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

1 00:00:01,990 --> 00:00:04,520 A host of deadly creatures lurking under city streets. 2 00:00:04,620 --> 00:00:07,020 This wasn't just a story that was made up. 3 00:00:07,130 --> 00:00:09,390 This wasn't just a fairytale. This was a real thing. 4 00:00:11,660 --> 00:00:13,760 The search for a legendary beast. 5 00:00:13,870 --> 00:00:16,970 There, on the screen, was the exact shape 6 00:00:17,070 --> 00:00:19,200 of the Loch Ness Monster. 7 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:22,440 And a flying blob from outer space. 8 00:00:22,540 --> 00:00:25,580 MAN: People really began to wonder if they were dealing 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,910 with something not of this Earth. 10 00:00:28,010 --> 00:00:31,580 These are the mysteries at the museum. 11 00:00:37,260 --> 00:00:39,360 New York, New York. 12 00:00:39,460 --> 00:00:41,360 The Metropolitan Transit Authority 13 00:00:41,460 --> 00:00:43,660 makes sure the Big Apple's famous subways 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:47,600 run smoothly for more than five million riders every day. 15 00:00:47,700 --> 00:00:51,400 But it also operates the MTA Arts and Design program, 16 00:00:51,500 --> 00:00:55,270 which turns stations into underground art galleries. 17 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:02,980 At the West 14th Street stop is the Life Underground series. 18 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,180 Created by artist Tom Otterness, 19 00:01:06,290 --> 00:01:11,250 its whimsical sculptures celebrate the city's quirkiness. 20 00:01:13,290 --> 00:01:15,760 But there's one piece that stands out 21 00:01:15,860 --> 00:01:19,530 even though it barely rises above most New Yorkers' ankles. 22 00:01:19,630 --> 00:01:21,970 It's roughly three feet by two feet, 23 00:01:22,070 --> 00:01:23,470 and made entirely of bronze. 24 00:01:23,570 --> 00:01:28,100 It's a typical manhole we would see anywhere in New York City. 25 00:01:28,210 --> 00:01:31,210 Coming up from underneath is a creature from below, 26 00:01:31,310 --> 00:01:34,510 hoping to snatch a commuter and eat them for dinner. 27 00:01:37,050 --> 00:01:40,150 WILDMAN: This unusual work appears to portray 28 00:01:40,250 --> 00:01:43,650 a terrifying reptile lurking beneath New York's streets. 29 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:47,060 But this seemingly fantastical scenario 30 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:49,330 might have some basis in fact. 31 00:01:49,430 --> 00:01:50,730 HYNES: In New York City, 32 00:01:50,830 --> 00:01:53,230 people had heard about and whispered about 33 00:01:53,330 --> 00:01:54,970 creatures living in the sewers. 34 00:01:55,070 --> 00:01:57,830 But this legend may actually have some truth to it. 35 00:01:57,940 --> 00:02:02,440 WILDMAN: So, are there really monsters under this metropolis? 36 00:02:02,540 --> 00:02:04,880 [ Creature growls ] 37 00:02:04,980 --> 00:02:08,950 The legend begins in the winter of 1935. 38 00:02:09,050 --> 00:02:12,380 New York City is awash with reports of a giant creature 39 00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:14,620 blocking a sewer drain in Harlem. 40 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,820 Three teenagers were shoveling snow into a manhole, 41 00:02:18,920 --> 00:02:21,890 and said they saw him thrashing about down there. 42 00:02:21,990 --> 00:02:24,590 It was a seven-foot alligator. 43 00:02:24,700 --> 00:02:27,100 WILDMAN: But with no photos to prove it, 44 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:29,630 the alleged sighting goes down in history 45 00:02:29,740 --> 00:02:31,500 as just another urban legend. 46 00:02:33,640 --> 00:02:35,710 But then in 1959, 47 00:02:35,810 --> 00:02:38,440 a veteran city worker named Teddy May 48 00:02:38,540 --> 00:02:41,310 gives an interview to a local journalist 49 00:02:41,410 --> 00:02:44,050 and breathes new life into the story. 50 00:02:44,150 --> 00:02:46,420 HYNES: Teddy May was this larger-than-life figure. 51 00:02:46,520 --> 00:02:49,020 He claimed to know every inch of New York City sewers. 52 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,160 WILDMAN: Teddy's intricate knowledge of the city's 53 00:02:52,260 --> 00:02:53,620 labyrinthine underbelly 54 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:56,690 has earned him the nickname "King of the Sewers." 55 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,560 Teddy was saying, "I was told by my men 56 00:03:00,670 --> 00:03:03,070 that there were alligators in the sewer." 57 00:03:03,170 --> 00:03:05,870 WILDMAN: Believing the guys were drinking on the job, 58 00:03:05,970 --> 00:03:08,640 he claims he went into the sewer to prove them wrong. 59 00:03:08,740 --> 00:03:12,640 But then as he shined a light into one of the smaller tunnels, 60 00:03:12,740 --> 00:03:16,080 he noticed something moving in the shallow waters. 61 00:03:17,450 --> 00:03:20,620 And that's when he saw them. 62 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:25,620 He sees this congregation of alligators -- dozens of them. 63 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:27,260 And he couldn't believe it. 64 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,930 WILDMAN: With a possible infestation on his hands, 65 00:03:31,030 --> 00:03:33,630 Teddy claims he took immediate action. 