"Mysteries at the Museum" American Icons: Mysteries at the Museum Special

1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,630 An historic alliance that spawned a new nation. 2 00:00:04,730 --> 00:00:08,230 WEATHERFORD: Mayflower Compact laid the foundation 3 00:00:08,270 --> 00:00:10,240 for modern democracy in America. 4 00:00:10,310 --> 00:00:12,810 A revolutionary relic lost and found. 5 00:00:12,910 --> 00:00:16,310 This is one of the rarest documents in American history. 6 00:00:16,380 --> 00:00:20,450 And the little-known story of America's most iconic monument. 7 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:23,680 Lady Liberty was literally all dressed up 8 00:00:23,820 --> 00:00:25,720 with nowhere to go. 9 00:00:25,790 --> 00:00:28,320 These are the mysteries at the museum. 10 00:00:35,630 --> 00:00:38,270 Colmar, France. 11 00:00:38,330 --> 00:00:41,070 This charming town boasts cobblestone streets, 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,070 renaissance-style houses, 13 00:00:43,110 --> 00:00:45,570 and a network of intimate canals. 14 00:00:45,570 --> 00:00:48,680 It was also home to the famed sculptor 15 00:00:48,710 --> 00:00:50,380 Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. 16 00:00:50,380 --> 00:00:53,550 And his life and legacy are celebrated here 17 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:56,150 at the Bartholdi Museum. 18 00:00:56,250 --> 00:00:59,020 Visitors can find models 19 00:00:59,020 --> 00:01:01,620 of some of the artist's most acclaimed pieces, 20 00:01:01,620 --> 00:01:05,020 including a terra cotta lion, 21 00:01:05,060 --> 00:01:08,430 a depiction of a Roman warrior, 22 00:01:08,530 --> 00:01:11,700 and a 360-ton horse head. 23 00:01:14,340 --> 00:01:16,900 But amid these expertly crafted pieces 24 00:01:16,970 --> 00:01:20,910 is one display that appears incomplete. 25 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:23,940 It's four feet tall and three feet wide, 26 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,780 and it's carved in plaster. 27 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,250 It depicts a huge human ear. 28 00:01:33,860 --> 00:01:36,060 WILDMAN: This plaster cast was used to create 29 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:39,060 the most famous statue in the world, 30 00:01:39,130 --> 00:01:41,260 but few know the epic story 31 00:01:41,330 --> 00:01:44,160 behind the iconic landmark's creation. 32 00:01:44,170 --> 00:01:46,200 This sculpture became 33 00:01:46,270 --> 00:01:49,140 one of the most recognizable symbols of all time. 34 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,010 WILDMAN: It's 1865 in Paris. 35 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,880 31-year-old sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi 36 00:02:01,020 --> 00:02:04,380 has just been handed his first major commission. 37 00:02:04,490 --> 00:02:07,090 The young artist has been asked to create a statue 38 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:10,120 that represents the ideals of liberty and equality 39 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:11,990 shared between France and America. 40 00:02:12,090 --> 00:02:13,530 The funding for the project 41 00:02:13,530 --> 00:02:15,960 will be split between the two nations. 42 00:02:16,070 --> 00:02:19,670 How Bartholdi represents those ideals is up to him. 43 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:22,240 The ambitious sculptor gets to work 44 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:24,440 and comes up with an epic design 45 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,110 the likes of which hasn't been seen 46 00:02:26,180 --> 00:02:28,040 since the days of ancient Greece. 47 00:02:28,140 --> 00:02:32,410 Bartholdi proposes building a colossal goddess-like woman. 48 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:33,980 In her right hand, 49 00:02:34,020 --> 00:02:36,720 she'll hold a torch representing enlightenment. 50 00:02:36,790 --> 00:02:37,850 In her left, 51 00:02:37,920 --> 00:02:39,050 she'll hold a tablet 52 00:02:39,150 --> 00:02:41,390 bearing the date of American independence. 53 00:02:41,390 --> 00:02:42,920 And around her feet, 54 00:02:43,060 --> 00:02:47,090 broken chains symbolizing freedom and democracy. 55 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:51,830 He wanted this sculpture to become an iconic symbol, 56 00:02:51,970 --> 00:02:57,370 so he decided that he would make the statue 150 feet tall. 57 00:03:01,140 --> 00:03:04,010 WILDMAN: Bartholdi's idea is for his grand statue 58 00:03:04,110 --> 00:03:06,780 to be positioned in New York Harbor, 59 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,580 where it will greet new arrivals to the United States. 60 00:03:12,320 --> 00:03:14,290 And when the sculptor presents his design 61 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:15,920 to the French and American governments, 62 00:03:16,030 --> 00:03:18,090 they're thrilled. 63 00:03:18,190 --> 00:03:20,960 It's decided that France will provide the funds 64 00:03:21,060 --> 00:03:23,430 for the construction of the statue itself, 65 00:03:23,530 --> 00:03:25,700 and America will pay 66 00:03:25,730 --> 00:03:27,940 for the massive base on which it will stand. 67 00:03:31,310 --> 00:03:33,640 It takes 20 years to construct his statue. 68 00:03:34,910 --> 00:03:37,780 Finally in 1884, it's finished. 69 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,710 He calls it Liberty Enlightening the World. 70 00:03:41,750 --> 00:03:44,850 Bartholdi was absolutely delighted. 71 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:51,530 WILDMAN: But when it comes time to send Bartholdi's creation to America, 72 00:03:51,630 --> 00:03:52,690 there's a problem. 73 00:03:54,100 --> 00:03:56,860 The massive statue, clad in copper, 74 00:03:56,970 --> 00:04:01,830 is much heavier than Bartholdi originally estimated. 75 00:04:01,870 --> 00:04:05,670 And the base will cost $100,000 more 76 00:04:05,810 --> 00:04:08,140 than the Americans have raised. 77 00:04:08,210 --> 00:04:12,750 $100,000 nowadays would be several million dollars. 78 00:04:12,780 --> 00:04:15,680 WILDMAN: With the U.S. still rebuilding 79 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:17,680 and paying off its debts from the Civil War, 80 00:04:17,690 --> 00:04:22,060 the government cannot justify the added expense. 81 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,030 It looks like Lady Liberty may never leave France. 82 00:04:26,030 --> 00:04:29,360 Bartholdi must have been feeling absolutely devastated 83 00:04:29,430 --> 00:04:30,500 at this point. 84 00:04:30,570 --> 00:04:33,870 Lady Liberty was literally all dressed up 85 00:04:33,870 --> 00:04:35,240 with nowhere to go. 86 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,240 WILDMAN: But this colossal statue is about to get a lift 87 00:04:38,370 --> 00:04:40,470 from an unlikely source. 88 00:04:43,610 --> 00:04:45,750 In New York City, 89 00:04:45,850 --> 00:04:50,250 Newspaper mogul Joseph Pulitzer is at his wit's end. 90 00:04:50,390 --> 00:04:52,250 The readership of his publication, 91 00:04:52,350 --> 00:04:53,320 the New York World, 92 00:04:53,420 --> 00:04:55,820 is falling off by the day. 93 00:04:55,820 --> 00:04:58,730 He's desperate for a big story to turn things around. 94 00:05:00,030 --> 00:05:02,000 And when he learns about the massive amount of funds 95 00:05:02,130 --> 00:05:05,370 needed to complete the pedestal for Bartholdi's statue, 96 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:09,640 the patriotic publisher comes up with an audacious plan. 97 00:05:09,670 --> 00:05:13,070 Pulitzer decides to ask the public for donations 98 00:05:13,080 --> 00:05:15,710 towards the cost of the statue's base. 99 00:05:15,810 --> 00:05:19,150 Those who contribute will get a mention in the New York World. 