passion? The result of unpaid debts?

It's one of America's most mythic UFO incidents--a 200-yard swath of debris that landed near Roswell, New Mexico. Some believe it was an alien craft, others that it was a secret government experiment. The deeper researchers dig, the more perplexing the story gets. It's a mystery that's endured for nearly 80 years. So what really crashed in Roswell in 1947?

The search for the illusive Northwest Passage leads to a historic expedition that sets sail into a labyrinth of ice and is never heard from again. That disappearance sparks a search for clues spanning nearly two centuries... and leading to unthinkable ends. What really killed the men of the Franklin Expedition?

On February 14th, 1929, one of the most shocking murders in mob history goes down in Chicago--and becomes known as the Valentine's Day Massacre. The 20s and 30s are full of gangland murders, but the Valentine's Day Massacre is considered the most brutal -- and the toughest to solve. So who carried out the Valentine's Day Massacre? And why?

Sightings of the Yeti, a creature of myth and legend, have been recorded for thousands of years throughout the Himalayas and surrounding regions. Could this seven-foot-tall creature, covered in shaggy gray hair, be hiding in plain sight? And if the Yeti does exist, is it a living being--or something else entirely?

Amelia Earhart, the world's most famous female pilot, takes off on the final leg of a record-breaking flight. But Earhart never arrives at her next stop: a tiny island in the Pacific Ocean. The search for this famed flier has revealed conflicting stories and, in the eyes of some: secrecy. What really happened to Amelia and her navigator?

Pablo Escobar, the notorious narco-trafficker who single-handedly supplied most of America's cocaine in the 1980s, had billions of dollars in cash...and hid stacks of it all over the country. By the time he was gunned down in 1993, it's believed he was worth over $50 billion in today's money. To some he was a Robin Hood. To others, he was pure evil. Who killed Pablo Escobar? And where did all his money go?

Cash, jewels, and two million dollars in gold bars. Jesse James and his gang robbed trains, stagecoaches and banks... and buried the spoils. But only a fraction of the millions has actually been found. If James and his gang hid a fortune, where could it be?

A surreal event outside a U.S. Air Force base near the Rendlesham Forest in England becomes an international legend, and one of history's strangest unidentified encounters. For more than 40 years, the question has endured: what was really out there in the Rendlesham Forest? What were the Rendlesham lights?

The Burning Bush, the 10 Plagues, the Parting of the Red Sea...these legendary Biblical events in the Book of Exodus have shaped Judeo Christian beliefs for centuries. But were these events divinely inspired miracles, or do they have a more earthly explanation? Is it possible some of these famous legends in the Book of Exodus aren't parables... but rooted in fact?

It's history's most famous lost city: Atlantis, the island kingdom that's baffled explorers for centuries. Some say Atlantis is a myth, while others insist it was a very real place wiped out thousands of years ago. Finding Atlantis would not only be the archaeological coup of this century, but perhaps for all time. Is Atlantis a real place, and if so, where could it be?

He was the first Public Enemy Number One--the legendary outlaw John Dillinger. His life consisted of brazen bank robberies across the country, but his death remains shrouded in mystery. What really happened to John Dillinger?

The legendary ancient ruler who amassed a fortune estimated to be worth 120 trillion in today's dollars--Genghis Khan--hid his riches so well that to this day no one has unearthed them. 800 years later the fate of his treasure remains a mystery. Where are Genghis Khan's buried riches? 

Nicola Tesla is the epitome of what some would call the "mad scientist" and also one of history's most influential inventors. The father of AC electricity, Tesla had revolutionary ideas--but in the hands of the wrong people, those ideas could be used for evil purposes. When Tesla died, he allegedly had 80 trunks of papers full of groundbreaking ideas. But only 60 of those trunks have ever been seen again. Where are the other 20 trunks? What happened to Tesla's missing files... and what was in them?

This is the most mysterious of the Dead Sea Scrolls. An ancient treasure map, recorded on a rare Copper Scroll, could lead to billions of dollars of buried treasure in gold, in silver, in jewels, hidden away thousands of years ago from Roman invaders. The most mysterious of the Dead Sea Scrolls; The clues listed on the Copper Scroll could lead to this vast fortune. Where is the secret treasure of the Copper Scroll?

