"Mysteries at the Museum" Amazing Origins: Mysteries at the Museum Special

1 00:00:01,903 --> 00:00:03,669 A marksman and the apple of his eye. 2 00:00:03,671 --> 00:00:07,139 This was as dangerous as anything he had ever done in his life. 3 00:00:07,141 --> 00:00:09,742 He risked killing his own son. 4 00:00:09,877 --> 00:00:12,144 A real-life wizard behind the curtain. 5 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:15,014 SCHWARTZ: It became probably the most popular story 6 00:00:15,016 --> 00:00:18,617 ever created on American soil. 7 00:00:18,686 --> 00:00:22,354 And a timeless tale of forbidden love. 8 00:00:22,423 --> 00:00:26,358 The greatest tales are inspired by true life events, 9 00:00:26,427 --> 00:00:28,427 and this is no exception. 10 00:00:30,098 --> 00:00:32,465 These are the mysteries at the museum. 11 00:00:37,839 --> 00:00:40,105 In the foothills of the Swiss Alps 12 00:00:40,174 --> 00:00:43,309 is the spectacular region of Uri. 13 00:00:43,378 --> 00:00:47,246 The stunning terrain offers a range of thrilling activities, 14 00:00:47,381 --> 00:00:49,715 from extreme skiing 15 00:00:49,717 --> 00:00:53,119 to paragliding and white-water kayaking. 16 00:00:53,220 --> 00:00:56,255 It's also the home of Switzerland's greatest hero... 17 00:00:58,059 --> 00:00:59,524 [ Rossini's "William Tell Overture" playing ] 18 00:00:59,561 --> 00:01:01,327 William Tell. 19 00:01:01,396 --> 00:01:05,665 Today, the storied figure is celebrated at the Tell Museum. 20 00:01:10,138 --> 00:01:14,006 This Gothic institution showcases countless treasures, 21 00:01:14,075 --> 00:01:18,678 including stained-glass windows depicting the famous marksman, 22 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:23,349 centuries-old texts chronicling the hero's history 23 00:01:23,351 --> 00:01:28,220 and a score of the much-loved "William Tell Overture." 24 00:01:28,356 --> 00:01:31,624 But perhaps the museum's most prized possession 25 00:01:31,693 --> 00:01:33,426 is this ancient weapon. 26 00:01:33,561 --> 00:01:35,962 LEVINE: This artifact is 31 inches long. 27 00:01:36,097 --> 00:01:38,163 It's 32 inches wide. 28 00:01:38,232 --> 00:01:40,499 It's in a T shape. 29 00:01:40,535 --> 00:01:43,769 It's about 360 years old. 30 00:01:43,838 --> 00:01:45,171 It's also very deadly. 31 00:01:45,306 --> 00:01:47,572 WILDMAN: According to legend, 32 00:01:47,609 --> 00:01:51,043 a crossbow just like this was used by William Tell. 33 00:01:51,079 --> 00:01:53,979 But there is more to this fable than meets the eye. 34 00:01:54,015 --> 00:01:56,716 This world-renowned tale of heroism 35 00:01:56,718 --> 00:01:59,317 is not what we've long been taught. 36 00:01:59,354 --> 00:02:01,120 WILDMAN: So what's the real story 37 00:02:01,189 --> 00:02:03,623 behind the legend of William Tell? 38 00:02:07,228 --> 00:02:09,528 The tale begins in 1307 39 00:02:09,597 --> 00:02:11,731 in Altdorf, Switzerland. 40 00:02:11,866 --> 00:02:15,333 The sleepy, Alpine town is ruled by a ruthless tyrant 41 00:02:15,370 --> 00:02:17,602 named Albrecht Gessler. 42 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,606 Gessler was very, very unpopular and very autocratic. 43 00:02:20,675 --> 00:02:22,208 He ordered the people to do things 44 00:02:22,210 --> 00:02:25,811 they simply didn't want to do. 45 00:02:25,813 --> 00:02:28,747 WILDMAN: And Gessler has a particularly humiliating way 46 00:02:28,816 --> 00:02:30,616 of asserting his authority. 47 00:02:30,685 --> 00:02:32,551 Every day, he mounts his hat 48 00:02:32,587 --> 00:02:34,887 on a pole in the center of town 49 00:02:34,889 --> 00:02:37,756 and demands that residents bow down to it 50 00:02:37,792 --> 00:02:39,959 as a symbol of their loyalty to him. 51 00:02:39,961 --> 00:02:43,429 People feared him, and so when he paraded this hat, 52 00:02:43,431 --> 00:02:45,097 people did bow down. 53 00:02:47,969 --> 00:02:49,835 WILDMAN: But one day, something happens 54 00:02:49,837 --> 00:02:53,572 that will change the course of history forever -- 55 00:02:53,641 --> 00:02:56,108 A local farmer decides he's had enough 56 00:02:56,144 --> 00:02:58,778 of Gessler's oppressive rule. 57 00:02:58,780 --> 00:03:01,580 His name is William Tell. 58 00:03:01,582 --> 00:03:03,716 LEVINE: William Tell is well-liked in the area. 59 00:03:03,785 --> 00:03:06,118 And above all, he's known to have been 60 00:03:06,120 --> 00:03:08,421 very, very accurate with a crossbow. 61 00:03:10,191 --> 00:03:12,191 WILDMAN: As the story goes, 62 00:03:12,326 --> 00:03:16,729 when Tell approaches the pole, he refuses to bow down. 63 00:03:16,864 --> 00:03:20,232 LEVINE: He stayed upright. 64 00:03:20,268 --> 00:03:23,802 He was not going to pay homage. 65 00:03:23,838 --> 00:03:25,670 WILDMAN: Gessler is furious. 66 00:03:25,707 --> 00:03:29,674 He decides to punish Tell in the cruelest way possible. 67 00:03:29,711 --> 00:03:32,611 Gessler orders the man to prove his skill 68 00:03:32,747 --> 00:03:35,080 as a marksman... 69 00:03:35,149 --> 00:03:37,783 on his own son. 70 00:03:39,820 --> 00:03:42,621 LEVINE: He ordered that an apple be placed on the head 71 00:03:42,757 --> 00:03:45,157 of William Tell's son, 72 00:03:45,193 --> 00:03:48,627 and that William Tell walk 120 paces away, turn, 73 00:03:48,663 --> 00:03:51,330 and fire his crossbow at the apple. 74 00:03:54,268 --> 00:03:57,369 WILDMAN: It seems like an impossible feat, 75 00:03:57,438 --> 00:04:00,639 yet Tell is determined to stand up to Gessler, 76 00:04:00,775 --> 00:04:03,642 and so he agrees. 77 00:04:03,644 --> 00:04:05,778 LEVINE: William Tell would've been terrified. 78 00:04:05,780 --> 00:04:08,113 He was risking killing his own son. 79 00:04:08,149 --> 00:04:12,117 He was firing at his head with a crossbow. 80 00:04:12,153 --> 00:04:16,121 WILDMAN: Tell aims, holds his breath, 81 00:04:16,157 --> 00:04:18,324 and takes his shot. 82 00:04:21,328 --> 00:04:23,728 And his son was safe. 83 00:04:23,765 --> 00:04:25,130 Everybody was relieved. 84 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:27,800 The local people were relieved. William Tell was relieved. 85 00:04:27,869 --> 00:04:32,004 The only person who wasn't relieved was Gessler. 86 00:04:32,139 --> 00:04:34,072 WILDMAN: Tell has won the challenge, 87 00:04:34,142 --> 00:04:36,075 but he isn't done yet. 88 00:04:36,077 --> 00:04:38,144 In a stunning act of revenge, 89 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,946 he turns his crossbow on Gessler. 90 00:04:40,982 --> 00:04:44,349 LEVINE: He was angry. He wanted vengeance. 91 00:04:44,418 --> 00:04:46,418 And he shot him with his crossbow, 92 00:04:46,554 --> 00:04:49,622 and he killed Gessler. 93 00:04:49,757 --> 00:04:51,824 WILDMAN: With the death of the tyrant, 94 00:04:51,826 --> 00:04:54,026 William Tell rallies the surrounding regions 95 00:04:54,161 --> 00:04:56,829 to throw off the shackles of tyrannical rule 96 00:04:56,964 --> 00:05:00,031 and form a new country. 97 00:05:00,067 --> 00:05:01,700 According to legend, 98 00:05:01,769 --> 00:05:05,437 this is how the nation of Switzerland is created. 99 00:05:05,506 --> 00:05:07,573 William Tell goes down in history 100 00:05:07,575 --> 00:05:09,508 as the father of the nation. 101 00:05:09,643 --> 00:05:11,844 Everybody in Switzerland grows up knowing 102 00:05:11,913 --> 00:05:13,312 the story of William Tell. 103 00:05:13,314 --> 00:05:14,713 It's a bedtime story. 