66 00:03:33,730 --> 00:03:35,030 As legend has it, 67 00:03:35,130 --> 00:03:38,570 he rounded up his best men with shotguns and flashlights, 68 00:03:38,670 --> 00:03:41,200 and he killed them then and there. 69 00:03:41,310 --> 00:03:42,470 [ Gunshots ] 70 00:03:42,570 --> 00:03:43,740 [ Creature growls ] 71 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:47,340 WILDMAN: In the wake of Teddy's incredible story, 72 00:03:47,450 --> 00:03:49,410 more and more reports emerge 73 00:03:49,510 --> 00:03:52,520 of wily reptiles roaming the city sewers. 74 00:03:52,620 --> 00:03:54,620 HYNES: Everybody starts hearing that 75 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,420 underneath the streets in the sewers, 76 00:03:56,520 --> 00:03:58,960 there are man-eating predators willing to snatch you up 77 00:03:59,060 --> 00:04:00,290 and take you home for dinner. 78 00:04:00,390 --> 00:04:01,830 [ Growls ] 79 00:04:01,930 --> 00:04:03,930 WILDMAN: Despite the rumors, 80 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:05,930 no one is able to provide proof 81 00:04:06,030 --> 00:04:09,430 that the stories are anything more than tall tales. 82 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,140 But in 2010, everything changes. 83 00:04:16,010 --> 00:04:18,140 Queens, New York. 84 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,910 Police at a local precinct receive a series 85 00:04:21,010 --> 00:04:23,550 of frightened calls from area residents. 86 00:04:23,650 --> 00:04:25,720 Some neighbors reported seeing an alligator 87 00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:27,680 emerge on the streets from the sewers. 88 00:04:27,790 --> 00:04:29,320 [ Sirens wail ] 89 00:04:29,420 --> 00:04:31,150 WILDMAN: An officer races to the scene, 90 00:04:31,260 --> 00:04:35,190 and when he arrives, he is greeted by a stunning sight. 91 00:04:35,290 --> 00:04:37,390 ¶¶ 92 00:04:37,500 --> 00:04:41,230 There's an actual alligator on the streets of New York. 93 00:04:41,330 --> 00:04:43,530 It was there. There was no doubt about it, 94 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,440 this alligator had come onto the street from the sewers. 95 00:04:46,540 --> 00:04:49,440 WILDMAN: But this is no raging beast. 96 00:04:49,540 --> 00:04:51,740 In fact, it's only 18 inches long. 97 00:04:51,840 --> 00:04:54,140 HYNES: It was sort of a funny moment 98 00:04:54,250 --> 00:04:56,180 for anybody who had been following this 99 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:57,680 alligators-in-the-sewer legend. 100 00:04:57,780 --> 00:05:00,350 WILDMAN: The reptile is captured by police 101 00:05:00,450 --> 00:05:02,550 and taken to an animal sanctuary. 102 00:05:02,650 --> 00:05:05,860 But the incident fuels a wave of tabloid coverage 103 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,160 with headlines declaring the long-standing rumors 104 00:05:09,260 --> 00:05:13,300 of alligators in the sewers to finally have been proven true. 105 00:05:15,430 --> 00:05:17,330 Here was this story, this legend, that everyone 106 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,440 had sort of dismissed and suddenly had legs again. 107 00:05:20,540 --> 00:05:22,340 There were reporters on the scene. 108 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:24,340 There was police testimony on the scene. 109 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:26,580 There were people taking pictures with their cell phone cameras. 110 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,180 There was no doubt about it -- this alligator had come 111 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:31,510 onto the street from the sewers. 112 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:34,680 WILDMAN: So how did a creature like this 113 00:05:34,790 --> 00:05:37,820 end up in New York sewers in the first place? 114 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,090 One theory is that they were kept as pets in people's homes. 115 00:05:42,190 --> 00:05:44,630 They got too big, Dad flushed them down the toilet. 116 00:05:44,730 --> 00:05:47,960 And another theory that they were transported on cruisers 117 00:05:48,070 --> 00:05:49,330 coming up from Florida 118 00:05:49,430 --> 00:05:51,940 and hopped off and swam into the sewers. 119 00:05:54,010 --> 00:05:55,540 WILDMAN: Whatever the truth, 120 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,540 it seems that the legend of alligators 121 00:05:57,640 --> 00:05:59,680 in the sewers will live on. 122 00:05:59,780 --> 00:06:01,240 And today, 123 00:06:01,350 --> 00:06:04,510 in New York City's West 14th Street subway station, 124 00:06:04,620 --> 00:06:08,050 a bronze reptile emerging from under a manhole cover 125 00:06:08,150 --> 00:06:11,920 playfully depicts one of the Big Apple's most unlikely residents. 126 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:19,200 Oxford, England. 127 00:06:19,300 --> 00:06:23,530 Established in the year 1096, the University of Oxford 128 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:25,500 is one of the oldest institutions 129 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:27,900 of higher learning on Earth. 