100 00:05:19,210 --> 00:05:22,120 He said anyone who donated any amount of money, 101 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:23,550 even if it was a penny, 102 00:05:23,550 --> 00:05:26,690 would have their name printed in the newspaper. 103 00:05:26,790 --> 00:05:30,490 WILDMAN: But Pulitzer's plans aren't entirely altruistic. 104 00:05:30,630 --> 00:05:32,560 He hopes that people will buy the paper 105 00:05:32,690 --> 00:05:34,760 to see their names in print. 106 00:05:34,830 --> 00:05:36,100 If it works, 107 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,160 Bartholdi will get his base 108 00:05:38,230 --> 00:05:40,500 and Pulitzer will save his newspaper. 109 00:05:42,910 --> 00:05:46,340 On March 16th, Pulitzer launches his campaign. 110 00:05:46,410 --> 00:05:47,940 For five months, 111 00:05:48,010 --> 00:05:51,510 the New York World publishes the appeal. 112 00:05:51,510 --> 00:05:53,680 And it's wildly successful. 113 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:57,520 Americans everywhere 114 00:05:57,590 --> 00:06:01,320 eagerly read every story about the fate of Lady Liberty. 115 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,060 The New York World 116 00:06:03,130 --> 00:06:05,390 becomes the most popular newspaper in the country, 117 00:06:05,530 --> 00:06:08,860 and Pulitzer raises the extra $100,000 118 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,600 needed to complete the base for Bartholdi's master work. 119 00:06:12,700 --> 00:06:15,070 Bartholdi was absolutely elated. 120 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:22,010 WILDMAN: In June, the statue arrives from France. 121 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,950 And on October 28, 1886, 122 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,750 it is finally unveiled in New York Harbor 123 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:30,550 to great fanfare. 124 00:06:30,650 --> 00:06:35,760 It was met with absolute enthusiasm by the Americans. 125 00:06:38,690 --> 00:06:42,230 WILDMAN: Bartholdi becomes one of the most famous sculptors 126 00:06:42,260 --> 00:06:43,700 in the world. 127 00:06:43,730 --> 00:06:47,170 And his statue soon earns herself a nickname -- 128 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:49,540 the Statue of Liberty. 129 00:06:54,140 --> 00:06:58,080 Today, this early plaster model of Lady Liberty's ear 130 00:06:58,150 --> 00:07:00,180 is on display at the Bartholdi Museum 131 00:07:00,250 --> 00:07:02,050 in Colmar, France. 132 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:03,720 It stands as a testament 133 00:07:03,790 --> 00:07:06,590 to the visionary sculptor and the tenacious publisher 134 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:09,520 who proved that no dream is ever too big. 135 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:15,160 New Orleans, Louisiana, is home to the world's 136 00:07:15,230 --> 00:07:17,630 longest continuous bridge, 137 00:07:17,770 --> 00:07:21,230 the 24-mile long Lake Pontratrain Causeway. 138 00:07:21,340 --> 00:07:24,270 And not far from this majestic crossing 139 00:07:24,370 --> 00:07:28,110 is an institution that celebrates the area's rich history, 140 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:31,240 the Louisiana State Museum Cabildo. 141 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,550 In the collection 142 00:07:36,590 --> 00:07:40,150 is a wooden travel chess set from 1800, 143 00:07:40,260 --> 00:07:43,090 an intricately carved upright piano 144 00:07:43,130 --> 00:07:45,590 from 1855, 145 00:07:45,590 --> 00:07:48,960 and playing cards that date from 1870. 146 00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:52,630 But among these mementos of days gone by 147 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:56,040 is an instantly recognizable item with an incredible 148 00:07:56,170 --> 00:07:58,170 story to tell. 149 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,610 The artifact is five feet long by three feet wide. 150 00:08:01,740 --> 00:08:05,250 It has three distinct colors-- red, white, and blue. 151 00:08:05,250 --> 00:08:07,880 It has 50 stars and 13 stripes. 152 00:08:10,990 --> 00:08:14,390 WILDMAN: This seemingly unremarkable flag of the United States of America 153 00:08:14,460 --> 00:08:18,460 conceals an amazing tale of ingenuity, patriotism 154 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:20,860 and persistence. 155 00:08:20,930 --> 00:08:23,060 This is a story about a high school student 156 00:08:23,130 --> 00:08:25,470 who changed United States history as we know it. 157 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:31,200 WILDMAN: It's 1958. 158 00:08:31,210 --> 00:08:34,410 Seventeen-year-old Robert Heft is a conscientious 159 00:08:34,480 --> 00:08:37,080 high school student living in Lancaster, Ohio. 160 00:08:37,180 --> 00:08:39,210 Heft was a good student, 161 00:08:39,210 --> 00:08:41,550 very much interested in history. 162 00:08:41,580 --> 00:08:43,620 WILDMAN: One day, 163 00:08:43,620 --> 00:08:46,150 Heft's teacher asks the class to create something 164 00:08:46,220 --> 00:08:48,290 that demonstrates their understanding 165 00:08:48,290 --> 00:08:49,960 of American History. 166 00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:51,930 They could do whatever they wanted--it could be 167 00:08:52,060 --> 00:08:54,030 an essay, a poem... even a painting. 168 00:08:54,030 --> 00:08:57,700 WILDMAN: Heft mulls over the assignment, 169 00:08:57,830 --> 00:09:01,100 and then, one afternoon as he's reading the news, 170 00:09:01,100 --> 00:09:03,340 inspiration strikes-- according to the papers, 171 00:09:03,470 --> 00:09:07,370 after more than 50 years as U.S. territories, 172 00:09:07,440 --> 00:09:11,180 Alaska and Hawaii are to become full-fledged states. 173 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:13,510 The addition of the new states 174 00:09:13,580 --> 00:09:16,050 would mean a big change for the nation's 175 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,520 most prized symbol-- the American flag. 176 00:09:19,620 --> 00:09:23,220 The flag would have to be redesigned to accommodate their joining. 177 00:09:26,060 --> 00:09:30,260 WILDMAN: The national emblem currently includes 13 horizontal stripes, 178 00:09:30,270 --> 00:09:32,330 one for each of the original colonies 179 00:09:32,330 --> 00:09:35,640 and a star representing each state. 180 00:09:35,770 --> 00:09:39,410 Heft realizes that when Alaska and Hawaii become states, 181 00:09:39,470 --> 00:09:41,970 the flag will need two new stars. 182 00:09:41,980 --> 00:09:44,240 Heft was gonna create his own flag, 183 00:09:44,380 --> 00:09:46,810 with 50 instead of 48 stars. 184 00:09:48,050 --> 00:09:51,750 WILDMAN: He starts by tracking down his family's American flag. 185 00:09:51,850 --> 00:09:55,560 Then, Heft carefully crafts stars for his new flag 186 00:09:55,620 --> 00:09:58,620 and places them on a fresh piece of blue fabric. 187 00:09:58,690 --> 00:10:01,630 But there's a problem -- the current grid-like pattern 188 00:10:01,660 --> 00:10:04,500 will not accommodate the additional stars, 189 00:10:04,570 --> 00:10:07,230 so Heft comes up with an ingenious solution -- 190 00:10:07,300 --> 00:10:10,370 he offsets the rows to create five rows 191 00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,240 of six stars and four alternating rows 192 00:10:13,380 --> 00:10:15,240 of five. 193 00:10:15,380 --> 00:10:18,650 He then sews the new blue fabric onto the old flag, 194 00:10:18,650 --> 00:10:20,710 and it fits perfectly. 195 00:10:20,820 --> 00:10:23,980 With his new flag complete, he triumphantly turns in 196 00:10:23,990 --> 00:10:26,020 his homework assignment. 197 00:10:26,050 --> 00:10:28,120 WILLIAMS: Heft was really proud of his hard work 198 00:10:28,260 --> 00:10:31,930 and hoped that his teacher and classmates would share his enthusiasm. 