104 00:05:14,849 --> 00:05:17,850 It's taught in schools. It's absolutely everywhere. 105 00:05:17,919 --> 00:05:20,919 Without the story of William Tell in its past, 106 00:05:20,988 --> 00:05:23,055 the modern identity of Switzerland 107 00:05:23,124 --> 00:05:25,157 might well not be the same. 108 00:05:28,596 --> 00:05:30,262 WILDMAN: But there's more to this epic tale 109 00:05:30,331 --> 00:05:33,665 of rebellion than most people think. 110 00:05:33,701 --> 00:05:37,202 Centuries later, historians make a shocking discovery 111 00:05:37,271 --> 00:05:39,004 about the Swiss marksman. 112 00:05:41,042 --> 00:05:42,875 In the late 1980s, 113 00:05:43,010 --> 00:05:45,878 an historian named Jean-François Bergier 114 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,681 sets out to write the definitive biography 115 00:05:48,683 --> 00:05:50,549 of William Tell. 116 00:05:50,618 --> 00:05:54,085 Bergier pores over the evidence detailing the uprising 117 00:05:54,121 --> 00:05:56,154 in the early 1300s. 118 00:05:56,224 --> 00:06:00,292 But as he digs deeper, he finds something troubling -- 119 00:06:00,361 --> 00:06:06,698 there's no mention whatsoever of William Tell. 120 00:06:06,767 --> 00:06:08,567 Bergier is perplexed. 121 00:06:08,669 --> 00:06:10,369 He scours the archives 122 00:06:10,504 --> 00:06:14,973 for anything that matches the description of Tell's story. 123 00:06:15,042 --> 00:06:17,509 Finally, he uncovers something, 124 00:06:17,578 --> 00:06:21,947 but it's not from 1307, and it's not from Switzerland. 125 00:06:24,185 --> 00:06:27,453 It's an old Viking tale from the 10th century. 126 00:06:30,057 --> 00:06:32,992 In this 10th-century Danish version, 127 00:06:32,994 --> 00:06:35,594 a man named Toko boasts to the king 128 00:06:35,729 --> 00:06:37,863 that his archery skills are magnificent. 129 00:06:37,998 --> 00:06:41,133 So the king decides to put him to the test. 130 00:06:41,202 --> 00:06:43,535 He orders Toko to fire an arrow 131 00:06:43,604 --> 00:06:44,936 at his son's head. 132 00:06:44,972 --> 00:06:48,173 And on top of his son's head is an apple. 133 00:06:52,213 --> 00:06:54,280 WILDMAN: Bergier is astonished. 134 00:06:54,415 --> 00:06:56,414 LEVINE: This story is almost identical 135 00:06:56,450 --> 00:06:57,950 to the story of William Tell, 136 00:06:57,952 --> 00:06:59,618 But it's considerably older. 137 00:06:59,753 --> 00:07:02,421 And it comes from a different part of Europe. 138 00:07:02,556 --> 00:07:04,489 WILDMAN: In fact, Bergier discovers 139 00:07:04,558 --> 00:07:06,157 that the story of William Tell 140 00:07:06,193 --> 00:07:08,560 didn't show up in Swiss history books 141 00:07:08,596 --> 00:07:11,363 until the 16th century. 142 00:07:11,498 --> 00:07:12,698 LEVINE: William Tell wasn't written about 143 00:07:12,833 --> 00:07:15,100 until about 250 years after 144 00:07:15,136 --> 00:07:17,403 his story was supposed to have taken place. 145 00:07:20,374 --> 00:07:23,108 WILDMAN: Bergier theorizes that this Viking yarn 146 00:07:23,243 --> 00:07:25,510 was brought to Switzerland in the Middle Ages 147 00:07:25,546 --> 00:07:27,980 by traveling pilgrims. 148 00:07:28,049 --> 00:07:31,650 Over time, that story would have sort of transmuted 149 00:07:31,785 --> 00:07:33,918 into the story of William Tell. 150 00:07:33,955 --> 00:07:36,054 WILDMAN: When scholars in the 16th century 151 00:07:36,090 --> 00:07:38,523 came to write the history of Switzerland, 152 00:07:38,592 --> 00:07:41,126 they presented the legend as fact, 153 00:07:41,261 --> 00:07:43,796 giving the nation its very own hero. 154 00:07:45,666 --> 00:07:47,466 The people of Switzerland wanted to believe 155 00:07:47,468 --> 00:07:49,334 in the story of William Tell. 156 00:07:49,337 --> 00:07:51,737 It's a wonderful story, and it's a story 157 00:07:51,806 --> 00:07:54,473 that reflects the best in people, 158 00:07:54,608 --> 00:07:56,608 it reflects the best in a country. 159 00:07:58,679 --> 00:08:02,881 WILDMAN: Today, this ancient crossbow remains at the Tell Museum. 160 00:08:02,917 --> 00:08:04,750 It represents the legendary hero, 161 00:08:04,885 --> 00:08:07,819 who remains an undying symbol 162 00:08:07,855 --> 00:08:09,655 of Swiss pride. 163 00:08:14,895 --> 00:08:16,628 Wamego, Kansas, is known 164 00:08:16,664 --> 00:08:20,165 for its distinctive 19th-century Dutch windmill. 165 00:08:20,267 --> 00:08:23,769 But the town's main attraction is an institution 166 00:08:23,838 --> 00:08:27,106 that pays tribute to a true Kansas legacy, 167 00:08:27,108 --> 00:08:29,841 the Oz Museum. 168 00:08:29,877 --> 00:08:35,114 It houses over 2,000 pieces of Oz-related memorabilia, 169 00:08:35,116 --> 00:08:38,450 including original movie posters, 170 00:08:38,452 --> 00:08:40,785 actors' autographs, 171 00:08:40,821 --> 00:08:44,656 and props from the 1939 film. 172 00:08:44,792 --> 00:08:48,193 But perhaps the most treasured item here 173 00:08:48,262 --> 00:08:50,996 is the one that started it all. 174 00:08:51,065 --> 00:08:53,465 SCHWARTZ: It's nine inches by seven inches. 175 00:08:53,501 --> 00:08:57,603 On the front is a picture of a lion wearing spectacles. 176 00:08:57,738 --> 00:09:00,606 And the cover features red and green text 177 00:09:00,608 --> 00:09:05,277 that spells out "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." 178 00:09:05,346 --> 00:09:09,080 WILDMAN: This first edition is a celebrated masterpiece. 179 00:09:09,116 --> 00:09:12,084 But few realize that the story of its creation 180 00:09:12,086 --> 00:09:15,554 is just as winding as the Yellow Brick Road. 181 00:09:17,124 --> 00:09:19,891 SCHWARTZ: It's a series of misadventures 182 00:09:19,927 --> 00:09:23,628 that inspired one of the world's most famous adventures. 183 00:09:23,664 --> 00:09:26,098 WILDMAN: What is the real story 184 00:09:26,100 --> 00:09:28,600 behind "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz?" 185 00:09:31,439 --> 00:09:33,438 It's 1900. 186 00:09:33,507 --> 00:09:37,509 A new children's book is taking the nation by storm. 187 00:09:37,545 --> 00:09:38,844 Critics are calling it 188 00:09:38,979 --> 00:09:41,780 one of the most imaginative stories of all time. 189 00:09:41,915 --> 00:09:45,784 Its title is "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." 190 00:09:48,722 --> 00:09:51,789 The book tells the tale of a girl named Dorothy 191 00:09:51,826 --> 00:09:53,592 who is swept up in a tornado 192 00:09:53,661 --> 00:09:56,060 and finds herself in a bizarre land 193 00:09:56,097 --> 00:09:58,730 full of flying witches, talking animals, 194 00:09:58,866 --> 00:10:00,599 and teleporting footwear. 195 00:10:00,701 --> 00:10:04,203 SCHWARTZ: "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" was an instant sensation. 196 00:10:04,338 --> 00:10:08,140 It became the first authentic American fairy tale. 197 00:10:08,142 --> 00:10:11,676 WILDMAN: The book's success spawns sequels, 198 00:10:11,712 --> 00:10:14,680 live stage shows, and other adaptations, 199 00:10:14,682 --> 00:10:18,016 including a blockbuster 1939 film. 200 00:10:18,018 --> 00:10:22,354 But what few realize is that this classic piece of Americana 201 00:10:22,489 --> 00:10:24,222 is shrouded in mystery. 