130 00:06:28,010 --> 00:06:32,180 Its historic grounds feature a Venetian-style bridge, 131 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:34,880 the soaring Christ Church Cathedral, 132 00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:38,410 and the Romanesque Sheldonian Theater. 133 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:39,980 And in the heart of campus 134 00:06:40,090 --> 00:06:42,850 is the world-renowned Bodleian Library. 135 00:06:46,460 --> 00:06:50,130 It contains more than 12 million printed items, 136 00:06:50,230 --> 00:06:53,430 such as a lavish 9th century Book of Psalms 137 00:06:53,530 --> 00:06:55,030 written in gold ink, 138 00:06:55,130 --> 00:06:58,200 a book decorated with jewels from Germany, 139 00:06:58,300 --> 00:07:01,440 and an early printing of Shakespeare's epic poem 140 00:07:01,540 --> 00:07:04,070 Venus and Adonis. 141 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:09,510 But tucked away in the archives is an aged volume 142 00:07:09,610 --> 00:07:13,180 that helped unlock one of nature's greatest mysteries. 143 00:07:13,290 --> 00:07:16,590 ALCOCK: The artifact is 13 inches by 8 inches. 144 00:07:16,690 --> 00:07:19,190 It is a very dark brown on the outside. 145 00:07:19,290 --> 00:07:20,960 It's very worn in places. 146 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:23,360 It's clearly very old. 147 00:07:23,460 --> 00:07:25,360 But it's what inside it 148 00:07:25,460 --> 00:07:28,700 that's truly groundbreaking and particularly interesting. 149 00:07:31,270 --> 00:07:35,340 WILDMAN: This manuscript describes a monstrous discovery 150 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:37,270 that changed the world forever. 151 00:07:37,380 --> 00:07:39,110 ALCOCK: This item is connected to one of 152 00:07:39,210 --> 00:07:40,680 the most important developments 153 00:07:40,780 --> 00:07:42,880 in the history of life on this planet. 154 00:07:44,850 --> 00:07:47,920 [ Animal growls ] 155 00:07:48,020 --> 00:07:50,020 WILDMAN: It's the late 17th century, 156 00:07:50,120 --> 00:07:52,990 an era of great scientific advancement. 157 00:07:53,090 --> 00:07:54,420 For the first time, 158 00:07:54,530 --> 00:07:56,660 astronomers are studying the Milky Way, 159 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,130 while doctors are unlocking the secrets of human cells. 160 00:08:01,230 --> 00:08:02,870 ALCOCK: Science was really coming to the fore, 161 00:08:02,970 --> 00:08:04,930 all these new areas of scientific discovery 162 00:08:05,040 --> 00:08:06,440 were really opening up. 163 00:08:06,540 --> 00:08:08,840 People were starting to get a much deeper understanding 164 00:08:08,940 --> 00:08:11,770 of the world around us. 165 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,680 WILDMAN: And in England, a scientist named Robert Plot 166 00:08:14,780 --> 00:08:17,680 is hoping to make strides in the field of geology. 167 00:08:17,780 --> 00:08:19,880 ALCOCK: Robert Plot was really passionate 168 00:08:19,990 --> 00:08:23,020 about bringing new areas of science to the forefront 169 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:26,420 and he was very much a pioneer of the time. 170 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:28,490 WILDMAN: Little does Plot know he's about to make 171 00:08:28,590 --> 00:08:33,730 a discovery bigger than anything he ever imagined. 172 00:08:33,830 --> 00:08:38,100 The scholar is digging in a quarry in Oxford 173 00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:41,870 when he unearths something strange among the rocks -- 174 00:08:41,970 --> 00:08:44,210 a giant bone. 175 00:08:44,310 --> 00:08:46,710 ALCOCK: You have to imagine the surge of adrenaline 176 00:08:46,810 --> 00:08:49,350 that would've gone through him upon seeing this thing. 177 00:08:49,450 --> 00:08:52,780 WILDMAN: The massive specimen is 24 inches around 178 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,450 and weighs nearly 20 pounds. 179 00:08:55,550 --> 00:08:58,220 ALCOCK: It was enormous. I mean really huge. 180 00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,760 This was something completely different to anything 181 00:09:00,860 --> 00:09:03,890 that anyone had seen before. 182 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,860 WILDMAN: Plot takes his colossal discovery to his office 183 00:09:06,970 --> 00:09:08,360 for further study. 184 00:09:08,470 --> 00:09:11,600 He compares the specimen to anatomical drawings 185 00:09:11,700 --> 00:09:14,170 and descriptions of the biggest beasts 186 00:09:14,270 --> 00:09:17,210 known to science at the time, but he can't find anything 187 00:09:17,310 --> 00:09:20,140 that has a bone of this size and shape. 188 00:09:20,250 --> 00:09:21,980 It doesn't compare with an elephant, 189 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:23,910 it doesn't compare with an ox or a horse. 190 00:09:24,020 --> 00:09:25,720 It was truly mystifying. 191 00:09:25,820 --> 00:09:27,680 He had no point of reference 192 00:09:27,790 --> 00:09:29,790 to make any sense of what he had discovered. 193 00:09:29,890 --> 00:09:32,020 This didn't fit in anywhere. 194 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:36,460 And he's thumbing through copy after copy of encyclopediae 195 00:09:36,560 --> 00:09:39,230 here at Oxford, trying to find where 196 00:09:39,330 --> 00:09:41,530 this item fits in, and he has to conclude 197 00:09:41,630 --> 00:09:44,500 eventually that it doesn't, he has to look somewhere else. 198 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:48,500 WILDMAN: Then the scientist has an amazing realization. 