It's one of the most infamous and unsolved mob murders--notorious mobster Bugsy Siegel is gunned down in his Beverly Hills living room.

One of the most famous explorers in the world, Percy Fawcett, becomes obsessed with a lost city deep in the Amazon jungle, a place he names the City of Z.

Rising from the sands of the Egyptian desert is one of the ancient world's greatest wonders--the mighty Sphinx. This mythological creature, with the head of a human and the body of a lion, looks like it's standing guard at the great pyramids of Giza.

One of the most infamous pirates to prowl America's Gulf Coast--Jean Lafitte--led what may have been the largest pirate fleet in the world. Known as "The Terror of the Gulf" he was more than a pirate… he was a crime boss.

The gigantic statues of Easter Island have mystified humanity for centuries. These enormous otherworldly monoliths exist nowhere else on earth.

The Tower of Babel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Mount Sinai are some of the greatest Old Testament stories ever told. Yet these iconic places have seemingly vanished from the map.

An Aztec king's glittering treasure vanishes into thin air, inspiring a 500-year search that spans continents. One of the greatest warriors of all-time amassed a vast horde believed to be worth more than $3 billion today, but its whereabouts remains a mystery. What really happened to Montezuma's lost treasure? 

Most people know it as the biblical birthplace of man--The Garden of Eden. But is the Garden of Eden really just a story to explain human creation? Or could it be a real place? And if the Garden of Eden did exist--where exactly was it? Some of the possibilities may surprise you.

Over seven hundred years ago, a medieval religious order protected a vast treasure of gold silver, precious gems, and religious relics... and then it all mysteriously vanished. For centuries, historians and fortune hunters have crossed continents searching for these ancient riches, which would be worth billions today. What happened to the secret hoard of the Knights Templar?

The haunting image of the Shroud of Turin has captivated millions around the world; scientists and theologians are trying to figure out if the Shroud of Turin truly is an image of Jesus or something very different.

It's a mystery from the golden age of piracy. In 1698, Captain William Kidd raids a ship on the high seas and seizes its vast treasure... but Kidd is hanged before revealing where he stashed the loot. What happened to Captain Kidd's lost booty... and where is it now?

A perfectly masterminded plot leads to one of the most brazen prison breaks in American history. With only a handful of clues left behind, the search for the infamous Alcatraz escapees continues to this day. But is it really possible they survived -- and if so, where did they go?

On February 24, 1942, less than three months after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, military radar picks up what appears to be enemy aircraft over Los Angeles. Air raid sirens send citizens scrambling, as troops fire more than 1400 rounds of anti-aircraft artillery at the illusive targets. When the smoke clears, the incident is veiled in secrecy and lies. What exactly triggered the so-called Battle of Los Angeles?

With 500-year-old secrets hidden in skeletons and stone, Machu Picchu is one of the most puzzling archaeological sites on earth. It's among the ancient world's most enduring riddles: Who built this astonishing complex, and why?

The death of one of history's most enigmatic rulers--Egypt's King Tutankhamun--remains shrouded in mystery 3300 years later. No one knows for sure what ended the young pharaoh's life, but scientific advancements may be getting us closer to the answer. Who, or what, killed King Tut?

For decades, experts believed they knew what caused the Hindenburg disaster: that leaking hydrogen ignited--causing the airship to burst into flames. But there may be more to this story. Whatever triggered the explosion, it didn't just spell doom for the Hindenburg but for the entire rigid airship industry. What caused the Hindenburg Disaster?

The story of the most celebrated warrior king in history still stirs fascination more than 2,000 years after his death. But the location of his body is the subject of much debate. When his remains suddenly disappear without a trace, a search across the ancient world ensues. What happened to the mummy of Alexander the Great?

The Titanic's tragic story captures the imagination of the public and experts of all kinds, who--decades after the ship's demise--still seek answers. Can new evidence reveal more about how--and why--the Titanic sank?