202 00:10:24,258 --> 00:10:28,160 Its author, L. Frank Baum, 203 00:10:28,162 --> 00:10:31,029 was virtually unknown before the book's publication, 204 00:10:31,165 --> 00:10:35,067 leading many to wonder, how did this fledgling writer 205 00:10:35,069 --> 00:10:38,636 dream up such an incredible and creative story? 206 00:10:38,672 --> 00:10:41,839 Baum himself remains tight-lipped. 207 00:10:41,876 --> 00:10:47,646 He didn't divulge where he got his story from. 208 00:10:47,648 --> 00:10:50,649 WILDMAN: Baum's reticence fuels speculation 209 00:10:50,784 --> 00:10:53,785 that there's more to this fantastical tale 210 00:10:53,787 --> 00:10:56,388 than just cowardly lions, munchkins, 211 00:10:56,523 --> 00:10:58,257 and an emerald city. 212 00:10:58,392 --> 00:11:01,726 SCHWARTZ: The book really sparked people's imaginations 213 00:11:01,762 --> 00:11:04,930 that the story itself had another meaning. 214 00:11:05,065 --> 00:11:08,333 WILDMAN: According to one interpretation, 215 00:11:08,335 --> 00:11:11,670 "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" is a political commentary 216 00:11:11,672 --> 00:11:14,072 on the 19th-century depression, 217 00:11:14,141 --> 00:11:17,276 with the wizard representing the president 218 00:11:17,278 --> 00:11:20,411 and the munchkins, the poor citizens of the day. 219 00:11:20,447 --> 00:11:24,082 Other believe the book is a religious allegory 220 00:11:24,084 --> 00:11:26,351 and that the Yellow Brick Road 221 00:11:26,420 --> 00:11:29,354 stands for the path to enlightenment. 222 00:11:29,489 --> 00:11:33,091 Yet another theory holds that since Dorothy and the witches 223 00:11:33,227 --> 00:11:35,427 are the only characters with power, 224 00:11:35,496 --> 00:11:38,630 Oz has an overt feminist message. 225 00:11:40,768 --> 00:11:42,834 But at the heart of the story 226 00:11:42,870 --> 00:11:46,371 is a harrowing tale known only to L. Frank Baum. 227 00:11:46,440 --> 00:11:50,442 So will he ever reveal it to the world? 228 00:12:01,322 --> 00:12:03,388 Author L. Frank Baum's iconic book, 229 00:12:03,424 --> 00:12:05,390 "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz," 230 00:12:05,525 --> 00:12:08,126 has dazzled readers for decades. 231 00:12:08,195 --> 00:12:10,595 The imaginative novel is so popular 232 00:12:10,631 --> 00:12:12,397 that a host of theories have emerged 233 00:12:12,466 --> 00:12:14,232 as to its real meaning. 234 00:12:14,268 --> 00:12:16,068 So what's the truth behind the story 235 00:12:16,203 --> 00:12:18,103 of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"? 236 00:12:20,474 --> 00:12:23,208 New evidence eventually comes to light 237 00:12:23,277 --> 00:12:26,478 that points to a unique source for the tale -- 238 00:12:26,613 --> 00:12:28,580 Baum's own life. 239 00:12:30,684 --> 00:12:33,951 1868, Peekskill, New York. 240 00:12:33,988 --> 00:12:36,288 L. Frank Baum is a young student 241 00:12:36,290 --> 00:12:38,957 at the Peekskill Military Academy. 242 00:12:38,959 --> 00:12:41,960 It's a campus with an unusual feature 243 00:12:42,095 --> 00:12:46,031 that may have inspired one of Oz's most memorable images. 244 00:12:46,033 --> 00:12:50,636 SCHWARTZ: There was a road that led right to the military academy, 245 00:12:50,771 --> 00:12:53,238 and it was paved with these bricks 246 00:12:53,307 --> 00:12:54,839 that were bright yellow in color. 247 00:12:54,908 --> 00:12:58,910 So if he asked someone for directions, 248 00:12:59,012 --> 00:13:01,179 "Where's the school?" they would have said, 249 00:13:01,315 --> 00:13:02,981 "Follow the yellow brick road." 250 00:13:06,453 --> 00:13:08,252 WILDMAN: After graduating, 251 00:13:08,289 --> 00:13:12,057 Baum thinks he might like to try a career as a writer. 252 00:13:12,059 --> 00:13:15,327 But with a young wife and hopes of starting a family, 253 00:13:15,462 --> 00:13:18,196 he's forced to take a more practical path. 254 00:13:18,198 --> 00:13:21,399 And so he finds a job managing a theater. 255 00:13:21,468 --> 00:13:24,903 But his time with the stage is short-lived. 256 00:13:26,406 --> 00:13:30,342 The theater caught fire, burnt to the ground. 257 00:13:30,344 --> 00:13:33,078 It was just a devastating loss. 258 00:13:33,213 --> 00:13:36,148 WILDMAN: It's believed that this traumatic event 259 00:13:36,283 --> 00:13:40,085 is the inspiration behind one of Oz's most beloved characters -- 260 00:13:40,154 --> 00:13:42,487 the Scarecrow. 261 00:13:42,489 --> 00:13:46,157 SCHWARTZ: The Scarecrow is made of straw. 262 00:13:46,193 --> 00:13:51,229 He says, "The only thing I am afraid of is a match." 263 00:13:51,365 --> 00:13:53,632 WILDMAN: After the fire, 264 00:13:53,767 --> 00:13:57,769 Baum finds employment as an oil salesman. 265 00:13:57,904 --> 00:14:02,640 For five years, he peddles cans of castorine oil, 266 00:14:02,710 --> 00:14:07,179 just like a rather crucial item for one of Dorothy's sidekicks. 267 00:14:07,181 --> 00:14:12,049 We see the oil can show up as the iconic object 268 00:14:12,086 --> 00:14:16,455 that the Tin Man has in case he starts rusting. 269 00:14:20,928 --> 00:14:25,130 WILDMAN: In 1888, Baum learns of opportunities 270 00:14:25,265 --> 00:14:26,664 in the American west 271 00:14:26,734 --> 00:14:30,067 and leaps at the chance to move to the frontier. 272 00:14:30,104 --> 00:14:33,071 It's a barren, windswept landscape 273 00:14:33,107 --> 00:14:35,540 that resembles Dorothy's Kansas. 274 00:14:35,675 --> 00:14:38,210 The world of Kansas is really inspired 275 00:14:38,345 --> 00:14:40,812 by Frank Baum's time in the midwest. 276 00:14:40,881 --> 00:14:46,685 Tornadoes would rip across the land and wreak havoc. 277 00:14:46,687 --> 00:14:49,153 WILDMAN: Baum even observes a phenomenon 278 00:14:49,189 --> 00:14:52,357 that recalls the cyclone that whisked Dorothy to Oz. 279 00:14:54,227 --> 00:14:57,962 SCHWARTZ: At one point, he saw an entire house raise up 280 00:14:57,998 --> 00:15:00,665 and get slapped back down on the ground. 281 00:15:00,768 --> 00:15:03,701 WILDMAN: Finally, in 1898, 282 00:15:03,737 --> 00:15:08,840 Baum decides to follow his true passion -- writing. 283 00:15:08,842 --> 00:15:12,376 Drawing from all these experiences, 284 00:15:12,413 --> 00:15:15,714 he pens "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." 285 00:15:15,849 --> 00:15:19,517 SCHWARTZ: Baum recycled a lot of the imagery 286 00:15:19,586 --> 00:15:23,655 and the things that he saw into his storytelling, 287 00:15:23,724 --> 00:15:27,192 and that's part of what makes "The Wizard of Oz" so wonderful. 288 00:15:30,797 --> 00:15:32,063 WILDMAN: And today, 289 00:15:32,132 --> 00:15:33,999 this first edition on display 290 00:15:34,134 --> 00:15:36,601 at the Oz Museum in Wamego, Kansas, 291 00:15:36,603 --> 00:15:40,872 serves as a fascinating glimpse of the fantastical world 292 00:15:40,941 --> 00:15:44,109 of the man behind an American classic. 293 00:15:47,381 --> 00:15:51,883 Switzerland is known for its majestic alpine peaks, 294 00:15:52,018 --> 00:15:54,553 delicious milk chocolate, 295 00:15:54,688 --> 00:15:57,756 and spectacular medieval castles. 296 00:15:57,891 --> 00:16:01,426 And located in the town of Jenins is an institution 297 00:16:01,428 --> 00:16:05,363 that celebrates an equally extraordinary land -- 298 00:16:05,499 --> 00:16:07,932 the Greisinger Museum. 299 00:16:11,138 --> 00:16:14,840 This unique establishment is dedicated to the epic fantasy 300 00:16:14,975 --> 00:16:17,442 "The Lord of the Rings." 