199 00:10:35,130 --> 00:10:38,770 WILDMAN: But to Heft's disappointment, the teacher is unimpressed. 200 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:42,470 The 50-star flag earns him a paltry B-minus. 201 00:10:42,500 --> 00:10:46,070 Heft felt that his teacher was grading him unfairly. 202 00:10:48,680 --> 00:10:50,880 WILDMAN: He protests the decision, 203 00:10:50,980 --> 00:10:53,280 and although his instructor refuses to budge, 204 00:10:53,420 --> 00:10:55,680 Heft is given one lifeline. 205 00:10:55,820 --> 00:10:58,750 His teacher would change Heft's grade only if 206 00:10:58,890 --> 00:11:01,620 Heft got the flag accepted by Washington. 207 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,090 WILDMAN: Determined to improve his mark, 208 00:11:05,090 --> 00:11:08,230 the teen submits his design to his local Congressman 209 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:10,830 and begins writing letters to the White House. 210 00:11:10,830 --> 00:11:13,230 But he soon learns that he isn't the only person 211 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,370 sending in proposals. 212 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,770 WILLIAMS: Americans couldn't resist submitting their own ideas 213 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:20,110 about how to redesign the flag. 214 00:11:20,140 --> 00:11:23,840 That year, over 3,000 designs were sent to the White House. 215 00:11:26,410 --> 00:11:28,310 WILDMAN: And when Heft doesn't hear back, 216 00:11:28,380 --> 00:11:30,420 the B-minus stands. 217 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,720 He'd pretty much given up on his flag having reached Washington. 218 00:11:33,860 --> 00:11:36,020 WILDMAN: What happens next 219 00:11:36,090 --> 00:11:38,390 will change the face of the nation forever. 220 00:11:42,900 --> 00:11:45,470 It's 1958. 221 00:11:45,530 --> 00:11:48,070 Hawaii and Alaska are about to enter the Union 222 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,200 as full-fledged states. 223 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,610 Meanwhile, in Lancaster, Ohio, high schooler Robert Heft 224 00:11:53,740 --> 00:11:55,670 has just completed his history assignment-- 225 00:11:55,710 --> 00:11:58,480 a new American flag with 50 stars. 226 00:11:58,610 --> 00:12:01,150 His teacher says he could earn an A 227 00:12:01,220 --> 00:12:04,480 if his design is selected as the official U.S. flag. 228 00:12:04,620 --> 00:12:07,990 So can this high schooler make the grade? 229 00:12:10,890 --> 00:12:12,960 Robert Heft eventually graduates high school 230 00:12:13,030 --> 00:12:15,530 and enters the workforce, forgetting all about 231 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:17,830 his American flag project, 232 00:12:17,930 --> 00:12:20,230 but one day, in 1960, 233 00:12:20,340 --> 00:12:22,570 he receives a telephone call from someone 234 00:12:22,670 --> 00:12:25,100 he never could've expected. 235 00:12:25,140 --> 00:12:27,610 The call would forever change Heft's life. 236 00:12:29,980 --> 00:12:32,040 WILDMAN: On the other end of the line 237 00:12:32,110 --> 00:12:34,850 is President Dwight D. Eisenhower. 238 00:12:34,920 --> 00:12:37,980 Eisenhower has incredible news. 239 00:12:38,120 --> 00:12:41,050 The president told Heft that his flag had been chosen 240 00:12:41,190 --> 00:12:43,920 as the new 50-star design. 241 00:12:44,030 --> 00:12:46,260 WILDMAN: Heft is speechless. 242 00:12:46,290 --> 00:12:48,800 Heft must have felt an immense sense of pride 243 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,560 and also a great sense of awe. 244 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,740 WILDMAN: The president invites the astonished young man 245 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:58,570 to an official flag ceremony in Baltimore. 246 00:12:58,670 --> 00:13:01,070 And on July 4, 1960, 247 00:13:01,140 --> 00:13:03,540 with Hawaii and Alaska having already been 248 00:13:03,610 --> 00:13:05,880 officially inducted into the Union, 249 00:13:05,980 --> 00:13:08,080 Robert Heft stands next to the president 250 00:13:08,150 --> 00:13:10,880 as 40,000 spectators witness the raising 251 00:13:10,990 --> 00:13:14,090 of the brand-new 50-star flag. 252 00:13:14,190 --> 00:13:17,890 WILLIAMS: As a student of history and an avid follower of politics, 253 00:13:17,930 --> 00:13:20,560 this was a singular moment for Heft. 254 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:26,770 WILDMAN: After the unveiling, he returns to his high school 255 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,240 in Lancaster, Ohio, and shares the news 256 00:13:29,270 --> 00:13:31,400 with his former teacher. 257 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,770 WILLIAMS: Although Heft had graduated two years before, 258 00:13:33,810 --> 00:13:37,340 his history teacher sheepishly honored the bargain 259 00:13:37,410 --> 00:13:41,280 and changed his grade from a B-minus to an A. 260 00:13:45,290 --> 00:13:49,320 WILDMAN: Heft's design goes on to fly wherever flags fly, 261 00:13:49,320 --> 00:13:53,230 over state capitols, stadiums, and U.S. embassies 262 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:55,260 around the world. 263 00:13:55,330 --> 00:13:58,460 Today, one of Robert Heft's American flags 264 00:13:58,470 --> 00:14:01,800 is on display at the Louisiana State Museum Cabildo 265 00:14:01,840 --> 00:14:04,670 in New Orleans -- it's a reminder 266 00:14:04,670 --> 00:14:07,340 of a determined young student whose patriotism 267 00:14:07,340 --> 00:14:09,980 and persistence changed history forever. 268 00:14:13,850 --> 00:14:15,410 Allentown, Pennsylvania, 269 00:14:15,450 --> 00:14:17,950 was founded in 1762, 270 00:14:17,950 --> 00:14:20,550 just as the seeds of the American Revolution 271 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:22,090 were taking root. 272 00:14:22,220 --> 00:14:24,520 And there's one unique institution here 273 00:14:24,660 --> 00:14:28,430 that celebrates this city's link to the nation's history -- 274 00:14:28,430 --> 00:14:30,160 the Liberty Bell Museum. 275 00:14:33,030 --> 00:14:37,270 The collection includes medical tools from the 1700s, 276 00:14:37,310 --> 00:14:42,110 an 18th-century coffee pot, and a musket from 1862. 277 00:14:44,710 --> 00:14:46,450 But the heart of this institution 278 00:14:46,580 --> 00:14:49,210 is this hulking bronze object. 279 00:14:49,250 --> 00:14:51,020 CARROLL: It's 5 feet tall, 280 00:14:51,150 --> 00:14:53,490 12 feet in circumference, 281 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,650 and weighs over 2,000 pounds, 282 00:14:55,690 --> 00:14:59,090 and it's one of America's most sacred symbols. 283 00:15:01,130 --> 00:15:03,530 WILDMAN: This full-sized replica of the Liberty Bell 284 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:07,730 represents the very essence of independence. 285 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:10,400 But few realize that its iconic stature 286 00:15:10,540 --> 00:15:13,740 was born from an amazing tale of bravery, 287 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,880 ingenuity, and espionage. 288 00:15:16,910 --> 00:15:19,150 CARROLL: This is the story of one of America's 289 00:15:19,210 --> 00:15:21,250 earliest covert operations. 290 00:15:23,820 --> 00:15:28,290 WILDMAN: September 1777, Pennsylvania. 291 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,620 The Revolutionary War is in its second year. 292 00:15:30,730 --> 00:15:31,890 Fire! 293 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:34,860 And the Americans are on the brink of defeat. 294 00:15:34,930 --> 00:15:37,830 British troops are closing in on Philadelphia, 295 00:15:37,900 --> 00:15:41,870 and the colonial capital as almost in their grasp. 