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Unsolved History Season 1 Episodes
Season 1 Episode Guide
21 Episodes 2002 - 2003
A series examining great events and turning points in history that have engendered controversy.
Episode 1
Gettysburg: Pickett's Charge
Wed, Oct 9, 2002 60 mins
Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War is analyzed by reconstructing the day's events and charting the tactical movements on the battlefield; and archival materials are examined and compared. Also: estimates of casualties are calculated by testing the efficiency of musket and cannon fire.
Episode 2
The Death of the U.S.S. Maine
Wed, Oct 16, 2002 60 mins
An examination of the sinking of the USS Maine in Havana harbor in February 1898 includes photographs of the wreckage and computer-generated re-creations of the ship that allow naval engineers to guide viewers through a forensic autopsy of the Maine.
Episode 3
Inside Hitler's Bunker
Wed, Oct 23, 2002 60 mins
Using modern mapping techniques and original architectural plans, the Reich Chancellery in Berlin is reconstructed and the final moments of Hitler's life are recounted, including a possible plot to poison him.
Episode 4
Forensics in the White House
Wed, Oct 30, 2002 60 mins
White House mysteries include the shooting of James Garfield and Alexander Graham Bell's attempt to save his life; the exhumation of Zachary Taylor's body to determine whether he had been poisoned; and an assassination plot against Richard Nixon. Also: interviews with Secret Service officers and presidential historians.
Episode 5
Custer's Last Stand
Wed, Nov 6, 2002 60 mins
Chronicling the events leading to Custer's defeat at Little Bighorn. Included: archaeologists sweep the area using metal detectors and ground-penetrating radar to create a map of the battlefield and pinpoint the locations of the protagonists.
Episode 6
The Alamo
Wed, Nov 13, 2002 60 mins
An examination of the battle of the Alamo in 1836 using a digital reconstruction, and satellite imagery traces the march of Mexican general Santa Ana. Also: forensic specialists debate the fate of Davy Crockett as they examine a soldier's diary.
Episode 7
The Iceman Mystery
Wed, Nov 20, 2002 60 mins
Examining Otzi, the 5300-year-old ice mummy unearthed in the Alps in September 1991. Included: scientists defrost Otzi for an autopsy and study artifacts found with him. Through some amazing forensic sleuthing, they deduce Otzi's final moments before his demise. Further tests reveal something previously unseen by researchers: an arrowhead buried in his shoulder. Also: theories about his identity and fate.
Episode 8
Death of the USS Arizona
Wed, Dec 4, 2002 60 mins
Chronicling the sinking of the USS Arizona by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor. Included: archival footage of the sequence of events. Also: a National Park Service dive team explores the sunken battleship.
Episode 9
The Death of the Red Baron
Wed, Dec 18, 2002 60 mins
An examination of the death of World War I German flying ace Manfred von Richtofen, also known as the Red Baron, in April 1918 includes conflicting accounts of who fired the fatal round. Also: a computer flight simulator re-creates the Baron's final flight; ballistic analysis is examined.
Episode 10
Shoot-Out at the O.K. Corral
Wed, Jan 22, 2003 60 mins
A reexamination of the legendary 1881 gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Ariz., includes testimony from the coroner's inquest and the use of modern forensic technology to examine weapon ballistics.
Episode 11
The Boston Massacre
Wed, Feb 5, 2003 60 mins
Detailing the March 5, 1770, encounter between British troops and a group of colonists that resulted in the deaths of five people. Also: how it became a propaganda coup for the colonies.
Episode 12
JFK: Death in Dealey Plaza
Wed, Feb 26, 2003 60 mins
The assassination of President Kennedy is examined by piecing together footage of the events on Nov. 22, 1963, as seen by 22 photographers.
Episode 13
The Roman Colosseum
Wed, Mar 12, 2003 60 mins
A day at the Colosseum, circa 80 A.D., features modern-day gladiators in a virtual-reality stadium to observe historically correct activities. Included: whether the Colosseum could be flooded for mock naval battles.
Episode 14
Wilhelm Gustloff: World's Deadliest Sea Disasters
Wed, Mar 26, 2003 60 mins
Examining the sinking of the German hospital-ship Wilhelm Gustloff by a Soviet submarine on Jan. 30, 1945. More than 9000 people perished in the disaster.
Episode 15
Myths of Pearl Harbor
Wed, Apr 23, 2003 60 mins
Examining facts and fiction about the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. Included: who actually fired the first shot; a second bombing three months later; American "friendly fire" casualties; Japanese "midget" subs.
Episode 16
Who Killed Julius Caesar?
Sat, May 31, 2003 60 mins
The latest forensic technology is applied to the assassination of Julius Caesar in an effort to re-examine the circumstantial evidence surrounding his murder and the motives of those involved in the crime. Included: suspects who would benefit from Caesar's death.
Episode 17
The Assassination of King Tut
Wed, Jun 4, 2003 60 mins
Examining theories about the death of King Tutenkhamen in 1323 B.C., including a forensic investigation using modern technology that indicates the boy-king might have been murdered. The investigators, Gregory Cooper and Mike King, deduce via x-rays that Tutenkhamen suffered from physical handicaps, and a specialist in facial reconstruction sculpts the King's visage using computerized imaging. Also: conspiracy theories and likely suspects. Shot on location in Egypt at the Valley of the Kings, Amarna, Karnak and Thebes. John Hurt narrates.
Episode 18
Escapes from Alcatraz - The True Stories
Wed, Jun 11, 2003 60 mins
Chronicling escape attempts from Alacatraz prison.
Episode 19
1906: The Great Quake Cover-Up
Wed, Jul 16, 2003 60 mins
Examining the events of April 18, 1906, in San Francisco, when a huge earthquake destroyed most of the city, causing massive fires that left thousands homeless. Also: the 1989 Loma Prieta quake.
Episode 20
JFK Altered Statesman
Wed, Aug 13, 2003 60 mins
An examination of John F. Kennedy's physical condition while he was president reveals previously unknown ailments and medical treatments he was receiving for them.
Episode 21
Death of Princess Diana
Sat, Aug 23, 2003 60 mins
The culmination of a two-year investigation into Princess Diana's death. Included: a forensic team travels to France to examine the crash site; stunt drivers perform tests with the vehicles involved; doctors detail the injuries of the passengers.