The search for the most famous gold mine in the Old West has led many to perish in the pursuit of its elusive riches. Legend suggests the gold, and the land it's hidden on, are somehow cursed--yet treasure hunters still come to the Superstition Mountains looking for the hidden hoard. But where exactly is the Lost Dutchman's mine?

Five years after John F. Kennedy is killed by gunshot, his brother Robert meets the same fate. An assassin's bullet again changes the course of history, and the latest clues in the case are riddled with inconsistencies. Who is really behind the killing of Robert Kennedy, and why?

A notorious tragedy leads to one of the darkest chapters in early American history. In 1692, fear rips through the small town of Salem, Massachusetts. Accusations fly and many people are put to death. But what really sparked the Salem Witch Trials?

Despite centuries of sightings and searches, one of the most infamous deep-sea monsters remains unidentified. As evidence continues to mount, the mystery endures: does the Loch Ness Monster really exist? And if so, what could it be?

In 1969, one of history's most elusive serial killers terrorizes Northern California. He taunts investigators with cryptic ciphers and clues, leaving police and the public questioning his identity for over 50 years. Can new evidence and technology finally crack his code? Who is the Zodiac Killer?

On November 22, 1963, President John F Kennedy is assassinated, shaking the nation to its core; while an initial suspect is captured, many believe there's more to the story; investigators and amateur sleuths alike have been searching for answers.

In 1587, a group of settlers land off the coast of North Carolina on Roanoke Island to establish the first English Colony in America. But only a few years later, the 115 men, women and children seemingly vanish without a trace, leaving only cryptic clues. The search to find out their fate has endured for over 400 years. Can new technology finally tell us what happened to the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

In 1997, thousands of people across Phoenix witness a series of strange lights unlike anything they've ever seen. Could this be one of the largest-scale UFO sightings in history, or is there another explanation for this mysterious phenomenon?

One of the holiest and most powerful relics from the Bible has been missing for over 2,000 years.  While some believe the Ark of the Covenant was destroyed, many people think it's still out there. Could new clues finally tell us what happened to the Ark, and lead us to where it can be found?

In 1930, a New York Supreme Court justice with close ties to Tammany Hall, and future president Franklin Delano Roosevelt, steps out of a steakhouse and disappears. For decades, the politically charged case dominates mainstream media and remains unsolved nearly 100 years later. But could a deathbed confession finally tell us what really happened to the notorious Judge Joseph Crater.

One of history's most notorious pirates, Blackbeard, is said to have had a treasure worth millions of dollars. After centuries of searching, the legendary hoard remains missing. As new evidence is unearthed, the mystery endures: what became of Blackbeard's lost treasure?

An ancient mechanical device found on a 2,000-year-old shipwreck has become known as the world's first computer. The machine is centuries more advanced than historians thought possible, but its origin and true purpose are shrouded in secrecy. Can modern technology finally unveil what the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism actually is?

Awe-inspiring and mysterious, the pyramids of Egypt are among the most significant wonders of the ancient world. More than 4,000 years old, they are among the most celebrated architectural marvels in the world. But no one fully understands how they were built, or why. Can we ever decipher the true purpose of Egypt's astonishing pyramids?

During World War Two, the Nazis stole vast amounts of art, gold, silver and currency, and stashed it across Europe. While some of the plunder has been recovered, much more is still missing nearly 80 years later. Where did the Nazis take their stolen loot? And can it ever be found?

A look at what could cause mysterious vanishings in the Bermuda Triangle, a 500,000 square mile area of the Atlantic where ships, planes and unsuspecting travelers have been lost without a trace.

It's one of the most famous stories from the Bible: God sends a flood to wipe out nearly every living thing on Earth, except for Noah, his family and the animals he saves in his fabled ark. For thousands of years the tale is shared, but little is known about what happened to the ark. Can scientific evidence prove if there really was a great flood? And if so, what happened to Noah's Ark?