199 00:09:48,610 --> 00:09:50,770 ALCOCK: The really, really bizarre thing 200 00:09:50,880 --> 00:09:53,480 is that it looked human. 201 00:09:53,580 --> 00:09:55,240 WILDMAN: The bone matches the contour 202 00:09:55,350 --> 00:09:58,350 and dimensions of the end of a human femur, 203 00:09:58,450 --> 00:10:01,120 but there's one crucial difference -- 204 00:10:01,220 --> 00:10:03,120 it's much larger. 205 00:10:03,220 --> 00:10:06,720 This artifact was huge, I mean, 206 00:10:06,830 --> 00:10:09,260 it was incomprehensively massive. 207 00:10:09,360 --> 00:10:11,790 For him, this then becomes obvious. 208 00:10:11,900 --> 00:10:15,260 It looks like an enormous bone, it looks clearly human. 209 00:10:15,370 --> 00:10:17,400 WILDMAN: If the bone is human, 210 00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:19,400 then the person to whom it belonged 211 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:22,210 would have stood more than nine feet tall. 212 00:10:22,310 --> 00:10:25,110 And if this massive prehistoric man existed, 213 00:10:25,210 --> 00:10:27,010 there must have been others like him. 214 00:10:27,110 --> 00:10:29,410 ALCOCK: This would have been a mind-blowing moment. 215 00:10:29,510 --> 00:10:33,880 He thought this was the remains of a giant race of human beings. 216 00:10:35,990 --> 00:10:38,150 WILDMAN: From the Titans of ancient Greece 217 00:10:38,260 --> 00:10:41,460 to biblical accounts of David and Goliath, 218 00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:42,990 tales of giant beings 219 00:10:43,090 --> 00:10:45,530 can be found in nearly every culture. 220 00:10:45,630 --> 00:10:47,630 For Plot, it is not a stretch 221 00:10:47,730 --> 00:10:49,000 or a leap of the imagination 222 00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:52,240 to think that these beings once existed in England. 223 00:10:52,340 --> 00:10:54,400 WILDMAN: Plot publishes his findings 224 00:10:54,510 --> 00:10:57,310 along with sketches of the bone in his book, 225 00:10:57,410 --> 00:10:59,740 "The Natural History of Oxford-shire." 226 00:11:01,810 --> 00:11:05,080 In the months that follow, England is abuzz with the notion 227 00:11:05,180 --> 00:11:08,790 of a long-lost horde of giants that once roamed the Earth. 228 00:11:08,890 --> 00:11:11,190 ALCOCK: People were excited by Plot's discovery. 229 00:11:11,290 --> 00:11:13,690 I think the idea of there having once been 230 00:11:13,790 --> 00:11:15,160 a giant race of human beings 231 00:11:15,260 --> 00:11:19,760 is quite a sort of thrilling concept. 232 00:11:19,860 --> 00:11:23,300 WILDMAN: But then, more than 150 years later, 233 00:11:23,400 --> 00:11:26,240 a chance discovery reveals the incredible truth 234 00:11:26,340 --> 00:11:28,770 behind this gigantic bone. 235 00:11:28,870 --> 00:11:30,170 This was bigger than Plot 236 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,910 or anybody else could've imagined. 237 00:11:38,050 --> 00:11:40,820 In the 1670s, naturalist Robert Plot 238 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,590 makes a discovery that stuns the world. 239 00:11:43,690 --> 00:11:46,890 He has found what seems to be an enormous, ancient 240 00:11:46,990 --> 00:11:49,990 human bone, leading him to conclude that the Earth 241 00:11:50,090 --> 00:11:52,760 was once populated by a race of giants. 242 00:11:52,860 --> 00:11:55,900 He's wrong, of course, but what Plot doesn't realize 243 00:11:56,000 --> 00:11:58,970 is that he's made, literally, the biggest discovery 244 00:11:59,070 --> 00:12:01,800 in the history of science. 245 00:12:01,910 --> 00:12:04,910 1824, England. 246 00:12:05,010 --> 00:12:07,210 40-year-old William Buckland 247 00:12:07,310 --> 00:12:10,310 is a professor of geology at the University of Oxford. 248 00:12:10,410 --> 00:12:13,920 William Buckland was a respected geologist. 249 00:12:14,020 --> 00:12:16,790 He spent a lot of time investigating 250 00:12:16,890 --> 00:12:20,920 the sort of mysteries of the natural world. 251 00:12:21,030 --> 00:12:24,190 WILDMAN: One day, he's digging through a quarry not far from the site 252 00:12:24,300 --> 00:12:28,130 where Robert Plot unearthed his Goliath bone 253 00:12:28,230 --> 00:12:30,930 when he finds another gigantic specimen. 254 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,870 Oh, it was enormous. It was absolutely massive 255 00:12:33,970 --> 00:12:36,970 and on a similar scale to that discovered by Plot 256 00:12:37,070 --> 00:12:39,580 several hundred years before. 257 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:42,810 So Buckland would've been astonished to discover 258 00:12:42,910 --> 00:12:45,280 another very large fragment of bone, 259 00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:50,120 but in this circumstance, it's the piece of a jawbone. 260 00:12:50,220 --> 00:12:52,720 WILDMAN: But unlike Plot, Buckland doesn't think 261 00:12:52,820 --> 00:12:55,360 this bone came from a giant human. 262 00:12:55,460 --> 00:12:58,460 The fragment resembles an extended snout, 263 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:01,400 like that of an alligator or lizard, 264 00:13:01,500 --> 00:13:02,730 but much larger. 