301 00:16:17,511 --> 00:16:18,977 Its one-of-a-kind collection 302 00:16:19,112 --> 00:16:22,647 features a replica of a Hobbit hole... 303 00:16:22,649 --> 00:16:24,982 a model of a cave troll... 304 00:16:25,018 --> 00:16:28,453 and a series of statues of the kings of Middle Earth. 305 00:16:31,658 --> 00:16:34,859 But the most intriguing artifact here is one that belonged 306 00:16:34,895 --> 00:16:37,729 to the author of "The Lord of the Rings" himself. 307 00:16:37,798 --> 00:16:40,265 The artifact has got a yellow face, 308 00:16:40,334 --> 00:16:42,934 it's round, it's edged in silver, 309 00:16:43,003 --> 00:16:44,669 it's very beautifully decorated. 310 00:16:44,738 --> 00:16:46,538 The face is divided up into sections. 311 00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:50,341 There's north, east, south, west. 312 00:16:50,377 --> 00:16:55,346 WILDMAN: This compass was once owned by J.R.R. Tolkien. 313 00:16:55,415 --> 00:16:57,415 And few know the starring role it played 314 00:16:57,551 --> 00:17:01,086 in bringing his literary masterpiece to life. 315 00:17:01,088 --> 00:17:05,556 This story is about a time when an amazing mystery inspired 316 00:17:05,592 --> 00:17:07,492 one of the most-read books in the world. 317 00:17:10,397 --> 00:17:15,233 WILDMAN: Spring 1785 -- Silchester, Southern England. 318 00:17:15,235 --> 00:17:17,168 A farmer is plowing his field, 319 00:17:17,204 --> 00:17:20,772 when he stumbles upon something unexpected. 320 00:17:20,907 --> 00:17:24,775 There, half-buried in the soil, is a gold ring. 321 00:17:24,811 --> 00:17:26,778 When the farmer takes a closer look, 322 00:17:26,913 --> 00:17:31,249 he sees the word "Senicianus" inscribed upon it. 323 00:17:31,251 --> 00:17:33,585 WILLIAMS: The farmer had no idea what it meant, 324 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:36,121 but he knew it was something special. 325 00:17:38,725 --> 00:17:41,859 WILDMAN: The farmer sells the ring to a wealthy collector, 326 00:17:41,895 --> 00:17:44,195 and when the collector examines it closely, 327 00:17:44,197 --> 00:17:47,064 he notices something else unusual. 328 00:17:47,100 --> 00:17:49,200 As well as the word "Senicianus," 329 00:17:49,236 --> 00:17:52,003 the dazzling band is also inscribed 330 00:17:52,138 --> 00:17:55,740 with both pagan and Christian images. 331 00:17:55,875 --> 00:17:58,410 WILLIAMS: It was utterly unheard of for you to have pagan imagery 332 00:17:58,545 --> 00:18:01,546 and Christian imagery on the same item. 333 00:18:01,548 --> 00:18:03,682 You are either pagan or you're Christian. 334 00:18:03,684 --> 00:18:07,085 But the ring was both, and that made it a bizarre thing. 335 00:18:10,424 --> 00:18:12,556 WILDMAN: In the months and years that followed, 336 00:18:12,593 --> 00:18:15,960 a host of scholars and archeologists from across the land 337 00:18:15,963 --> 00:18:18,296 pore over the strange ring 338 00:18:18,431 --> 00:18:21,499 to decipher the meaning of the word "Senicianus" 339 00:18:21,535 --> 00:18:23,835 and to understand how the ancient ring 340 00:18:23,837 --> 00:18:28,173 might have acquired both Christian and pagan icons. 341 00:18:28,308 --> 00:18:30,308 It is a complete and utter conundrum. 342 00:18:32,979 --> 00:18:36,180 WILDMAN: For 143 years, the ring remains 343 00:18:36,216 --> 00:18:40,051 one of Britain's greatest archaeological enigmas. 344 00:18:40,186 --> 00:18:43,054 So, what's the truth behind this mysterious ring? 345 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,667 It's 1928 in England. 346 00:18:55,802 --> 00:18:59,003 For more than 100 years, scholars have debated 347 00:18:59,039 --> 00:19:01,072 the origins of a mysterious ring 348 00:19:01,074 --> 00:19:05,576 that's engraved with both pagan and Christian symbols. 349 00:19:05,579 --> 00:19:08,747 Now one man's quest to discover the truth 350 00:19:08,882 --> 00:19:12,484 will spawn the greatest fantasy epic of all time. 351 00:19:14,754 --> 00:19:16,554 It's 1928 in England. 352 00:19:18,759 --> 00:19:21,292 A group of archaeologists is exploring the area 353 00:19:21,328 --> 00:19:23,961 around the town of Lydney, 354 00:19:23,997 --> 00:19:27,865 and among them is a 36-year-old professor of English history 355 00:19:27,868 --> 00:19:31,069 named John Ronald Reuel Tolkien. 356 00:19:32,939 --> 00:19:35,573 WILLIAMS: Tolkien was a professor at Oxford University. 357 00:19:35,609 --> 00:19:37,642 He was a great scholar and particularly interested 358 00:19:37,644 --> 00:19:41,112 in Anglo-Saxon languages and classical history. 359 00:19:41,181 --> 00:19:43,314 WILDMAN: As part of his tool kit for the dig, 360 00:19:43,350 --> 00:19:45,650 Tolkien carries this compass, 361 00:19:45,652 --> 00:19:48,319 now on display at the Greisinger Museum. 362 00:19:50,824 --> 00:19:53,658 For weeks, the team combs the local area, 363 00:19:53,727 --> 00:19:57,062 searching for ancient artifacts buried in the ground. 364 00:19:57,197 --> 00:19:59,997 Then, one day, they make an unusual find -- 365 00:20:00,033 --> 00:20:05,136 an ancient stone tablet inscribed with Latin. 366 00:20:05,138 --> 00:20:07,338 Bizarrely, the tablet seems to be 367 00:20:07,374 --> 00:20:09,874 an early type of crime report. 368 00:20:10,009 --> 00:20:11,876 The inscription recounts the tale 369 00:20:12,011 --> 00:20:14,011 of a theft of a golden ring. 370 00:20:14,047 --> 00:20:16,481 While the owner's name is not given, 371 00:20:16,550 --> 00:20:19,817 the name of the alleged thief is. 372 00:20:19,886 --> 00:20:22,487 It's Senicianus. 373 00:20:22,556 --> 00:20:25,557 It's the same name that was inscribed on the gold ring 374 00:20:25,559 --> 00:20:28,959 found over a century earlier in Silchester. 375 00:20:28,995 --> 00:20:32,096 WILLIAMS: This was potentially a huge discovery. 376 00:20:32,099 --> 00:20:35,433 Tolkien is convinced they are connected. 377 00:20:35,435 --> 00:20:38,369 WILDMAN: Tolkien believes that the ring mentioned in the tablet 378 00:20:38,438 --> 00:20:40,838 as having been stolen by Senicianus 379 00:20:40,874 --> 00:20:44,175 and the ring found in 1785 by the farmer 380 00:20:44,310 --> 00:20:45,643 are one and the same. 381 00:20:48,581 --> 00:20:51,782 There was no way that the same name could be on both 382 00:20:51,818 --> 00:20:54,051 and there not be some kind of connection. 383 00:20:54,087 --> 00:20:55,653 WILDMAN: To prove his theory, 384 00:20:55,789 --> 00:20:58,656 Tolkien has the tablet and the ring tested. 385 00:21:01,595 --> 00:21:03,861 And the results show that both artifacts 386 00:21:03,930 --> 00:21:05,663 were made around the same time -- 387 00:21:05,699 --> 00:21:08,065 in the 4th century A.D. 388 00:21:08,101 --> 00:21:10,868 WILLIAMS: Having linked the ring to the tablet, 389 00:21:10,904 --> 00:21:16,207 Tolkien was then able to unravel the centuries-old mystery. 390 00:21:16,342 --> 00:21:19,543 WILDMAN: Based on his research, Tolkien begins to piece together 391 00:21:19,579 --> 00:21:22,280 the possible history of the strange ring. 392 00:21:24,284 --> 00:21:27,818 Tolkien proposes that the bauble first belonged to a pagan 393 00:21:27,854 --> 00:21:29,020 who would have engraved it 394 00:21:29,155 --> 00:21:32,423 with a set of pagan symbols that the ring now bears. 395 00:21:32,492 --> 00:21:37,194 Then it was stolen by a Christian named Senicianus, 396 00:21:37,230 --> 00:21:38,563 who added his name 397 00:21:38,565 --> 00:21:41,766 and his own set of religious icons. 