It's the only unsolved air piracy case in history. In 1971, a man hijacks a Northwest Orient Airlines flight, demanding 4 parachutes and $200,000. He jumps out of the plane with the money and is never seen again. Can new evidence finally reveal the identity of the anonymous hijacker known as D.B. Cooper?

Thousands of people swear they've encountered this legendary North American creature, but Bigfoot has never been officially identified. As evidence continues to mount, and photos are scrutinized, the mystery endures: does Bigfoot really exist? And if so, what is it--and where is it?

It's one of the most famous prehistoric monuments on Earth. A mysterious arrangement of stones that have adorned the English countryside for millennia. But to this day, nobody knows how the landmark was built or why. Can modern technology finally unlock its secrets? What is the true purpose of Stonehenge?

It is a legendary ancient city, said to be overflowing with gold. For centuries, explorers put their lives on the line searching for it. As the endless quest to uncover this infamous city continues, will anyone ever find it?

In 2016 a mysterious illness strikes dozens of government officials in Cuba. Over the next few years, hundreds more are afflicted. But investigations raise more questions than answers about this bizarre epidemic. What is the true cause of the strange phenomenon known as "Havana Syndrome?"

They've been called the world's greatest archaeological enigma. 2,000-year-old geoglyphs made in the Peruvian desert that span over 50 miles. The drawings are so massive, they can only be seen from the air. Can new research finally unravel their secrets? What is the true purpose of the incredible Nazca Lines?

She was the last pharaoh of Egypt and one of the most famous queens of all time, but her death in 31 B.C. has been shrouded in mystery. Cleopatra's body and final resting place have been lost without a trace for over 2,000 years, leaving the world's top archaeologists baffled. Can new evidence finally uncover Cleopatra's missing tomb?

In July 1996, one of the worst aviation disasters in American history leaves 230 people dead and countless questions unanswered; it's a tragedy that changes the aviation industry forever.

The history books say Adolf Hitler committed suicide in the final days of World War II, but not everyone believes there's sufficient proof; questions have swirled for decades about his possible escape.

During World War II, Japan plunders a fortune worth hundreds of billions of dollars from occupied countries, but to this day its whereabouts are unknown. Was the infamous treasure stashed in the Philippines, used to finance secret government operations, or frittered away by a famous corrupt leader? Treasure hunters still search for the lost gold of WWII, but will it ever be found?

It's one of the most infamous crimes in American history: the gruesome murder of a young beauty, unsolved for decades. There's a long line of suspects, each more mysterious than the next. Can the questions surrounding one of history's most notorious unsolved cases finally be answered?

In a perfectly planned robbery, thieves steal half a billion dollars in masterpieces from the Gardner Museum in Boston; it's been three decades since the brazen heist, and an exhaustive search has failed to recover the stolen goods.

One of World War II's greatest unsolved mysteries: an incomparable work of art worth half a billion dollars, lost without a trace. Perhaps the single most valuable object the Nazis ever stole, the quest for this treasure has lasted over 75 years. Where is the famed Amber Room? And will a brand-new search finally reveal its true location?

A powerful union activist disappears from a Detroit suburb. 45 years later, it remains one of the most notorious missing person cases of all time. The mystery of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance features more twists and turns than a Hollywood movie, but the question remains: where is he?

An infamous Cold War cold case: nine hikers found mutilated on a remote mountain slope. For over 60 years, authorities and amateurs alike have been trying to figure out what happened, in a place that's been called "Russia's Area 51."

As the Cold War ramps up, a well-dressed man is found dead within miles of a nuclear testing site on a tranquil Australian beach. There are no clues to his identity, or what could have happened. It's a case that's obsessed an army of sleuths for over 70 years: Who is the Somerton Beach man, and how did he die?

After a series of dark and ominous events, an unassuming family home on Long Island becomes the most notorious house in America. 50 years later, it's spawned a title wave of books, documentaries, and films; but do haunted houses really exist? Who--or what--is really responsible for the Amityville horror?

It's a treasure coveted by everyone from Roman Emperors to Adolf Hitler--a sacred object said to hold incredible powers of healing, resurrection and immortality. It may be the world's most sought-after relic, but what is the Holy Grail? And if it exists, can it ever be found?