265 00:13:02,830 --> 00:13:06,670 Clearly this jawbone was very reptilian in appearance. 266 00:13:06,770 --> 00:13:10,670 Buckland realizes that he has discovered the part 267 00:13:10,780 --> 00:13:14,080 of a giant reptilian creature that perhaps existed 268 00:13:14,180 --> 00:13:16,610 hundreds of years ago. 269 00:13:16,710 --> 00:13:19,980 WILDMAN: Then Buckland makes a stunning connection. 270 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:23,190 Perhaps the jawbone and the bone that Plot found 271 00:13:23,290 --> 00:13:26,290 came from the same extinct giant reptile. 272 00:13:26,390 --> 00:13:29,530 ALCOCK: Buckland realizes that Robert Plot's discovery 273 00:13:29,630 --> 00:13:31,060 was a piece of the same puzzle. 274 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,960 WILDMAN: He names this fantastical creature megalosaurus. 275 00:13:35,070 --> 00:13:37,670 Eventually, creatures like this come to be known 276 00:13:37,770 --> 00:13:42,000 by a different name -- dinosaurs. 277 00:13:42,110 --> 00:13:45,270 ALCOCK: This was the greatest discovery of Buckland's life. 278 00:13:45,380 --> 00:13:47,940 The excitement that must've gone through him 279 00:13:48,050 --> 00:13:50,680 realizing what he had found, you just can't even imagine. 280 00:13:50,780 --> 00:13:53,280 This was the greatest discovery of his generation 281 00:13:53,380 --> 00:13:55,250 in terms of natural history. 282 00:13:55,350 --> 00:13:57,520 WILDMAN: In the wake of Buckland's findings, 283 00:13:57,620 --> 00:13:59,290 Plot goes down in history, 284 00:13:59,390 --> 00:14:03,160 not as the man who dug up proof of ancient giant humans, 285 00:14:03,260 --> 00:14:05,660 but as the first person to discover the remains 286 00:14:05,760 --> 00:14:07,160 of a dinosaur. 287 00:14:07,260 --> 00:14:11,230 It was a groundbreaking discovery of epic proportions. 288 00:14:16,140 --> 00:14:18,440 WILDMAN: Today, Oxford's Bodleian Library 289 00:14:18,540 --> 00:14:21,380 has this early edition of Robert Plot's book, 290 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,010 "The Natural History of Oxford-shire." 291 00:14:24,110 --> 00:14:26,250 It's a reminder of the curious scientist 292 00:14:26,350 --> 00:14:28,450 who never realized the gigantic mark 293 00:14:28,550 --> 00:14:30,620 he'd make on the world. 294 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,320 [ Animal growls ] 295 00:14:33,420 --> 00:14:36,090 The Highlands of Scotland 296 00:14:36,190 --> 00:14:38,490 are renowned for their rugged mountains, 297 00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:42,430 blooming heather, and fine malt whiskey. 298 00:14:42,530 --> 00:14:44,100 They are also home 299 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,900 to one of the most infamous bodies of water in the world -- 300 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,540 Loch Ness. 301 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,380 And in the quaint village of Druim na Drochaid 302 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,250 is an institution dedicated to this Scottish lake's history -- 303 00:14:57,350 --> 00:15:01,450 the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition. 304 00:15:01,550 --> 00:15:03,890 On display is an array of items 305 00:15:03,990 --> 00:15:07,620 deployed in the quest to find the eponymous monster, 306 00:15:07,730 --> 00:15:10,460 including an antique diving suit, 307 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:15,660 a long-lens camera used to photograph the loch in 1965, 308 00:15:15,770 --> 00:15:18,130 and the world's largest inflatable boat, 309 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,770 the John Murray. 310 00:15:23,370 --> 00:15:26,170 But there's one object here that, at first glance, 311 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,480 seems to have no obvious purpose. 312 00:15:29,580 --> 00:15:34,250 This item is 12 1/2 inches wide and 9 inches tall. 313 00:15:34,350 --> 00:15:37,390 On one of the faces is a clear-glass window, 314 00:15:37,490 --> 00:15:41,060 and on the right-hand side is a series of dials and buttons. 315 00:15:43,630 --> 00:15:47,160 WILDMAN: This artifact recalls a modern-day mission 316 00:15:47,260 --> 00:15:48,730 to prove the existence 317 00:15:48,830 --> 00:15:51,070 of this lake's most elusive inhabitant 318 00:15:51,170 --> 00:15:52,430 once and for all. 319 00:15:52,540 --> 00:15:55,040 This simple black box laid the groundwork 320 00:15:55,140 --> 00:15:57,970 for one of the biggest Loch Ness Monster finds 321 00:15:58,080 --> 00:15:59,240 of all time. 322 00:16:03,380 --> 00:16:04,810 WILDMAN: It's 2016, 323 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:07,320 on the shores of Loch Ness, Scotland. 324 00:16:07,420 --> 00:16:11,720 This vast freshwater lake has long been shrouded in mystery. 325 00:16:11,820 --> 00:16:14,120 For centuries, people have reported 326 00:16:14,220 --> 00:16:18,490 seeing a giant creature swimming in these murky waters. 327 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,060 It's called the Loch Ness Monster. 328 00:16:21,170 --> 00:16:22,360 HULLAND: The Loch Ness Monster 329 00:16:22,470 --> 00:16:25,100 is supposedly a prehistoric creature 330 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,100 living in the waters of Loch Ness. 331 00:16:30,910 --> 00:16:33,910 WILDMAN: The strange beast, dubbed "Nessie" by locals, 332 00:16:34,010 --> 00:16:37,110 is one of the most famous monsters in the world. 