296 00:15:41,970 --> 00:15:43,900 CARROLL: There was a real state of emergency 297 00:15:43,970 --> 00:15:46,240 that any moment, the British could arrive 298 00:15:46,310 --> 00:15:50,380 and Philadelphia was essentially defenseless. 299 00:15:50,380 --> 00:15:52,050 WILDMAN: As the British push forward, 300 00:15:52,150 --> 00:15:54,710 they overrun smaller towns and villages, 301 00:15:54,780 --> 00:15:56,950 looting them for food, clothing, 302 00:15:56,950 --> 00:15:59,250 and perhaps most importantly, metal. 303 00:15:59,350 --> 00:16:02,820 CARROLL: This is a time where metal is extremely scarce 304 00:16:02,890 --> 00:16:05,060 and the British could easily melt it down 305 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:08,130 and turn it into cannonballs and bullets 306 00:16:08,230 --> 00:16:10,130 and other forms of weaponry. 307 00:16:10,200 --> 00:16:12,330 WILDMAN: If the Redcoats can reach Philadelphia, 308 00:16:12,470 --> 00:16:14,900 a huge prize awaits them -- 309 00:16:14,970 --> 00:16:17,440 the State House bell. 310 00:16:17,510 --> 00:16:19,540 Seizing the enormous bell 311 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:23,180 would provide them with more than just a material advantage. 312 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:25,480 It would be a hugely symbolic victory 313 00:16:25,550 --> 00:16:27,280 over the upstart Americans. 314 00:16:27,320 --> 00:16:29,280 CARROLL: To have the State House bell captured 315 00:16:29,420 --> 00:16:33,390 would be a huge blow to morale throughout the colonies. 316 00:16:33,420 --> 00:16:34,750 WILDMAN: For the revolutionaries, 317 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:38,490 the bell must be kept out of British hands at all costs. 318 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,960 Tasked with the critical mission 319 00:16:41,100 --> 00:16:43,430 is the commissioner of military stores, 320 00:16:43,470 --> 00:16:45,100 Colonel Benjamin Flower. 321 00:16:45,230 --> 00:16:47,530 CARROLL: Flower was determined to succeed in this 322 00:16:47,540 --> 00:16:51,340 essentially covert mission. 323 00:16:51,410 --> 00:16:53,810 WILDMAN: The colonel realizes that the only way 324 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,440 to keep the bell safe is to hide it, 325 00:16:56,440 --> 00:16:58,710 and he has the perfect place in mind, 326 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:02,650 a patriotic stronghold 60 miles to the north -- 327 00:17:02,780 --> 00:17:05,280 Allentown, Pennsylvania. 328 00:17:05,320 --> 00:17:08,190 But getting the massive bronze bell there 329 00:17:08,290 --> 00:17:10,790 is easier said than done. 330 00:17:10,790 --> 00:17:13,390 The route from Philadelphia to Allentown 331 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:15,800 is crawling with British spies, 332 00:17:15,900 --> 00:17:18,500 and concealing something so big 333 00:17:18,570 --> 00:17:20,100 will be almost impossible. 334 00:17:20,170 --> 00:17:23,470 CARROLL: The State House bell is literally enormous. 335 00:17:23,510 --> 00:17:25,670 The question was, how do you get it out of the city? 336 00:17:28,140 --> 00:17:31,380 WILDMAN: Then Flower has a moment of inspiration. 337 00:17:31,450 --> 00:17:34,350 Farm wagons carrying vegetables between Philadelphia 338 00:17:34,420 --> 00:17:35,710 and the surrounding towns 339 00:17:35,780 --> 00:17:38,480 rarely attract the attention of the British. 340 00:17:38,550 --> 00:17:40,550 If he can somehow hide the bell 341 00:17:40,660 --> 00:17:42,220 on one of these wagons, 342 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:45,830 it might make it to Allentown without arousing suspicion. 343 00:17:45,930 --> 00:17:48,830 CARROLL: Flower realizes this could be the perfect way 344 00:17:48,900 --> 00:17:50,830 to hide the State House bell. 345 00:17:54,340 --> 00:17:56,500 WILDMAN: The colonel and a team of laborers 346 00:17:56,500 --> 00:17:58,100 carefully remove the prized bell 347 00:17:58,170 --> 00:18:00,240 from its perch in the State House. 348 00:18:00,310 --> 00:18:03,010 Then they load it onto a wagon 349 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,480 owned by a local farmer, Frederick Leaser. 350 00:18:06,550 --> 00:18:07,850 CARROLL: They actually put hay 351 00:18:07,850 --> 00:18:10,920 and even manure over it to try and disguise it. 352 00:18:14,420 --> 00:18:16,920 WILDMAN: As the British descend on Philadelphia, 353 00:18:16,930 --> 00:18:20,330 Leaser sets off with his secret cargo in tow. 354 00:18:20,430 --> 00:18:23,660 But just a few hours into his journey, 355 00:18:23,770 --> 00:18:25,060 disaster strikes. 356 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:30,070 The wagon's rear wheel buckles under 357 00:18:30,200 --> 00:18:33,010 the enormous weight of the massive bell. 358 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:35,480 Leaser is stranded 359 00:18:35,580 --> 00:18:39,410 and his contraband could be discovered at any moment. 360 00:18:39,450 --> 00:18:41,610 CARROLL: He's miles outside of the city. 361 00:18:41,620 --> 00:18:43,950 This was a very serious situation. 362 00:18:49,110 --> 00:18:51,440 It's Pennsylvania, 1777. 363 00:18:51,540 --> 00:18:54,310 As the Revolutionary War escalates, 364 00:18:54,380 --> 00:18:57,080 British forces are advancing on Philadelphia. 365 00:18:57,120 --> 00:19:00,450 A farmer named Frederick Leaser is tasked 366 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,950 with an extraordinary mission -- to sneak 367 00:19:03,090 --> 00:19:05,850 the enormous State House bell out of the city 368 00:19:05,890 --> 00:19:08,420 to safe haven in Allentown, 369 00:19:08,490 --> 00:19:11,560 but Leaser's wagon that is carrying 370 00:19:11,660 --> 00:19:14,360 this weighty piece of metal has broken down 371 00:19:14,430 --> 00:19:17,070 in a region crawling with enemy spies. 372 00:19:17,170 --> 00:19:20,270 So can the precious bell be liberated? 373 00:19:22,170 --> 00:19:25,070 WILDMAN: To stand any chance of making it to Allentown, 374 00:19:25,180 --> 00:19:26,510 Leaser must first find 375 00:19:26,580 --> 00:19:29,580 a wheelwright to repair his wagon. 376 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:34,150 So, leaving the bell unguarded, he races to the closest town. 377 00:19:34,190 --> 00:19:35,820 It's a desperate move. 378 00:19:35,890 --> 00:19:38,090 The longer the bell is unguarded, 379 00:19:38,160 --> 00:19:41,090 the more likely it is the British will find it. 380 00:19:41,190 --> 00:19:43,490 Frederick Leaser is in a panic. 381 00:19:43,600 --> 00:19:47,100 He has to get back on the road. 382 00:19:47,130 --> 00:19:49,630 WILDMAN: In town, he locates the wheelwright, 383 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:53,600 and the two rush back to the wagon. 384 00:19:53,710 --> 00:19:56,710 To Leaser's relief, the bell is still there. 385 00:19:58,740 --> 00:20:01,080 The repairman gets to work. 386 00:20:01,110 --> 00:20:02,780 And as soon as the wheel is fixed, 387 00:20:02,910 --> 00:20:04,950 Leaser resumes his journey. 388 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,950 Hours later, Leaser reaches Allentown. 389 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:14,690 There, he heads to the Zion Church 390 00:20:14,830 --> 00:20:18,130 and hides his precious cargo under the floorboards, 391 00:20:18,260 --> 00:20:21,430 where it remains safely protected for months. 392 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:27,200 In June 1778, the revolutionaries 393 00:20:27,210 --> 00:20:29,870 drive the British out of Philadelphia 394 00:20:29,870 --> 00:20:32,070 and the bell is returned to its rightful place 395 00:20:32,210 --> 00:20:34,140 at the State House. 