One of the most chilling aviation mysteries in modern day: a Boeing 777, carrying 239 people, vanishes over the Indian Ocean; nearly a decade later, no one knows what really happened to Malaysia Flight 370.

A cold case that ignites every parent's worst fears: on Christmas morning, 1945, five siblings vanish from their family home in West Virginia during a raging fire. The devastated Sodder family spends the rest of their lives trying to find out what happened. Despite the work of dozens of investigators and thousands of amateur sleuths, the mystery remains: what happened to the Sodder children?

It might be the world's most mysterious book: a medieval manuscript filled with unidentifiable drawings, written in a secret language so complex that even the world's best code breakers can't crack it. It's obsessed everyone from scholars to conspiracy theorists. What is the Voynich Manuscript? And who wrote it?

A spree of gruesome murders shocks Victorian England--and the world. The homicidal maniac responsible remains a mystery. Can history's most notorious serial killer ever be identified? Who is Jack the Ripper?

When the infant son of an aviation legend is snatched from his crib at home, it ignites a media firestorm; after a nationwide manhunt, the supposed culprit is brought to justice, but questions pop up on the investigation.

A series of unexplained deaths near Chicago in 1982 starts a nationwide panic; the victims are connected by one frightening detail: cyanide-tainted capsules of Extra-Strength Tylenol; 40 years later, it remains an active FBI investigation.

On December 5, 1945, five American WW2 torpedo bombers took off from Florida with all men and planes disappearing without a trace. Hours later, the search plane dispatched to find them, also vanished, believed to be lost to the infamous Bermuda Triangle. The number of men tragically lost that day totaled 27 and 75 years later, it remains an unsolved mystery. No ship in history has searched the extreme depths of the Bermuda Triangle, thought to have claimed over 1,000 ships and planes, until now. The late Paul Allen's ship, R/V Petrel, the most advanced search vessel of its kind, will deploy a wide array of cutting edge technology including deep-diving submersibles to investigate three miles down, in an effort, to find the lost squadron and solve the mystery that began the legend of the Bermuda Triangle.

An investigation into the unshakable claims of Roger Miklos, one of America's most eccentric, controversial, and accomplished treasure hunters. Decades before his death in 2018, Roger believed he discovered a modified Nazi U-boat loaded with a fortune in artwork, antiquities, and gold off the coast of Turks and Caicos. Before he passed, Roger gave an exclusive interview that revealed clues about the possible position of the U-boat and left behind a trove of documents, maps, and photographs. Now, armed with this evidence, celebrated diver Mike Fletcher and his team will take to the high seas in search of the special U-boat.

On 20th July 1973, martial arts superstar Bruce Lee died under mysterious circumstances in Hong Kong. Bruce's brother, Robert Lee, was never satisfied with the official cause of death--a fatal reaction to aspirin. Now in the twilight of his life, Robert Lee has enlisted former Hong Kong police detective Philip Chan to comb through previously unseen documents, interview experts and talk to people close to the legendary superstar, in an attempt to revisit what or who killed the Bruce Lee. From legendary rooftop fights to feuds with alleged Triad members and producers, Chan's journey uncovers the surprising life of a complex superstar.

Harry Houdini left behind a diary that had been kept from the public, held under lock and key by a wealthy New York City Family. Now, magician and Houdini expert Bill Kalush has finally secured access to these pages. A team of experts will begin to unveil the diary, using new information gleaned from these personal accounts to form new insights into this enigmatic man's life. But Houdini's humble rise to fame eventually turns into a dark web of mysteries shrouding the truth behind this legend's end. From vindictive competitors to a man driven to failure by his own ambitions, the cause of Houdini's sudden death has remained unsolved, until now.