398 00:21:41,835 --> 00:21:46,371 In 1932, Tolkien's theory is published to great acclaim. 399 00:21:46,506 --> 00:21:50,241 Finally, the mystery of the ring has been solved. 400 00:21:55,215 --> 00:21:57,515 WILDMAN: But the story doesn't end there. 401 00:21:57,551 --> 00:22:01,986 The incident sparks the germ of an idea in the scholar's mind -- 402 00:22:02,022 --> 00:22:04,055 a tale of a magical ring 403 00:22:04,124 --> 00:22:08,459 that is stolen, lost, and eventually found. 404 00:22:08,528 --> 00:22:12,063 In 1954, J.R.R. Tolkien publishes 405 00:22:12,132 --> 00:22:13,864 "The Fellowship of the Ring," 406 00:22:13,867 --> 00:22:16,067 the first book in what would become 407 00:22:16,069 --> 00:22:18,336 the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. 408 00:22:18,338 --> 00:22:22,172 The fantasy series becomes an instant classic. 409 00:22:22,209 --> 00:22:24,541 WILLIAMS: Over the years, "The Lord of the Rings" 410 00:22:24,578 --> 00:22:27,812 has sold a staggering 150 million copies, 411 00:22:27,881 --> 00:22:30,748 and it may all have started with a gold ring 412 00:22:30,750 --> 00:22:33,418 found in a field in Southern England. 413 00:22:36,756 --> 00:22:39,824 WILDMAN: Today, this compass used by J.R.R. Tolkien 414 00:22:39,893 --> 00:22:42,093 while he was working as an archaeologist 415 00:22:42,095 --> 00:22:44,362 is on display at the Greisinger Museum 416 00:22:44,364 --> 00:22:46,364 in Jenins, Switzerland. 417 00:22:46,366 --> 00:22:50,401 It recalls the ancient mystery that led to a fantasy epic. 418 00:22:53,239 --> 00:22:55,840 The ancient German town of Lohr am Main 419 00:22:55,842 --> 00:22:58,242 is known for its foreboding spires, 420 00:22:58,311 --> 00:23:01,779 16th century timber-frame cottages 421 00:23:01,915 --> 00:23:05,316 and magnificent sandstone fountains. 422 00:23:05,385 --> 00:23:09,653 But its most spectacular edifice is a domineering tower 423 00:23:09,689 --> 00:23:12,457 that seems ripped out of the pages of a storybook, 424 00:23:12,592 --> 00:23:15,093 The Lohr Castle. 425 00:23:17,464 --> 00:23:22,266 This medieval citadel is now the Spessart Museum. 426 00:23:22,269 --> 00:23:27,404 On display are glass chalices made by local artisans, 427 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:31,675 a recreation of a 1950s general store 428 00:23:31,678 --> 00:23:33,344 and a taxidermied stag 429 00:23:33,413 --> 00:23:37,882 that once graced the Spessart forests. 430 00:23:37,951 --> 00:23:40,418 But among these eclectic artifacts 431 00:23:40,487 --> 00:23:44,889 is one relic that seems more enchanting than the rest. 432 00:23:45,024 --> 00:23:47,492 BAXTER: It is very ornate, 433 00:23:47,494 --> 00:23:50,762 red with gold-engraved glass 434 00:23:50,897 --> 00:23:53,364 with overlapping ovals, 435 00:23:53,433 --> 00:23:56,167 within which are some words, 436 00:23:56,236 --> 00:24:00,772 "Amour Propre," meaning self-love. 437 00:24:00,907 --> 00:24:03,707 WILDMAN: This gilded mirror is said to have belonged 438 00:24:03,743 --> 00:24:05,643 to an evil villainess 439 00:24:05,645 --> 00:24:09,180 who inspired the world's greatest fairy tale. 440 00:24:09,315 --> 00:24:11,715 BAXTER: This mirror was the real magic 441 00:24:11,751 --> 00:24:16,421 behind a tale of love and revenge. 442 00:24:21,227 --> 00:24:23,394 WILDMAN: It's 1819. 443 00:24:23,463 --> 00:24:25,029 Children all over the world 444 00:24:25,098 --> 00:24:27,732 are spellbound by a magical new book, 445 00:24:27,834 --> 00:24:30,001 an illustrated collection of fairy tales 446 00:24:30,136 --> 00:24:32,203 written by two brothers from Germany, 447 00:24:32,205 --> 00:24:34,138 Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. 448 00:24:34,273 --> 00:24:36,808 The tales feature everything from dragons 449 00:24:36,943 --> 00:24:39,677 and sorcerers to fairy godmothers 450 00:24:39,679 --> 00:24:41,479 and enchanted forests. 451 00:24:41,614 --> 00:24:43,414 BAXTER: They were stories of good 452 00:24:43,483 --> 00:24:46,484 against evil such as "Sleeping Beauty" 453 00:24:46,486 --> 00:24:48,319 and "Hansel and Gretel." 454 00:24:51,358 --> 00:24:53,157 WILDMAN: But the most bewitching of them all 455 00:24:53,226 --> 00:24:56,494 is the tale of "Snow White." 456 00:24:56,496 --> 00:24:58,963 The story tells of a beautiful princess 457 00:24:59,098 --> 00:25:02,500 and her wicked stepmother and features such fanciful 458 00:25:02,502 --> 00:25:05,235 details as a talking mirror, 459 00:25:05,271 --> 00:25:06,971 a poison apple, 460 00:25:07,106 --> 00:25:09,907 and a group of seven dwarf miners. 461 00:25:11,945 --> 00:25:14,378 The epic fable goes on 462 00:25:14,447 --> 00:25:18,049 to captivate generations of readers the world over 463 00:25:18,184 --> 00:25:21,185 and eventually spawns a beloved 1937 464 00:25:21,187 --> 00:25:22,587 animated Disney film, 465 00:25:22,722 --> 00:25:25,590 "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." 466 00:25:25,592 --> 00:25:27,592 BAXTER: The tale of Snow White 467 00:25:27,594 --> 00:25:30,261 was one of the most famous fairy tales 468 00:25:30,263 --> 00:25:34,198 of all time. 469 00:25:34,234 --> 00:25:35,933 WILDMAN: But what few people realize 470 00:25:36,069 --> 00:25:38,936 is that within the pages of this whimsical fantasy 471 00:25:39,005 --> 00:25:41,472 hides an incredible secret. 472 00:25:41,541 --> 00:25:45,609 In 1986, a German researcher named Karl Heinz Bartels 473 00:25:45,678 --> 00:25:48,212 makes an extraordinary claim, 474 00:25:48,248 --> 00:25:50,815 that "Snow White" was no fairy tale. 475 00:25:50,817 --> 00:25:52,416 She was real. 476 00:25:52,419 --> 00:25:55,153 And what's more, he can prove it. 477 00:25:55,288 --> 00:25:57,889 He discovered that their fairy tale 478 00:25:57,891 --> 00:26:00,424 was based on real people. 479 00:26:00,493 --> 00:26:04,095 WILDMAN: So what's the stunning truth behind "Snow White?" 480 00:26:14,774 --> 00:26:17,241 "Snow White," the famous story of 481 00:26:17,310 --> 00:26:18,976 a fair young girl, 482 00:26:18,978 --> 00:26:21,112 her evil stepmother and seven dwarves, 483 00:26:21,181 --> 00:26:24,248 has enchanted children for generations. 484 00:26:24,383 --> 00:26:27,184 Most consider it nothing more than a fairy tale. 485 00:26:27,220 --> 00:26:28,586 But in 1986, 486 00:26:28,655 --> 00:26:30,922 a researcher named Karl Heinz Bartels 487 00:26:31,057 --> 00:26:33,056 makes an incredible claim, 488 00:26:33,093 --> 00:26:35,993 that "Snow White" was a true story. 489 00:26:36,029 --> 00:26:40,865 So who really was the fairest of them all? 490 00:26:40,934 --> 00:26:43,067 Bartels says that the real Snow White 491 00:26:43,202 --> 00:26:45,269 was a German princess 492 00:26:45,271 --> 00:26:48,272 named Maria Sophia von Erthal 493 00:26:48,407 --> 00:26:50,208 who was born in the Lohr castle 494 00:26:50,210 --> 00:26:54,278 in Lohr am Main. 495 00:26:54,413 --> 00:26:58,616 Maria Sophia was born into an aristocratic family. 496 00:26:58,618 --> 00:27:04,555 She was very kind and extraordinarily beautiful. 497 00:27:04,690 --> 00:27:05,956 Just like Snow White, 498 00:27:06,025 --> 00:27:09,960 Maria Sophia was raised by a wicked stepmother. 499 00:27:10,029 --> 00:27:13,564 Her name was Claudia Elizabeth. 