396 00:20:34,210 --> 00:20:39,020 When the British finally surrender on October 19, 1781, 397 00:20:39,020 --> 00:20:42,620 the bell rings out in celebration of the news. 398 00:20:45,420 --> 00:20:47,420 As the years pass, the massive bell 399 00:20:47,490 --> 00:20:49,690 becomes known by another name. 400 00:20:49,830 --> 00:20:53,300 The State House bell is now known as the Liberty Bell. 401 00:20:56,770 --> 00:20:59,370 WILDMAN: Today, the Zion Church in Allentown 402 00:20:59,370 --> 00:21:01,370 where the bell was safely hidden 403 00:21:01,370 --> 00:21:03,370 from the clutches of the British, 404 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:06,640 is now the site of the Liberty Bell Museum. 405 00:21:06,780 --> 00:21:10,150 This exact replica of the famous American icon 406 00:21:10,180 --> 00:21:11,780 recalls the heroic mission 407 00:21:11,780 --> 00:21:14,520 that preserved a ringing symbol of liberty. 408 00:21:20,330 --> 00:21:23,260 Huge servings of barbecued meat, 409 00:21:23,330 --> 00:21:26,600 North America's tallest Ferris wheel, 410 00:21:26,630 --> 00:21:27,900 and Big Tex, 411 00:21:28,030 --> 00:21:31,270 the largest mechanical cowboy in the world, 412 00:21:31,270 --> 00:21:33,870 are all things that help Dallas, Texas, 413 00:21:33,870 --> 00:21:36,070 live up to its nickname, Big D. 414 00:21:36,170 --> 00:21:38,340 So it's no surprise that the city 415 00:21:38,380 --> 00:21:40,510 is also home to an institution 416 00:21:40,610 --> 00:21:42,880 with a massive collection, 417 00:21:43,010 --> 00:21:45,820 the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. 418 00:21:47,290 --> 00:21:51,420 This vast 500,000-square-foot repository 419 00:21:51,490 --> 00:21:54,090 helps circulate more than eight million books, 420 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:57,560 documents, and artifacts in the Dallas area. 421 00:21:57,630 --> 00:22:01,000 Among the items held here are a pocket almanac 422 00:22:01,100 --> 00:22:03,700 that belonged to Benjamin Franklin, 423 00:22:03,830 --> 00:22:06,070 a book written by 18th-century explorer 424 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,070 Captain James Cook, 425 00:22:08,110 --> 00:22:11,710 and the earliest collection of plays by William Shakespeare. 426 00:22:13,750 --> 00:22:15,580 But one object on display 427 00:22:15,680 --> 00:22:18,110 is the most illustrious relic of them all. 428 00:22:18,250 --> 00:22:20,780 QUINONES: The artifact measures 14 inches wide 429 00:22:20,820 --> 00:22:22,990 and 18 inches high. 430 00:22:22,990 --> 00:22:26,590 It is made of delicate and faded parchment. 431 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,090 This document is exceptionally rare 432 00:22:29,130 --> 00:22:33,060 and a remarkable piece of American history. 433 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:36,930 WILDMAN: This is the Declaration of Independence, 434 00:22:37,070 --> 00:22:40,900 and this particular print recalls one of the most amazing 435 00:22:41,010 --> 00:22:43,610 accidental discoveries of all time. 436 00:22:43,740 --> 00:22:45,740 QUINONES: This confirms that treasures 437 00:22:45,740 --> 00:22:48,580 are hidden right before our eyes. 438 00:22:52,220 --> 00:22:55,420 WILDMAN: New York, 1991. 439 00:22:55,550 --> 00:22:58,690 David Redden is a vastly experienced auctioneer 440 00:22:58,760 --> 00:23:02,120 at the acclaimed auction house, Sotheby's. 441 00:23:02,130 --> 00:23:04,760 During his career, he sold everything 442 00:23:04,830 --> 00:23:06,900 from the Duchess of Windsor's jewels 443 00:23:06,900 --> 00:23:10,700 to one of Albert Einstein's original manuscripts. 444 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:12,970 But not even these impressive objects 445 00:23:12,970 --> 00:23:16,240 can compare to the item he's about to encounter. 446 00:23:19,110 --> 00:23:21,310 One day, a man walks into his office 447 00:23:21,380 --> 00:23:23,510 with an incredible tale to tell. 448 00:23:23,650 --> 00:23:25,750 He claims that several months prior, 449 00:23:25,780 --> 00:23:29,420 he bought an old painting for $4 at a flea market. 450 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,720 QUINONES: He thought the painting itself was rather dismal and creepy. 451 00:23:32,790 --> 00:23:36,460 He only bought the painting because he liked the frame. 452 00:23:36,530 --> 00:23:39,760 WILDMAN: The man explains that he took the painting home 453 00:23:39,760 --> 00:23:42,460 and separated the canvas from the frame. 454 00:23:42,530 --> 00:23:45,200 To his surprise, a yellowed piece of paper 455 00:23:45,300 --> 00:23:47,240 slipped from behind the painting 456 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,410 and fell to the floor. 457 00:23:50,410 --> 00:23:55,180 It was folded up about the size of a business envelope. 458 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:58,410 WILDMAN: The man says he thinks the parchment is very old 459 00:23:58,450 --> 00:24:00,720 and wants Redden to assess its value. 460 00:24:00,820 --> 00:24:03,290 The man carefully unfolds the paper 461 00:24:03,350 --> 00:24:05,490 and hands it to Redden. 462 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,560 When he gazes upon the text, 463 00:24:07,630 --> 00:24:10,930 Redden is astounded by what he sees. 464 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:12,900 It appears to be an original print 465 00:24:13,030 --> 00:24:15,500 of the Declaration of Independence, 466 00:24:15,570 --> 00:24:19,240 a document known as a Dunlap Broadside. 467 00:24:19,370 --> 00:24:21,900 This might be one of the rarest documents 468 00:24:21,970 --> 00:24:25,870 in American history. 469 00:24:25,940 --> 00:24:28,410 WILDMAN: The story of the Dunlap Broadsides 470 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:32,410 begins in the summer of 1776. 471 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,620 The Revolutionary War has been raging 472 00:24:34,690 --> 00:24:38,090 for more than a year, but the British war machine 473 00:24:38,190 --> 00:24:41,660 is on the verge of crushing the Americans. 474 00:24:41,690 --> 00:24:44,130 In Philadelphia, Colonial delegates meet 475 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:48,330 in a last-ditch effort to keep the rebellion alive. 476 00:24:48,470 --> 00:24:50,930 Men like John Adams and Thomas Jefferson 477 00:24:50,940 --> 00:24:53,270 lead the charge for a radical solution -- 478 00:24:53,340 --> 00:24:56,770 declare independence from Great Britain. 479 00:24:56,870 --> 00:25:00,680 Their hope is that the move will galvanize the Patriot cause 480 00:25:00,750 --> 00:25:03,410 and inspire the colonists to fight for the birth 481 00:25:03,550 --> 00:25:05,080 of a new nation. 482 00:25:05,150 --> 00:25:07,480 Jefferson himself is chosen to draft 483 00:25:07,520 --> 00:25:11,250 what will become one of history's greatest documents -- 484 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,990 the Declaration of Independence. 485 00:25:14,060 --> 00:25:17,230 But in order to distribute the document far and wide, 486 00:25:17,300 --> 00:25:20,300 they must make nearly 200 copies. 487 00:25:20,300 --> 00:25:22,760 The monumental task is trusted 488 00:25:22,800 --> 00:25:25,300 to a Philadelphia printer named John Dunlap. 489 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,800 And on the night of July 4, 1776, 490 00:25:28,870 --> 00:25:31,210 Dunlap gets to work. 491 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:34,580 QUINONES: This would've been an incredibly exciting 492 00:25:34,710 --> 00:25:36,350 and intense time. 493 00:25:36,410 --> 00:25:38,710 We can imagine Thomas Jefferson, 494 00:25:38,720 --> 00:25:40,980 John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin 495 00:25:40,990 --> 00:25:44,320 in the shop with Mr. Dunlap, making sure their document 496 00:25:44,360 --> 00:25:47,860 was printed precisely the way they wanted it. 497 00:25:49,160 --> 00:25:50,660 WILDMAN: The following day, 498 00:25:50,700 --> 00:25:53,260 what become known as the Dunlap Broadsides 499 00:25:53,330 --> 00:25:55,660 are sent to all 13 colonies. 