With over 7,500 hours investigating the D.B. Cooper mystery including analyzing evidence, interviewing witnesses, reading 20,000+ pages of FBI case files and exploring important locations, top D.B. Cooper expert, Eric Ulis, believes that he's found the true location where Cooper landed during his daring dive. Ulis has also assembled a team of specialists to explore the untouched Washington backcountry, federally restricted (wildlife refuge) land, to hunt for the missing evidence Cooper left behind. In addition, armed with new leads regarding the identity of Cooper, Eric works closely with a retired FBI agent as they set their sights on a living person of interest who could very well be the infamous D.B. Cooper as they attempt to solve the only unsolved skyjacking in United States history.

For 108 years, a dust-covered box has remained hidden in a British manor house and may contain evidence that will rewrite the most famous maritime disaster in history. This box contains the personal notes of Lord Mersey, the respected British jurist and politician charged with investigating the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. The HISTORY(R) channel has secured permission to open it - a first in history. The box contains information about the Titanic's voyage including new context on fatal mistakes allegedly made by the captain and crew.

In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton led an expedition to Antarctica but soon after arrival, Shackleton's ship - The Endurance - was destroyed by shifting glaciers, and he was tasked with leading his 27 men across the tundra, on an epic struggle for survival. Shackleton's battle against the odds and his unfailing commitment to bring all his men out alive turned him into a legend that still inspires today. The Endurance is as illustrious as the Titanic, yet it has remained lost for over a hundred years. Its final resting ground remains as one of the greatest polar mysteries. Now, the HISTORY(R) channel follows a new ground-breaking expedition heading back into the frozen seas to hunt down the last piece of the story: Shackleton's lost ship. Led by maritime archeologist and shipwreck expert, Mensun Bound, this expedition is the result of two years of planning and over $250 million spent in cutting edge technology as they set out to break through the ice and locate this holy grail of shipwrecks.

Twelve days after the assassination of President Lincoln, history records that Booth suffered a fatal gunshot wound while resisting arrest. Today, the Booth family believes this to be untrue. The family believes he faked his death, reunited with his wife, going on to marry again under an assumed name, eventually revealing his true identity in a series of clues. Investigators now have access to 60 boxes of materials at Harvard University, marriage certificates, what is believed to be the will of John Wilkes Booth and other rare documents that could speak to the mystery, and for the first time, use DNA to prove or disprove that Booth escaped his death.

The series follows the grandchildren of Major Jesse Marcel, the first person to investigate the wreckage. The investigation is being led by Ben Smith, a former CIA operative. The family believes Major Marcel was forced by the U.S. government to deny he ever saw a UFO. The family possesses a diary found in the belongings of Major Marcel, which may contain coded clues to the truth of what happened at Roswell. The investigation follows a compelling trail of evidence that leads from the Roswell crash site to new revelations that key U.S. Army officers believed it was truly a UFO incident. We will also attempt to decode the diary for the first time.

A former CIA operative's investigation into the Roswell crash arrives at a critical moment when the mysterious journal found among the possessions of Major Jesse Marcel undergoes a crucial test. As a US Army intelligence officer, Marcel was the first government official at the crash site. Investigator Ben Smith is taken to a secret location believed to be the real resting place of the airborne object, as a local archeologist finds evidence that a military cleanup may have taken place. A leading code-breaker continues his attempt to decipher the journal which may be written in a home-brewed code and contain hidden information about what happened at Roswell. And witnesses describe a series of bizarre events surrounding the now legendary crash, while an incredible new technology attempts to read words on a 70 year old photograph that may hold clues to the mystery: Did an extraterrestrial spaceship crash at Roswell?

Investigator Ben Smith travels to Jesse Marcel's hometown on Louisiana's Gulf Coast to speak with family members who reveal information that supports Marcel's story of a government coverup. Smith speaks with Leslie Kean, the investigative journalist who broke The New York Times story about a clandestine U.S. government program to investigate UFOs. Smith also digs deeper into the mystery of the journal as he studies writing samples to determine if the journal might have been written by one of Marcel's fellow officers who later claimed he was ordered to oversee the military's coverup. Back in Marcel's hometown, Smith meets with a man who swears Marcel confided in him about alien bodies-- something Marcel had never mentioned to the press or family. As the results come back from soil, metal and forensic handwriting analysis, Smith shares his findings with the Marcel grandchildren.