500 00:27:13,566 --> 00:27:16,634 BAXTER: Maria Sophia's stepmother was very obsessed 501 00:27:16,636 --> 00:27:18,569 with her own image 502 00:27:18,605 --> 00:27:22,106 and wasn't really very happy taking on the children 503 00:27:22,175 --> 00:27:25,909 of the previous marriage. 504 00:27:25,945 --> 00:27:27,845 WILDMAN: And the parallels with "Snow White" 505 00:27:27,914 --> 00:27:30,381 don't stop there. 506 00:27:30,450 --> 00:27:32,717 Shortly after they married, 507 00:27:32,818 --> 00:27:36,654 Maria's father gave his new bride an ornate mirror 508 00:27:36,656 --> 00:27:38,122 embellished with the words, 509 00:27:38,191 --> 00:27:41,926 "Amour Propre," meaning self-love. 510 00:27:42,061 --> 00:27:44,061 The same mirror can still be found 511 00:27:44,097 --> 00:27:46,130 at the Lohr Castle. 512 00:27:46,199 --> 00:27:48,399 These mirrors were of such high quality 513 00:27:48,401 --> 00:27:53,137 that they were always said to speak the truth. 514 00:27:53,272 --> 00:27:55,473 WILDMAN: Bartels believes that the inspiration 515 00:27:55,475 --> 00:27:57,474 for the talking mirror in "Snow White" 516 00:27:57,544 --> 00:28:00,811 comes from this gift and its vain inscription. 517 00:28:04,350 --> 00:28:06,951 As Maria Sophia grew ever more beautiful, 518 00:28:06,953 --> 00:28:09,620 her stepmother was consumed with envy. 519 00:28:09,689 --> 00:28:12,823 Her reign of terror was so horrible that Maria Sophia 520 00:28:12,825 --> 00:28:14,859 was forced to flee the castle. 521 00:28:17,163 --> 00:28:18,562 Although little is known of 522 00:28:18,565 --> 00:28:20,297 Maria Sophia after her exile, 523 00:28:20,366 --> 00:28:23,301 Bartels claims that the rest of the story of "Snow White" 524 00:28:23,436 --> 00:28:25,970 comes from other geographic and historic details 525 00:28:26,072 --> 00:28:27,772 about the Lohr am Main region. 526 00:28:30,276 --> 00:28:31,575 In the early 18th century, 527 00:28:31,611 --> 00:28:36,447 the region was home to no less than seven mines. 528 00:28:36,449 --> 00:28:38,282 And the men who worked there all shared 529 00:28:38,417 --> 00:28:40,651 a distinctive physical trait. 530 00:28:40,687 --> 00:28:42,653 BAXTER: They were quite small 531 00:28:42,689 --> 00:28:45,122 or certainly malnourished and deformed 532 00:28:45,191 --> 00:28:47,324 because of the kind of work they did. 533 00:28:47,360 --> 00:28:50,761 They were often referred to as dwarves. 534 00:28:54,934 --> 00:28:56,867 WILDMAN: Bartels' astonishing findings lead 535 00:28:56,869 --> 00:28:58,869 droves of tourists to Lohr am Main 536 00:28:58,871 --> 00:29:00,604 to see the setting that inspired 537 00:29:00,607 --> 00:29:03,407 the Brothers Grimm's most famous story. 538 00:29:03,476 --> 00:29:06,210 BAXTER: Lohr am Main have truly embraced the tale 539 00:29:06,279 --> 00:29:08,779 of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." 540 00:29:13,152 --> 00:29:16,821 WILDMAN: And today, at the Lohr Castle in Germany, 541 00:29:16,956 --> 00:29:20,491 visitors can gaze into this stunning talking mirror 542 00:29:20,560 --> 00:29:22,827 and remember that, just sometimes, 543 00:29:22,962 --> 00:29:25,162 fairy tales can be real. 544 00:29:28,301 --> 00:29:30,501 Situated on the Charles River, 545 00:29:30,570 --> 00:29:33,971 Cambridge, Massachusetts, is home to the oldest institution 546 00:29:34,040 --> 00:29:36,974 of higher learning in the country, 547 00:29:37,109 --> 00:29:39,176 Harvard University. 548 00:29:39,245 --> 00:29:42,579 And one of the focal points of this centuries-old campus 549 00:29:42,615 --> 00:29:46,984 is a repository with more than 50 miles of bookshelves, 550 00:29:47,119 --> 00:29:49,053 Widener Library. 551 00:29:50,523 --> 00:29:52,790 In addition to its countless volumes 552 00:29:52,859 --> 00:29:54,992 are rare objects of intrigue, 553 00:29:55,127 --> 00:29:59,196 such as an Egyptian poster for the film "Arabian Nights," 554 00:29:59,265 --> 00:30:02,933 an ornamental box belonging to a Russian prima ballerina, 555 00:30:02,935 --> 00:30:06,003 and a British crossword puzzle that threatened to expose 556 00:30:06,005 --> 00:30:09,406 a secret military operation. 557 00:30:09,442 --> 00:30:12,743 But among these time-worn exhibits is 558 00:30:12,878 --> 00:30:14,878 a literary relic that is perhaps 559 00:30:14,914 --> 00:30:17,614 the library's most treasured item. 560 00:30:17,684 --> 00:30:21,352 CARTWRIGHT: This book has intricate gold detailing. 561 00:30:21,354 --> 00:30:23,154 The paper is very, very fragile 562 00:30:23,289 --> 00:30:26,023 because it's almost 400 years old. 563 00:30:26,092 --> 00:30:28,025 And it's written by a prolific playwright 564 00:30:28,094 --> 00:30:31,695 who's recognized all across the world, 565 00:30:31,731 --> 00:30:34,097 William Shakespeare. 566 00:30:34,133 --> 00:30:37,835 WILDMAN: This a first edition of "The Bard's" collected plays. 567 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:41,105 But the most famous work within these pages 568 00:30:41,140 --> 00:30:45,642 has its origins in a surprising real-life forbidden love story. 569 00:30:45,712 --> 00:30:49,914 Some of the greatest tales are inspired by true-life events, 570 00:30:49,916 --> 00:30:52,016 and this is no exception. 571 00:30:58,124 --> 00:31:02,793 WILDMAN: The 1590s -- London, England. 572 00:31:02,928 --> 00:31:06,463 Henry Wriothesley is a young and honorable nobleman. 573 00:31:06,532 --> 00:31:09,866 CARTWRIGHT: Henry Wriothesley is a young man. 574 00:31:09,902 --> 00:31:15,139 He was affable and was a charmer. 575 00:31:15,208 --> 00:31:17,541 WILDMAN: The dashing gentleman has set his sights 576 00:31:17,610 --> 00:31:20,678 on a beautiful maiden named Elizabeth Vernon. 577 00:31:20,813 --> 00:31:24,014 He falls deeply, madly in love with her, 578 00:31:24,150 --> 00:31:27,418 and her with him, as well. 579 00:31:27,420 --> 00:31:29,487 WILDMAN: But there's a problem that threatens to kill 580 00:31:29,622 --> 00:31:34,358 their fairy-tale romance before it even begins. 581 00:31:34,360 --> 00:31:37,828 Henry is a Catholic. 582 00:31:37,830 --> 00:31:42,366 Elizabeth Vernon is in the employ of the Protestant queen. 583 00:31:42,435 --> 00:31:43,967 Under the monarch's reign, 584 00:31:44,036 --> 00:31:47,905 Catholics are despised and face vehement prosecution. 585 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,874 The tension between Protestants and Catholics 586 00:31:50,910 --> 00:31:54,979 was really blatant in the 1590s. 587 00:31:55,114 --> 00:31:58,181 If you're one of the ladies in waiting in the queen's courts, 588 00:31:58,217 --> 00:32:01,452 then you have to get her permission for everything. 589 00:32:01,521 --> 00:32:04,454 And marriage is one of those things. 590 00:32:04,490 --> 00:32:06,323 WILDMAN: The powerful monarch refuses 591 00:32:06,459 --> 00:32:10,327 to allow the lovers to marry. 592 00:32:10,363 --> 00:32:12,062 Henry is heartbroken. 593 00:32:12,198 --> 00:32:14,064 CARTWRIGHT: Henry must have been sad. 594 00:32:14,100 --> 00:32:16,066 This is a tragedy. 595 00:32:16,202 --> 00:32:20,003 WILDMAN: But the young nobleman cannot forget his paramour. 596 00:32:20,072 --> 00:32:23,674 Instead, he resolves to defy the queen. 597 00:32:23,809 --> 00:32:27,545 In 1598, he spirits Elizabeth away from London 598 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,147 and they secretly marry. 