500 00:25:55,730 --> 00:25:58,130 Just as the delegates hoped, 501 00:25:58,140 --> 00:26:00,400 the documents inspire countless Americans 502 00:26:00,500 --> 00:26:03,640 to fight against British tyranny. 503 00:26:03,710 --> 00:26:07,180 Almost seven years later, on April 11, 1783, 504 00:26:07,280 --> 00:26:09,410 the Continental Army defeats the Redcoats 505 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:11,450 once and for all. 506 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:15,720 The United States of America finally wins its independence. 507 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,550 Sadly, in the chaos of battle, 508 00:26:19,620 --> 00:26:24,430 most of the Dunlap Broadsides are lost or destroyed. 509 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:28,860 By 1991, only 23 are known to remain. 510 00:26:28,930 --> 00:26:32,770 But if auctioneer David Redden's suspicions are correct, 511 00:26:32,770 --> 00:26:35,840 he may have just stumbled upon the 24th. 512 00:26:35,940 --> 00:26:38,510 So is this mysterious document 513 00:26:38,610 --> 00:26:41,780 really an authentic part of American history? 514 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:48,850 It's 1991 in New York City. 515 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,190 Auctioneer David Redden has come across 516 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:53,420 one of the most sought-after artifacts 517 00:26:53,560 --> 00:26:55,360 in American history. 518 00:26:55,460 --> 00:26:58,460 Found in the back of a cheap flea-market painting, 519 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,430 it seems to be an original print 520 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:03,030 of the Declaration of Independence. 521 00:27:03,100 --> 00:27:06,630 So is this revolutionary relic for real, 522 00:27:06,670 --> 00:27:09,970 or is it just an elaborate hoax? 523 00:27:10,010 --> 00:27:13,410 Redden submits the document to a thorough examination. 524 00:27:13,510 --> 00:27:17,250 Weeks later, he has his answer. 525 00:27:17,320 --> 00:27:19,920 Just as Redden thought, 526 00:27:20,050 --> 00:27:24,750 it is indeed a genuine Dunlap Broadside. 527 00:27:24,890 --> 00:27:29,260 QUINONES: Redden must've been astonished when all of the expert analysis 528 00:27:29,360 --> 00:27:32,830 and forensics confirmed this fairy-tale story. 529 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:36,930 WILDMAN: But just how it came to be in the back of 530 00:27:37,070 --> 00:27:40,200 a $4 painting remains a mystery. 531 00:27:40,270 --> 00:27:43,670 QUINONES: When did it get there, who put it there, and why? 532 00:27:43,740 --> 00:27:45,870 We can only speculate. 533 00:27:48,050 --> 00:27:50,880 WILDMAN: On June 4, 1991, 534 00:27:50,880 --> 00:27:56,150 the copy sells for a record $2.4 million at auction. 535 00:27:56,290 --> 00:27:59,250 Today, one of the original Dunlap Broadsides 536 00:27:59,390 --> 00:28:01,760 is on display at the J. Erik Jonsson 537 00:28:01,830 --> 00:28:03,760 Central Library in Dallas. 538 00:28:03,790 --> 00:28:05,560 It's a reminder of perhaps 539 00:28:05,660 --> 00:28:08,460 the most incredible flea market bargain in history. 540 00:28:11,800 --> 00:28:15,000 Northern California's Wine Country is home to 541 00:28:15,070 --> 00:28:17,640 more than 400 vineyards and some of the most 542 00:28:17,710 --> 00:28:20,510 coveted grapes in the world. 543 00:28:20,510 --> 00:28:24,310 But during the 1940s, nearby Richmond was the site 544 00:28:24,350 --> 00:28:27,180 of a very different industry, when it played host 545 00:28:27,220 --> 00:28:29,650 to the factories and plants that supported America's 546 00:28:29,790 --> 00:28:32,020 military effort across the globe, 547 00:28:32,120 --> 00:28:34,920 and a taste of that history can be found here 548 00:28:35,060 --> 00:28:38,830 at the World War II Home Front National Historical Park. 549 00:28:41,430 --> 00:28:45,500 Visitors can view such artifacts as a riveter helmet 550 00:28:45,500 --> 00:28:47,600 worn by a shipyard worker, 551 00:28:47,710 --> 00:28:50,070 vintage welding equipment, 552 00:28:50,070 --> 00:28:51,770 and an early-model Jeep. 553 00:28:54,650 --> 00:28:59,880 But among these rugged relics is one delicate-looking item. 554 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,350 COLMAN: The object is made of thick paper. 555 00:29:02,390 --> 00:29:05,020 It measures 17x22. 556 00:29:05,060 --> 00:29:08,120 It features a woman and she's wearing 557 00:29:08,260 --> 00:29:12,060 a red bandana that has white polka dots. 558 00:29:15,570 --> 00:29:17,700 WILDMAN: This famous poster is at the center 559 00:29:17,770 --> 00:29:19,500 of a decades-old mystery 560 00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:22,540 that was solved in the most surprising of ways. 561 00:29:22,610 --> 00:29:25,170 COLMAN: This story was hidden from history. 562 00:29:25,240 --> 00:29:28,440 It's a really complicated, powerful story. 563 00:29:28,580 --> 00:29:30,410 WILDMAN: Who was the real-life inspiration 564 00:29:30,550 --> 00:29:33,780 for one of the country's most iconic images? 565 00:29:36,850 --> 00:29:38,490 It's 1942. 566 00:29:38,490 --> 00:29:39,920 With the world at war, 567 00:29:39,990 --> 00:29:43,590 the United States feels the effects on the home front. 568 00:29:43,730 --> 00:29:45,990 As able-bodied men serve in the European 569 00:29:46,130 --> 00:29:47,360 and Pacific theaters, 570 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:51,130 they leave a depleted workforce behind. 571 00:29:51,270 --> 00:29:53,600 To keep things running, American manufacturers 572 00:29:53,670 --> 00:29:56,470 turn to a previously overlooked group. 573 00:29:56,610 --> 00:29:58,340 COLMAN: As millions of men went off to war 574 00:29:58,410 --> 00:30:00,540 and left behind jobs, 575 00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:06,620 millions and millions of women went to work in factories. 576 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:08,280 WILDMAN: To keep productivity high, 577 00:30:08,420 --> 00:30:12,450 companies look for creative ways to boost morale, 578 00:30:12,520 --> 00:30:13,890 and in Pennsylvania, 579 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:15,820 the Westinghouse Electric Corporation 580 00:30:15,930 --> 00:30:19,490 turns to an artist named J. Howard Miller for help. 581 00:30:19,530 --> 00:30:21,300 COLMAN: Miller's artwork was commissioned 582 00:30:21,300 --> 00:30:23,600 as something to motivate the women 583 00:30:23,630 --> 00:30:25,530 who were working there. 584 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:31,240 WILDMAN: Miller creates a poster just like the one on display 585 00:30:31,380 --> 00:30:34,680 at the World War II Home Front National Historical Park. 586 00:30:34,780 --> 00:30:36,980 Beneath the rallying cry "We can do it" 587 00:30:37,050 --> 00:30:40,120 is a strong and confident woman in a bandana. 588 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:43,050 She eventually becomes known as Rosie the Riveter. 589 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:45,720 COLMAN: The image captured the spirit of the time, 590 00:30:45,790 --> 00:30:47,520 and many women war workers 591 00:30:47,660 --> 00:30:50,590 started to refer to themselves as Rosies. 592 00:30:52,930 --> 00:30:54,960 WILDMAN: In the decades after the war, 593 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:57,000 the poster is embraced by the women's 594 00:30:57,030 --> 00:30:59,800 liberation movement as a symbol of equality, 595 00:30:59,900 --> 00:31:03,740 and as the image's popularity grows, people begin to wonder, 596 00:31:03,740 --> 00:31:07,080 was Rosie the Riveter based on a real person? 597 00:31:10,710 --> 00:31:12,850 In the 1990s, it seems as if 598 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,350 there's finally an answer to the mystery. 