333 00:16:37,210 --> 00:16:41,150 It's inspired dozens of books, songs, and movies. 334 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:46,560 And for as long as anyone can remember, 335 00:16:46,660 --> 00:16:49,020 monster hunters have descended on the lake 336 00:16:49,130 --> 00:16:51,660 to find proof that the leviathan is real. 337 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,200 People from all over the world have been captivated 338 00:16:54,300 --> 00:16:56,000 by the legend of Nessie, 339 00:16:56,100 --> 00:16:59,330 but no one has ever been able to definitively prove 340 00:16:59,440 --> 00:17:02,100 that the Loch Ness Monster actually exists. 341 00:17:04,540 --> 00:17:08,540 WILDMAN: But one man thinks he can locate this elusive beast. 342 00:17:08,650 --> 00:17:11,750 His name is Adrian Shine. 343 00:17:11,850 --> 00:17:17,420 Adrian Shine is one of the foremost experts on Loch Ness. 344 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:18,850 WILDMAN: Shine believes 345 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:21,360 the reason why no one has been able to locate the creature 346 00:17:21,460 --> 00:17:22,790 is simple. 347 00:17:22,890 --> 00:17:26,830 He suspects Nessie is hiding in one of the underwater caves 348 00:17:26,930 --> 00:17:29,870 that line the loch's steep side walls, 349 00:17:29,970 --> 00:17:33,140 and to prove it, he has acquired an underwater drone 350 00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,140 equipped with a special sonar system 351 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,340 that can look into the nooks and crannies of the side walls. 352 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,910 This was a groundbreaking piece of new technology. 353 00:17:42,010 --> 00:17:45,610 Shine was confident that, if Nessie was in that loch, 354 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:49,120 sonar would definitely find her. 355 00:17:49,220 --> 00:17:51,120 WILDMAN: In April 2016, 356 00:17:51,220 --> 00:17:53,460 Shine and his team launched the drone. 357 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:54,590 [ Sonar pinging ] 358 00:17:54,690 --> 00:17:56,830 As it combs the loch's underwater caves, 359 00:17:56,930 --> 00:17:59,730 it transmits images back to the surface. 360 00:17:59,830 --> 00:18:04,470 For hours, Shine and his team anxiously stare at the screens, 361 00:18:04,570 --> 00:18:08,400 hoping to see some evidence of the creature's presence. 362 00:18:08,510 --> 00:18:12,170 Then, suddenly, they spot something incredible. 363 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:16,180 Tucked against the side wall at the bottom of the loch, 364 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,950 they saw a clearly-defined shape. 365 00:18:19,950 --> 00:18:21,650 WILDMAN: It has a wide, bulky torso, 366 00:18:21,750 --> 00:18:24,850 a long, curved neck, and a small head. 367 00:18:24,960 --> 00:18:28,590 The silhouette is instantly recognizable. 368 00:18:28,690 --> 00:18:30,760 There on the screen was an image 369 00:18:30,860 --> 00:18:34,560 that resembled the famed Loch Ness Monster. 370 00:18:34,670 --> 00:18:37,300 Shine couldn't believe his eyes. 371 00:18:37,400 --> 00:18:40,970 WILDMAN: So, have they finally found the legendary beast? 372 00:18:44,980 --> 00:18:47,580 It's April 2016 -- Scotland. 373 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,350 Scientist Adrian Shine 374 00:18:49,450 --> 00:18:51,380 is using state-of-the-art drone technology 375 00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,950 to hunt the legendary Loch Ness Monster. 376 00:18:54,050 --> 00:18:56,890 And when he spots an unusual shape in the water, 377 00:18:56,990 --> 00:19:00,220 it looks like Shine may have finally found the elusive beast. 378 00:19:02,560 --> 00:19:05,730 Shine and his team are amazed by what they see. 379 00:19:05,830 --> 00:19:09,600 They found themselves staring at an image. 380 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:13,370 The image was the exact shape of the Loch Ness Monster. 381 00:19:13,470 --> 00:19:16,070 WILDMAN: But as the drone transmits more images, 382 00:19:16,170 --> 00:19:19,240 something becomes clear -- 383 00:19:19,340 --> 00:19:22,910 The object isn't moving. 384 00:19:23,010 --> 00:19:25,850 At first, Shine thinks the drone has detected 385 00:19:25,950 --> 00:19:28,350 the dead body of the Loch Ness Monster, 386 00:19:28,450 --> 00:19:30,850 but if it's really the creature's carcass, 387 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:34,020 how could it be so perfectly preserved? 388 00:19:34,130 --> 00:19:36,560 The answer surprises everyone. 389 00:19:38,930 --> 00:19:42,870 The good news is that Shine has found a sea monster, 390 00:19:42,970 --> 00:19:49,000 the bad news is it's in no way what the public expect. 391 00:19:49,110 --> 00:19:52,440 WILDMAN: The drone didn't detect a legendary beast, 392 00:19:52,540 --> 00:19:55,040 but a life-sized movie prop. 393 00:19:55,150 --> 00:19:56,550 In 1969, 394 00:19:56,650 --> 00:19:59,780 a film called "The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes" 395 00:19:59,880 --> 00:20:01,950 was shot on Loch Ness. 396 00:20:02,050 --> 00:20:03,490 Its plot centered around 397 00:20:03,590 --> 00:20:05,860 the famous fictional detective's search 398 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:08,160 for the elusive creature. 