599 00:32:30,149 --> 00:32:35,018 Henry refused to give up his love for Elizabeth Vernon. 600 00:32:35,054 --> 00:32:38,155 WILDMAN: News of their marriage infuriates the monarch. 601 00:32:38,224 --> 00:32:43,159 The defied the most powerful person in England. 602 00:32:43,196 --> 00:32:45,028 WILDMAN: So, in a fit of revenge, 603 00:32:45,064 --> 00:32:48,665 she resolves to keep the lovers apart. 604 00:32:48,668 --> 00:32:51,167 On November 11, 1598, 605 00:32:51,204 --> 00:32:53,770 Henry is arrested. 606 00:32:53,840 --> 00:32:58,909 Henry is sent to the famous Fleet Prison. 607 00:32:59,044 --> 00:33:00,911 It looked like Elizabeth 608 00:33:00,947 --> 00:33:04,181 and Henry were gonna be apart forever. 609 00:33:04,183 --> 00:33:07,585 WILDMAN: Is this the tragic end of their forbidden love story? 610 00:33:17,930 --> 00:33:21,197 It's the late 1500s in London, England. 611 00:33:21,234 --> 00:33:23,400 A wealthy patron of William Shakespeare 612 00:33:23,402 --> 00:33:25,803 named Henry Wriothesley has married 613 00:33:25,805 --> 00:33:28,405 a young woman named Elizabeth Vernon. 614 00:33:28,541 --> 00:33:31,875 But Henry is a Catholic, and that's a problem. 615 00:33:31,911 --> 00:33:34,678 When news of the union reaches the Protestant queen, 616 00:33:34,813 --> 00:33:37,147 she has him locked in prison. 617 00:33:37,149 --> 00:33:41,118 So, is this the end for these star-crossed lovers? 618 00:33:42,421 --> 00:33:44,955 All hope seems lost. 619 00:33:45,090 --> 00:33:49,159 But Henry has a change of faith. 620 00:33:49,228 --> 00:33:53,964 He renounces his Catholicism and becomes a Protestant. 621 00:33:53,966 --> 00:33:56,634 Finally, the queen shows the couple mercy 622 00:33:56,636 --> 00:33:59,770 and releases him from jail. 623 00:33:59,905 --> 00:34:03,106 Upon his homecoming, he is happily reunited 624 00:34:03,142 --> 00:34:04,775 with his wife, Elizabeth. 625 00:34:04,844 --> 00:34:06,443 CARTWRIGHT: They're allowed to be together, 626 00:34:06,579 --> 00:34:09,380 and they go on to have four happy children. 627 00:34:09,515 --> 00:34:13,516 And everything looks bright and rosy. 628 00:34:13,553 --> 00:34:17,988 But it's not the last act of this couple's story. 629 00:34:18,057 --> 00:34:21,524 Henry Wriothesley was one of William Shakespeare's sponsors, 630 00:34:21,561 --> 00:34:25,062 and it's believed he shared his troubles with The Bard. 631 00:34:25,131 --> 00:34:29,532 During the affair, Shakespeare wrote a new play, 632 00:34:29,569 --> 00:34:31,668 "Romeo and Juliet." 633 00:34:31,704 --> 00:34:35,339 The tragedy tells the story of two lovers torn apart 634 00:34:35,408 --> 00:34:37,141 by a bitter family feud. 635 00:34:37,276 --> 00:34:40,143 Some people wonder if the relationship 636 00:34:40,212 --> 00:34:44,415 between Henry and Elizabeth inspired Shakespeare 637 00:34:44,417 --> 00:34:50,154 when he was penning "Romeo and Juliet." 638 00:34:50,156 --> 00:34:52,556 WILDMAN: Scholars suggest the feuding Capulet 639 00:34:52,558 --> 00:34:54,958 and Montague families in "Romeo and Juliet" 640 00:34:55,027 --> 00:34:56,960 represent the real-life rifts 641 00:34:57,029 --> 00:35:01,064 between Catholics and Protestants of the era. 642 00:35:01,100 --> 00:35:02,566 And it could be said 643 00:35:02,568 --> 00:35:05,302 that Henry's imprisonment by the queen echoes 644 00:35:05,437 --> 00:35:07,638 Romeo's banishment from Verona. 645 00:35:07,707 --> 00:35:09,306 It wouldn't be unlike Shakespeare 646 00:35:09,441 --> 00:35:12,976 to hide contemporary characters in his fictional stories. 647 00:35:12,979 --> 00:35:16,980 And he did that an awful lot in many of his plays. 648 00:35:17,049 --> 00:35:19,316 WILDMAN: Romeo and Juliet goes on to become 649 00:35:19,451 --> 00:35:22,853 one of the most celebrated plays of all time. 650 00:35:22,855 --> 00:35:25,990 And this first edition Shakespeare folio 651 00:35:26,125 --> 00:35:28,525 at Harvard's Widener Library speaks 652 00:35:28,561 --> 00:35:31,662 to the star-crossed lovers who may have spawned 653 00:35:31,731 --> 00:35:35,032 one of The Bard's most romantic and tragic tales. 654 00:35:38,871 --> 00:35:41,004 Frankfort, Kentucky. 655 00:35:41,073 --> 00:35:44,675 During the Civil War, this city was the sole Union capital 656 00:35:44,810 --> 00:35:47,344 to be occupied by Confederate troops. 657 00:35:47,479 --> 00:35:50,213 Today, the region's past is brought to life 658 00:35:50,282 --> 00:35:53,684 at the Thomas D. Clark Center for Kentucky History. 659 00:35:56,288 --> 00:35:58,488 Its collection includes a Ford Model T, 660 00:35:58,557 --> 00:36:01,291 an assortment of pioneer tools, 661 00:36:01,293 --> 00:36:03,626 and a pocket watch from one of the state's 662 00:36:03,663 --> 00:36:06,630 most famous native sons, Abraham Lincoln. 663 00:36:06,699 --> 00:36:09,899 And among these artifacts is the prized possession 664 00:36:09,935 --> 00:36:12,569 of another larger-than-life Kentuckian. 665 00:36:12,605 --> 00:36:15,238 JONES: It's about five-and-a-half feet long. 666 00:36:15,274 --> 00:36:17,841 Part of it is maple -- the other part is iron. 667 00:36:17,843 --> 00:36:19,843 And then it also has a carving, 668 00:36:19,845 --> 00:36:21,845 and that says "Boone's best friend". 669 00:36:21,847 --> 00:36:25,115 WILDMAN: The man who brandished this weapon was known 670 00:36:25,250 --> 00:36:28,385 for his courage, marksmanship, and pioneering spirit, 671 00:36:28,387 --> 00:36:30,988 but those attributes were pushed to the limit 672 00:36:31,123 --> 00:36:34,058 during an extraordinary episode that inspired 673 00:36:34,193 --> 00:36:36,660 a classic American tale. 674 00:36:36,729 --> 00:36:39,296 This rifle is a symbol of one man's 675 00:36:39,431 --> 00:36:41,532 heroic quest to find his daughter. 676 00:36:41,667 --> 00:36:43,867 WILDMAN: What harrowing event tested the will 677 00:36:43,936 --> 00:36:47,871 of the legendary Daniel Boone? 678 00:36:47,940 --> 00:36:50,140 July, 1776, 679 00:36:50,142 --> 00:36:52,342 the Kentucky Territory. 680 00:36:52,378 --> 00:36:54,478 The 13 colonies have just declared 681 00:36:54,613 --> 00:36:56,947 independence from Great Britain, 682 00:36:57,016 --> 00:36:59,149 yet the United States already boasts 683 00:36:59,185 --> 00:37:01,418 a distinctly American celebrity, 684 00:37:01,553 --> 00:37:04,354 rugged outdoorsman, Daniel Boone. 685 00:37:04,490 --> 00:37:08,091 JONES: Daniel Boone is a master woodsman, 686 00:37:08,127 --> 00:37:10,694 a trapper, and a hunter, and he was really 687 00:37:10,696 --> 00:37:13,230 at the height of his powers in 1776. 688 00:37:13,299 --> 00:37:16,299 There are stories of Boone killing 50 bear in a day. 689 00:37:16,368 --> 00:37:19,303 WILDMAN: And now he's blazing a new trail 690 00:37:19,438 --> 00:37:21,305 into the most remote frontier yet, 691 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,908 the Kentucky wilderness. 692 00:37:24,944 --> 00:37:28,244 That summer, Boone, his family, and a small group of friends 693 00:37:28,280 --> 00:37:30,914 found a settlement along the banks of the Kentucky River, 694 00:37:30,950 --> 00:37:34,784 and true to Boone's already legendary reputation, 695 00:37:34,820 --> 00:37:37,788 the encampment is given a rather appropriate name. 696 00:37:37,857 --> 00:37:40,257 They named it Boonesborough, after him. 697 00:37:42,561 --> 00:37:45,863 WILDMAN: The new arrivals are eager to begin their life on the frontier, 698 00:37:45,998 --> 00:37:47,998 but the area's native inhabitants 699 00:37:48,133 --> 00:37:50,267 aren't exactly keen to welcome them. 700 00:37:50,402 --> 00:37:52,736 JONES: The Shawnee and the Cherokee had been 701 00:37:52,805 --> 00:37:55,672 hunting these grounds for thousands of years, 702 00:37:55,674 --> 00:37:59,676 and both are really upset by the white settlers there. 