599 00:31:15,350 --> 00:31:17,920 A woman named Geraldine Doyle comes forward 600 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:21,760 and claims that she inspired the iconic illustration, 601 00:31:21,830 --> 00:31:25,760 and she seems to have incontrovertible proof. 602 00:31:25,860 --> 00:31:27,830 A magazine has published what appears to be 603 00:31:27,970 --> 00:31:32,600 a photo of Doyle working in a factory during World War II. 604 00:31:32,670 --> 00:31:35,100 The magazine says that the woman in the picture 605 00:31:35,170 --> 00:31:38,110 was the inspiration for Rosie the Riveter. 606 00:31:38,110 --> 00:31:40,910 The picture turns Doyle into a celebrity. 607 00:31:41,010 --> 00:31:43,050 COLMAN: She actually promoted herself. 608 00:31:43,180 --> 00:31:45,180 She contacted news outlets. 609 00:31:45,220 --> 00:31:46,580 She went on television. 610 00:31:46,650 --> 00:31:49,380 So it really was a story 611 00:31:49,450 --> 00:31:54,920 that became widely accepted by the media. 612 00:31:57,230 --> 00:31:59,160 WILDMAN: But then, in 2009, 613 00:31:59,300 --> 00:32:02,100 the story is turned upside down. 614 00:32:02,230 --> 00:32:04,970 That year, an 88-year-old woman from California 615 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,240 named Naomi Parker Fraley 616 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:10,410 claims that she is the figure in the photo. 617 00:32:10,540 --> 00:32:13,740 So who is the real Rosie the Riveter? 618 00:32:19,520 --> 00:32:21,980 It's 2009 in California. 619 00:32:21,990 --> 00:32:24,850 For decades, a woman named Geraldine Doyle 620 00:32:24,990 --> 00:32:27,860 has claimed that she was the inspiration behind 621 00:32:27,860 --> 00:32:29,390 the famous World War II character 622 00:32:29,530 --> 00:32:31,190 Rosie the Riveter. 623 00:32:31,300 --> 00:32:33,530 But now, another woman has stepped forward, 624 00:32:33,660 --> 00:32:35,860 saying she is the real Rosie. 625 00:32:35,900 --> 00:32:40,070 So who actually inspired this iconic image? 626 00:32:43,940 --> 00:32:47,910 An 88-year-old woman named Naomi Parker Fraley 627 00:32:48,010 --> 00:32:49,950 is attending an event honoring the women 628 00:32:50,050 --> 00:32:52,880 who served on the home front during World War II. 629 00:32:52,980 --> 00:32:56,950 Naomi Parker worked at the Alameda Naval Air Base 630 00:32:56,950 --> 00:32:58,090 in a factory. 631 00:32:58,220 --> 00:32:59,890 It was her first job. 632 00:32:59,960 --> 00:33:03,830 It opened up a whole new world for her. 633 00:33:03,890 --> 00:33:06,960 WILDMAN: Held at a museum, the event features photos 634 00:33:07,060 --> 00:33:10,070 of female factory workers from the 1940s. 635 00:33:10,130 --> 00:33:11,970 And while looking at one of these photos, 636 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:15,170 Naomi immediately recognizes her younger self. 637 00:33:15,210 --> 00:33:18,370 COLMAN: She's wearing her signature polka-dot bandana 638 00:33:18,510 --> 00:33:20,510 and operating a lathe machine 639 00:33:20,610 --> 00:33:23,780 in the factory at the Naval Air Station. 640 00:33:23,880 --> 00:33:26,450 WILDMAN: But the caption states that the woman in the image 641 00:33:26,450 --> 00:33:28,450 is actually Geraldine Doyle 642 00:33:28,550 --> 00:33:32,020 and is the basis for the famous Rosie the Riveter. 643 00:33:34,490 --> 00:33:36,460 It's the same photo that Geraldine Doyle 644 00:33:36,530 --> 00:33:39,490 had seen years previously and thought was her. 645 00:33:39,530 --> 00:33:41,660 Naomi is convinced that Geraldine 646 00:33:41,670 --> 00:33:43,600 and the museum are wrong. 647 00:33:43,670 --> 00:33:46,130 She tries to correct the record with the museum staff, 648 00:33:46,270 --> 00:33:47,540 but to no avail. 649 00:33:47,600 --> 00:33:50,400 Without proof, they will not change the caption. 650 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,610 COLMAN: Naomi was angry and confused. 651 00:33:52,740 --> 00:33:56,980 Surely there had been a mistake of enormous proportions. 652 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:04,090 WILDMAN: The following year, Geraldine Doyle passes away, 653 00:34:04,090 --> 00:34:07,560 and Naomi watches in frustration as media outlets 654 00:34:07,660 --> 00:34:10,230 across the country report on the death 655 00:34:10,290 --> 00:34:13,930 of the real Rosie the Riveter. 656 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:16,870 Then, in 2015, Naomi is contacted 657 00:34:16,930 --> 00:34:19,770 by a college professor named James J. Kimble. 658 00:34:19,800 --> 00:34:22,640 While researching World War II-era artwork, 659 00:34:22,770 --> 00:34:24,610 Kimble discovered an original print 660 00:34:24,680 --> 00:34:27,440 of the photograph taken from a newspaper archive, 661 00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:29,980 and its label solved the mystery. 662 00:34:30,050 --> 00:34:33,720 COLMAN: The tag on the back of the original print read, 663 00:34:33,720 --> 00:34:35,980 "Naomi Parker." 664 00:34:36,050 --> 00:34:38,120 So suddenly, there was no question. 665 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:40,260 It was Naomi Parker. 666 00:34:44,460 --> 00:34:48,000 Once the museum was presented with this undeniable evidence, 667 00:34:48,100 --> 00:34:49,530 they corrected the information, 668 00:34:49,630 --> 00:34:52,500 and Naomi was incredibly grateful. 669 00:34:55,040 --> 00:34:58,740 WILDMAN: Today, Naomi Parker Fraley is generally believed to be 670 00:34:58,810 --> 00:35:01,880 the most likely inspiration for Rosie the Riveter. 671 00:35:04,650 --> 00:35:06,350 And this poster in the collection 672 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,120 of the World War II Home Front National Historical Park 673 00:35:10,220 --> 00:35:12,350 is an inspiring reminder of the country's 674 00:35:12,420 --> 00:35:15,260 hard-working women and their can-do spirit. 675 00:35:20,030 --> 00:35:23,430 Provincetown, Massachusetts. 676 00:35:23,570 --> 00:35:27,040 Located at the very tip of Cape Cod, 677 00:35:27,170 --> 00:35:31,240 this vacation spot is well-known for its sandy beaches, 678 00:35:31,340 --> 00:35:35,780 whale watching, and thriving art scene. 679 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:38,680 And looming over the town is a landmark that honors 680 00:35:38,750 --> 00:35:41,720 the area's very first visitors, 681 00:35:41,820 --> 00:35:44,750 the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. 682 00:35:47,990 --> 00:35:50,830 Among the collection is a lion's head 683 00:35:50,860 --> 00:35:54,830 from the prow of an 18th-century ship, 684 00:35:54,900 --> 00:35:58,370 the jawbone from a finback whale, 685 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:00,770 and a model of the Old Lewis Wharf, 686 00:36:00,900 --> 00:36:03,370 the very first theater in Provincetown. 687 00:36:05,880 --> 00:36:08,410 But among these items of local importance 688 00:36:08,410 --> 00:36:11,080 is a display that documents an iconic event 689 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:14,650 that has echoed down the ages to this very day. 690 00:36:14,650 --> 00:36:16,080 WEATHERFORD: The artifact has a few colors, 691 00:36:16,150 --> 00:36:19,320 including dark brown and muted red. 692 00:36:19,320 --> 00:36:23,160 It's made out of wax, wood, and various fibers. 693 00:36:23,230 --> 00:36:24,990 This is part of a larger artifact 694 00:36:25,000 --> 00:36:27,130 which would be considered seaworthy. 695 00:36:31,400 --> 00:36:34,840 WILDMAN: This diorama recalls a scene of life or death 696 00:36:34,910 --> 00:36:37,740 that played out at the birth of a nation. 697 00:36:37,810 --> 00:36:39,270 This artifact tells the story 698 00:36:39,280 --> 00:36:43,410 of one of the most significant events in United States history. 699 00:36:47,420 --> 00:36:50,850 WILDMAN: September 1620. 