399 00:20:08,260 --> 00:20:11,630 And, in an age before digital special effects, 400 00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:14,560 the production crew made their own movie magic. 401 00:20:14,670 --> 00:20:18,270 HULLAND: They created a 30-foot-long monster prop 402 00:20:18,370 --> 00:20:20,840 in order to stand in for the Loch Ness Monster. 403 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:27,710 WILDMAN: But in the middle of production, there was a major snafu. 404 00:20:27,810 --> 00:20:30,150 The prop lost its buoyancy 405 00:20:30,250 --> 00:20:33,180 and sank into the loch on its debut. 406 00:20:33,280 --> 00:20:36,050 [ Water bubbling ] 407 00:20:36,150 --> 00:20:38,890 WILDMAN: Adrian Shine and his team 408 00:20:38,990 --> 00:20:41,690 have actually found the final resting place 409 00:20:41,790 --> 00:20:44,060 of this monster-sized movie prop. 410 00:20:44,160 --> 00:20:49,770 The realization marks the end of his quest to find Nessie. 411 00:20:49,870 --> 00:20:52,030 But many still hold onto the hope 412 00:20:52,140 --> 00:20:53,670 that this Scottish lake 413 00:20:53,770 --> 00:20:56,140 will one day reveal its mythical secret. 414 00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,980 The search for the real Nessie is far from over. 415 00:21:02,710 --> 00:21:04,450 WILDMAN: Today, this sonar system 416 00:21:04,550 --> 00:21:07,580 used by Adrian Shine on one of his expeditions 417 00:21:07,690 --> 00:21:11,220 is on display at the Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition. 418 00:21:11,320 --> 00:21:13,220 It recalls an epic quest 419 00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:16,260 and a discovery that was straight out of the movies. 420 00:21:18,830 --> 00:21:20,300 Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, 421 00:21:20,400 --> 00:21:23,330 was once home to a booming steel industry. 422 00:21:23,430 --> 00:21:27,370 Today, the town is better known for its thriving art scene. 423 00:21:27,470 --> 00:21:31,740 And at the heart of downtown is an iconic cultural landmark -- 424 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,880 the Colonial Theatre. 425 00:21:34,980 --> 00:21:40,180 Inside, visitors can examine a 35-millimeter film projector 426 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:41,720 or step onto the stage 427 00:21:41,820 --> 00:21:44,020 where the great Houdini once performed. 428 00:21:44,120 --> 00:21:46,360 ¶¶ 429 00:21:46,460 --> 00:21:48,220 But there is one item here 430 00:21:48,330 --> 00:21:52,360 that recalls this theater's most notorious claim to fame. 431 00:21:52,460 --> 00:21:56,700 It's about 3 feet by 5 feet with very lurid colors 432 00:21:56,800 --> 00:21:59,070 and very bold lettering. 433 00:21:59,170 --> 00:22:03,570 At the top are the words "Indescribable, indestructible." 434 00:22:03,670 --> 00:22:08,410 And then, you have this large, amorphous mass 435 00:22:08,510 --> 00:22:11,850 that has people screaming, panicking, hysterical. 436 00:22:11,950 --> 00:22:13,350 [ People screaming ] 437 00:22:13,450 --> 00:22:15,820 It's a very dramatic scene. 438 00:22:15,920 --> 00:22:20,360 WILDMAN: This is a poster for the classic sci-fi flick "The Blob." 439 00:22:20,460 --> 00:22:22,860 The inspiration for this bizarre "B" movie 440 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:25,130 is even stranger than fiction. 441 00:22:25,230 --> 00:22:27,960 KEELS: It's a story about this unknown thing 442 00:22:28,070 --> 00:22:32,640 that appeared out of nowhere and had a life of its own. 443 00:22:32,740 --> 00:22:37,470 ¶¶ 444 00:22:37,580 --> 00:22:41,340 WILDMAN: It's September 1950, Philadelphia. 445 00:22:41,450 --> 00:22:44,280 Police officers Joe Keenan and John Collins 446 00:22:44,380 --> 00:22:47,020 are making their evening rounds. 447 00:22:47,120 --> 00:22:50,220 At first, it seems like any other night. 448 00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:52,520 But suddenly, on a secluded street, 449 00:22:52,620 --> 00:22:54,690 they notice something peculiar. 450 00:22:56,660 --> 00:22:59,360 KEELS: They saw this object floating in midair. 451 00:22:59,460 --> 00:23:01,500 ¶¶ 452 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:05,970 It seemed to be about 6 feet in diameter. 453 00:23:06,070 --> 00:23:07,740 It was purple. 454 00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:09,810 And it was glowing. 455 00:23:09,910 --> 00:23:13,680 WILDMAN: The men watch in awe as the orb slowly descends 456 00:23:13,780 --> 00:23:16,910 into the abandoned field ahead of them. 457 00:23:17,010 --> 00:23:18,480 They didn't know what to believe. 458 00:23:18,580 --> 00:23:20,720 They were completely stunned. 459 00:23:20,820 --> 00:23:24,350 WILDMAN: The officers radio for backup. 460 00:23:24,460 --> 00:23:29,190 Slowly, they approach the bizarre mass. 461 00:23:29,290 --> 00:23:32,330 KEELS: It seemed to be some sort of large, jelly-like object. 462 00:23:32,430 --> 00:23:34,260 [ Buzzing ] 463 00:23:34,370 --> 00:23:37,600 They saw it quivering and pulsating. 