703 00:37:59,678 --> 00:38:02,011 There are Indians all around Boonesborough 704 00:38:02,047 --> 00:38:04,615 who are occasionally stealing livestock, 705 00:38:04,617 --> 00:38:07,417 attacking settlers in isolated places. 706 00:38:07,486 --> 00:38:11,354 It was definitely not safe for white settlers in 1776. 707 00:38:11,390 --> 00:38:14,158 WILDMAN: In the face of this constant threat, 708 00:38:14,293 --> 00:38:16,693 Boone repeatedly warns his family and others 709 00:38:16,829 --> 00:38:19,095 not to wander far from the camp, 710 00:38:19,131 --> 00:38:21,764 but he is about to learn that words aren't enough 711 00:38:21,801 --> 00:38:24,234 to keep everyone safe. 712 00:38:24,236 --> 00:38:26,236 On a hot Sunday in July, 713 00:38:26,238 --> 00:38:28,238 Boone is awoken from an afternoon nap 714 00:38:28,307 --> 00:38:32,108 by the sound of girls crying out for help. [ Girl screaming ] 715 00:38:32,178 --> 00:38:34,912 To his horror, he immediately recognizes the voices. 716 00:38:34,914 --> 00:38:36,513 [ Distant screaming ] 717 00:38:36,582 --> 00:38:39,249 It is his daughter, Jemima, and two other girls. 718 00:38:39,384 --> 00:38:42,585 WILDMAN: Boone picks up his rifle, just like this one 719 00:38:42,621 --> 00:38:45,322 bearing his initials at Frankfort's Clark Center 720 00:38:45,324 --> 00:38:48,391 for Kentucky History, and he and a companion 721 00:38:48,460 --> 00:38:50,460 race toward the source of the screams. 722 00:38:50,596 --> 00:38:54,464 But by the time Boone reaches the woods, he's too late. 723 00:38:54,600 --> 00:38:57,601 JONES: He saw no sign of anybody. 724 00:38:57,670 --> 00:38:59,736 They were gone. 725 00:38:59,805 --> 00:39:02,072 WILDMAN: Boone realizes that Jemima and her friends 726 00:39:02,207 --> 00:39:04,674 have been kidnapped, and tracking them down 727 00:39:04,743 --> 00:39:07,744 may be next to impossible. 728 00:39:07,813 --> 00:39:11,481 JONES: The kidnappers already had a decent start on them, 729 00:39:11,550 --> 00:39:13,617 and it was gonna be hard to catch up with them. 730 00:39:13,686 --> 00:39:17,020 WILDMAN: Suddenly, Boone spots something disturbing -- 731 00:39:17,155 --> 00:39:19,890 a fragment of cloth that he recognizes 732 00:39:19,892 --> 00:39:22,892 as a piece of his daughter's dress. 733 00:39:22,928 --> 00:39:25,696 And he's thinking, "Has Jemima been killed?" 734 00:39:25,831 --> 00:39:28,565 WILDMAN: Boone combs the woods, frantically searching 735 00:39:28,567 --> 00:39:31,168 for any sign of his beloved daughter. 736 00:39:31,303 --> 00:39:34,437 Then he finds another shred of Jemima's clothing. 737 00:39:34,506 --> 00:39:37,573 A moment later, he spots a third, 738 00:39:37,610 --> 00:39:40,376 and suddenly, it hits him. 739 00:39:40,412 --> 00:39:42,378 His daughter has dropped them deliberately 740 00:39:42,414 --> 00:39:45,581 and is leaving a trail. 741 00:39:45,618 --> 00:39:47,684 Boone treks through the forest in pursuit. 742 00:39:47,753 --> 00:39:51,587 Hour after hour, he pushes deeper into the woods, 743 00:39:51,624 --> 00:39:54,458 yet no matter how fast he moves, 744 00:39:54,460 --> 00:39:56,726 he can't seem to catch up. 745 00:39:56,795 --> 00:39:58,728 He's worried the Indians are getting away, 746 00:39:58,797 --> 00:40:00,730 and that he'll never see his daughter again. 747 00:40:00,799 --> 00:40:03,734 WILDMAN: Can this expert outdoorsman save the girls 748 00:40:03,869 --> 00:40:06,036 before it's too late? 749 00:40:15,214 --> 00:40:17,613 It's July, 1776, 750 00:40:17,650 --> 00:40:19,616 in the Kentucky wilderness. 751 00:40:19,751 --> 00:40:22,552 Legendary frontiersman, Daniel Boone, is on 752 00:40:22,588 --> 00:40:25,822 a desperate quest to find his 13-year-old-daughter, 753 00:40:25,891 --> 00:40:27,891 who's been kidnapped by Native Americans. 754 00:40:28,026 --> 00:40:30,760 Boone is an expert hunter, 755 00:40:30,829 --> 00:40:33,096 but can he track down his little girl 756 00:40:33,231 --> 00:40:36,366 before it's too late? 757 00:40:36,435 --> 00:40:38,968 Boone keeps up the chase through the Kentucky wilderness 758 00:40:39,004 --> 00:40:40,970 for two long days. 759 00:40:41,006 --> 00:40:42,972 Finally, he spies a campsite, 760 00:40:43,008 --> 00:40:45,375 and there, to his relief, 761 00:40:45,411 --> 00:40:47,711 he sees Jemima and her friends, 762 00:40:47,713 --> 00:40:49,846 but he also sees their captors, 763 00:40:49,915 --> 00:40:52,649 a small group of Shawnee and Cherokee Indians, 764 00:40:52,651 --> 00:40:56,386 and that's when the legendary outdoorsman makes his move. 765 00:40:56,388 --> 00:40:58,721 JONES: Boone starts to creep up to the camp. 766 00:40:58,757 --> 00:41:01,858 Jemima looks up at that same time, 767 00:41:01,927 --> 00:41:05,662 and she sees her dad, and he makes a sign to her, 768 00:41:05,797 --> 00:41:08,398 "Don't make any noise, don't let them know." 769 00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:11,201 WILDMAN: In a flash, Boone charges into the camp. 770 00:41:11,203 --> 00:41:14,004 The Indians are taken completely by surprise. 771 00:41:14,006 --> 00:41:15,939 They don't have their weapons close to them. 772 00:41:16,074 --> 00:41:18,075 They're totally not ready to defend themselves. 773 00:41:18,210 --> 00:41:20,810 They all rush off into the woods. 774 00:41:20,879 --> 00:41:24,414 WILDMAN: The three girls are safe and unharmed, 775 00:41:24,483 --> 00:41:27,417 all thanks to the quick thinking of Daniel Boone 776 00:41:27,453 --> 00:41:29,419 and his resourceful daughter. 777 00:41:29,455 --> 00:41:31,888 Boone and his family remain in Kentucky 778 00:41:31,890 --> 00:41:34,958 for the next decade, until the pull of the frontier 779 00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:37,293 lures him further west, to Missouri, 780 00:41:37,329 --> 00:41:41,098 where he dies in 1820 at the age of 85. 781 00:41:41,100 --> 00:41:44,901 Daniel Boone's heroic efforts to save his daughter 782 00:41:45,037 --> 00:41:48,104 become an integral part of his legendary legacy, 783 00:41:48,140 --> 00:41:51,174 and in 1826, the tale of 784 00:41:51,210 --> 00:41:55,178 Jemima Boone's nerve-racking rescue is fictionalized 785 00:41:55,214 --> 00:41:58,381 in James Fenimore Cooper's classic novel, 786 00:41:58,417 --> 00:42:00,516 The Last of the Mohicans . 787 00:42:00,552 --> 00:42:04,588 Today, this personalized rifle at the Clark Center for Kentucky History 788 00:42:04,590 --> 00:42:08,325 remains a testament to Daniel Boone, 789 00:42:08,327 --> 00:42:11,661 an iconic American, a rugged outdoorsman, 790 00:42:11,730 --> 00:42:13,730 and a fearless father. 791 00:42:15,401 --> 00:42:17,333 From a legendary marksman 792 00:42:17,369 --> 00:42:19,735 to the wizard behind the curtain. 793 00:42:19,772 --> 00:42:22,004 Snow White's wicked stepmother 794 00:42:22,041 --> 00:42:24,607 to a real-life Romeo and Juliet. 795 00:42:24,676 --> 00:42:27,010 I'm Don Wildman, and these are 796 00:42:27,012 --> 00:42:28,678 the mysteries at the museum.