700 00:36:50,920 --> 00:36:52,990 The Mayflower is making its way 701 00:36:52,990 --> 00:36:55,720 across the North Atlantic to the New World. 702 00:36:55,790 --> 00:36:58,790 Onboard are 102 passengers, 703 00:36:58,830 --> 00:37:01,530 a mix of religious Separatists looking to break free 704 00:37:01,670 --> 00:37:05,530 of the strictures of the English church 705 00:37:05,570 --> 00:37:09,270 and also secular colonists known as the Strangers, 706 00:37:09,340 --> 00:37:13,370 who simply want a better life than the one they left behind. 707 00:37:13,380 --> 00:37:15,680 WEATHERFORD: The Pilgrims that set sail on the Mayflower 708 00:37:15,680 --> 00:37:19,480 were risking everything and coming to the New World 709 00:37:19,550 --> 00:37:23,490 in search of both opportunity and religious freedom. 710 00:37:24,860 --> 00:37:26,960 WILDMAN: But the trip across the ocean comes 711 00:37:27,060 --> 00:37:28,860 with some strings attached. 712 00:37:28,960 --> 00:37:31,760 The colonists are only allowed to make landfall 713 00:37:31,830 --> 00:37:34,060 at the mouth of the Hudson River. 714 00:37:34,160 --> 00:37:36,460 After 66 days of cramped quarters, 715 00:37:36,530 --> 00:37:40,170 rain, and rough seas, they finally spot land. 716 00:37:40,240 --> 00:37:42,900 WEATHERFORD: People were immensely relieved 717 00:37:43,040 --> 00:37:47,540 this was going to be the end of this miserable journey. 718 00:37:50,550 --> 00:37:53,380 WILDMAN: But their joy quickly fades 719 00:37:53,380 --> 00:37:56,620 as the Pilgrims make a shocking discovery. 720 00:37:56,650 --> 00:37:59,250 Bad weather has put them much farther north 721 00:37:59,320 --> 00:38:00,820 than they expected. 722 00:38:03,360 --> 00:38:05,390 Rather than the mouth of the Hudson River, 723 00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:07,330 the settlers find themselves 724 00:38:07,460 --> 00:38:10,000 along the peninsula of Cape Cod. 725 00:38:10,070 --> 00:38:11,730 WEATHERFORD: If they chose to settle there, 726 00:38:11,770 --> 00:38:14,370 laws and protections associated with being a part 727 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,140 of an established colony would not have been there for them, 728 00:38:17,210 --> 00:38:19,740 so they were really very vulnerable and unprotected 729 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,340 where they were. 730 00:38:22,410 --> 00:38:25,710 WILDMAN: The passengers are deeply divided. 731 00:38:25,780 --> 00:38:27,120 The Strangers are eager 732 00:38:27,180 --> 00:38:29,420 to disembark to build a settlement. 733 00:38:29,420 --> 00:38:31,090 WEATHERFORD: They felt like if they went ashore, 734 00:38:31,190 --> 00:38:33,920 nobody really had the right to command them. 735 00:38:33,990 --> 00:38:37,090 WILDMAN: But the religious Separatists disagree. 736 00:38:37,230 --> 00:38:40,200 Their strong beliefs and sense of structure 737 00:38:40,200 --> 00:38:43,560 make them fear any deviation from their orders. 738 00:38:43,630 --> 00:38:45,770 The group is at an impasse. 739 00:38:48,840 --> 00:38:51,710 With dwindling supplies and cold weather looming, 740 00:38:51,780 --> 00:38:53,780 the Pilgrims are facing a dilemma 741 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,710 that will come to define the nation forever. 742 00:38:56,780 --> 00:38:59,510 WEATHERFORD: This was a really desperate situation. 743 00:38:59,580 --> 00:39:02,380 Both sides were angry and frustrated 744 00:39:02,490 --> 00:39:05,920 and seemed like there wasn't a resolution in sight. 745 00:39:06,020 --> 00:39:09,560 WILDMAN: So what will it take to end this bitter feud? 746 00:39:15,900 --> 00:39:18,400 It's November 1620. 747 00:39:18,470 --> 00:39:20,700 After a grueling two-month journey, 748 00:39:20,800 --> 00:39:23,600 the Mayflower reaches the shores of the New World 749 00:39:23,670 --> 00:39:26,410 at what will become Provincetown, Massachusetts. 750 00:39:26,510 --> 00:39:27,810 But there's a problem. 751 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:31,850 They were supposed to make landfall 200 miles to the south. 752 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:33,250 And when they realize the error, 753 00:39:33,350 --> 00:39:37,050 a bitter disagreement erupts. 754 00:39:37,090 --> 00:39:39,190 What happens next will change the course 755 00:39:39,260 --> 00:39:42,890 of American history forever. 756 00:39:43,030 --> 00:39:44,860 As tensions mount, 757 00:39:44,960 --> 00:39:48,630 one of the Separatists steps forward with an idea. 758 00:39:48,700 --> 00:39:51,600 His name is William Bradford. 759 00:39:51,730 --> 00:39:54,140 WEATHERFORD: William Bradford had a very commanding presence 760 00:39:54,270 --> 00:39:57,610 and at this point had spent the majority of his adult life 761 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:01,580 trying to find the perfect place that provided both opportunity 762 00:40:01,650 --> 00:40:03,380 and religious freedom. 763 00:40:03,480 --> 00:40:06,510 WILDMAN: Bradford believes he can broker a compromise. 764 00:40:09,450 --> 00:40:10,790 He calls a general meeting 765 00:40:10,790 --> 00:40:14,220 in the crowded main compartment of the Mayflower, 766 00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:16,320 a moment now depicted in the diorama 767 00:40:16,390 --> 00:40:18,330 on display at the Pilgrim Monument 768 00:40:18,360 --> 00:40:20,190 and Provincetown Museum. 769 00:40:20,230 --> 00:40:22,630 Bradford realized that the entire group 770 00:40:22,630 --> 00:40:26,130 needed to figure out a way to work together. 771 00:40:27,570 --> 00:40:30,210 WILDMAN: Bradford proposes that they draft a document 772 00:40:30,310 --> 00:40:34,010 to form a civil organization and give the common man 773 00:40:34,080 --> 00:40:36,310 a political voice in the New World. 774 00:40:36,350 --> 00:40:38,850 He calls it the Mayflower Compact. 775 00:40:38,920 --> 00:40:42,380 The Mayflower Compact was essentially a social contract. 776 00:40:42,450 --> 00:40:44,720 They had the power to create rules 777 00:40:44,750 --> 00:40:47,390 for their community and elect officials, 778 00:40:47,460 --> 00:40:50,830 essentially the foundation for modern American democracy. 779 00:40:52,700 --> 00:40:56,160 WILDMAN: The head of every household signs the Mayflower Compact, 780 00:40:56,170 --> 00:40:59,630 which allows for the pursuit of freedom in the new society. 781 00:40:59,700 --> 00:41:02,100 WEATHERFORD: By executing the Mayflower Compact 782 00:41:02,140 --> 00:41:03,840 in Provincetown Harbor, 783 00:41:03,970 --> 00:41:06,670 the foundations for modern American democracy were laid. 784 00:41:09,980 --> 00:41:12,250 WILDMAN: The Pilgrims step off the Mayflower 785 00:41:12,380 --> 00:41:15,850 in what becomes Provincetown, and for the next six weeks, 786 00:41:15,890 --> 00:41:18,050 the settlers explore their new home 787 00:41:18,050 --> 00:41:20,190 before moving to more desirable land 788 00:41:20,190 --> 00:41:23,390 30 nautical miles across the bay in Plymouth. 789 00:41:23,490 --> 00:41:25,060 Without the Mayflower Compact, 790 00:41:25,190 --> 00:41:29,100 it's very likely that the colony would have never survived. 791 00:41:32,200 --> 00:41:35,600 WILDMAN: Today, at the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum, 792 00:41:35,640 --> 00:41:37,870 this detailed diorama of the signing 793 00:41:38,010 --> 00:41:40,610 of the Mayflower Compact recalls the brokered peace 794 00:41:40,610 --> 00:41:43,610 among some of the earliest settlers of America. 795 00:41:47,220 --> 00:41:49,650 From Lady Liberty's priceless pedestal 796 00:41:49,720 --> 00:41:52,090 to a revolutionary relic. 797 00:41:52,220 --> 00:41:54,120 The real Rosie the Riveter 798 00:41:54,190 --> 00:41:56,690 to a new design of the stars and stripes. 799 00:41:56,760 --> 00:41:58,230 I'm Don Wildman, 800 00:41:58,300 --> 00:42:00,400 and these are the mysteries at the museum.