464 00:23:37,700 --> 00:23:39,770 At this point, they were beginning to wonder 465 00:23:39,870 --> 00:23:43,270 if this thing had a life of its own. 466 00:23:43,370 --> 00:23:45,470 WILDMAN: The officers are so intrigued 467 00:23:45,580 --> 00:23:48,040 that one of them actually touches it. 468 00:23:51,020 --> 00:23:53,250 Officer Collins reached down 469 00:23:53,350 --> 00:23:56,620 and grabbed the edge of the mass. 470 00:23:56,720 --> 00:24:00,290 And surprisingly enough, this very solid-looking object... 471 00:24:03,230 --> 00:24:07,230 ...simply evaporated from his hand. 472 00:24:07,330 --> 00:24:09,800 It looked as though nothing had ever been there. 473 00:24:09,900 --> 00:24:15,270 ¶¶ 474 00:24:15,370 --> 00:24:18,140 WILDMAN: Back at base, the officers file a report, 475 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:22,310 and the story is then picked up by the Associated Press. 476 00:24:22,410 --> 00:24:27,050 Before long, public speculation runs wild. 477 00:24:27,150 --> 00:24:28,650 KEELS: People were fascinated. 478 00:24:28,750 --> 00:24:30,920 They were making all sorts of conjectures 479 00:24:31,020 --> 00:24:33,790 to try to explain it. 480 00:24:33,890 --> 00:24:36,530 WILDMAN: Some say there is a very simple explanation 481 00:24:36,630 --> 00:24:38,730 for what the officers witnessed... 482 00:24:38,830 --> 00:24:39,960 [ Frogs croaking ] 483 00:24:40,060 --> 00:24:42,130 ...frog spawn. 484 00:24:42,230 --> 00:24:44,030 When a frog is attacked by a predator, 485 00:24:44,140 --> 00:24:47,140 it will often lay thousands of unfertilized eggs 486 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,270 in one large, slimy mass. 487 00:24:50,370 --> 00:24:53,810 If this mass comes in contact with moist or damp ground, 488 00:24:53,910 --> 00:24:55,510 then it will swell up in size 489 00:24:55,610 --> 00:24:59,310 before collapsing into a dense, gelatinous goo. 490 00:24:59,420 --> 00:25:00,850 WILDMAN: But this hypothesis 491 00:25:00,950 --> 00:25:04,420 only explains part of what the officers saw. 492 00:25:04,520 --> 00:25:06,620 Frog spawn isn't bright purple, 493 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:08,390 and it usually doesn't glow. 494 00:25:08,490 --> 00:25:11,230 ¶¶ 495 00:25:11,330 --> 00:25:14,330 WILDMAN: Others have proposed that this phenomenon could have 496 00:25:14,430 --> 00:25:18,830 been caused by the activities of Philadelphia's many factories. 497 00:25:18,940 --> 00:25:20,870 KEELS: The area where the goo was discovered 498 00:25:20,970 --> 00:25:23,810 is one of the largest industrial districts 499 00:25:23,910 --> 00:25:26,340 in the entire northeastern United States. 500 00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:30,510 Some people have suggested that this may be industrial gasses 501 00:25:30,610 --> 00:25:32,010 that took a solid form 502 00:25:32,120 --> 00:25:35,150 to create this gelatinous mass 503 00:25:35,250 --> 00:25:38,290 which then fell from the sky. 504 00:25:38,390 --> 00:25:40,790 WILDMAN: But there is no known chemical reaction 505 00:25:40,890 --> 00:25:46,660 that could cause the industrial gasses to solidify in this way. 506 00:25:46,760 --> 00:25:50,670 With these theories discounted, the press and the public home in 507 00:25:50,770 --> 00:25:54,240 on the only viable explanation that's left. 508 00:25:54,340 --> 00:25:56,040 KEELS: People really began to wonder 509 00:25:56,140 --> 00:25:59,840 if they were dealing with something not of this earth. 510 00:26:06,980 --> 00:26:09,420 It's 1950 in Philadelphia. 511 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:10,990 A team of police officers 512 00:26:11,090 --> 00:26:14,820 has just witnessed an extraordinary sight -- 513 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,130 a mysterious purple mass flying through the sky 514 00:26:18,230 --> 00:26:20,760 directly over their heads. 515 00:26:22,500 --> 00:26:26,000 So what was this gelatinous, glowing globule? 516 00:26:26,100 --> 00:26:30,000 With all rational explanations discounted, 517 00:26:30,110 --> 00:26:34,040 investigators turn to the only theory that is left. 518 00:26:34,140 --> 00:26:36,680 The gelatinous purple blob 519 00:26:36,780 --> 00:26:41,680 was made of a legendary substance known as star jelly. 520 00:26:43,690 --> 00:26:47,390 Star jelly is a centuries-old folk belief 521 00:26:47,490 --> 00:26:51,230 that meteors, when they strike the earth, 522 00:26:51,330 --> 00:26:54,100 often carry with them this sort of weird jelly 523 00:26:54,200 --> 00:26:57,100 that is actually an alien life-form. 524 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,640 WILDMAN: Reports of this supposedly extraterrestrial material 525 00:27:00,740 --> 00:27:03,300 date back to the 13th century in Europe 526 00:27:03,410 --> 00:27:06,710 and have even cropped up as recently as 1994 527 00:27:06,810 --> 00:27:08,680 in Oakville, Washington. 528 00:27:08,780 --> 00:27:13,150 Ufologists argue that alien star jelly is the only theory 529 00:27:13,250 --> 00:27:18,320 that explains all the elements of the police officers' report. 530 00:27:18,420 --> 00:27:20,460 And although we can never know for sure 531 00:27:20,560 --> 00:27:22,460 what was behind the strange encounter, 532 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,790 the events of September 1950 533 00:27:24,890 --> 00:27:27,230 have left their mark on popular culture. 534 00:27:27,330 --> 00:27:30,800 ¶¶ 535 00:27:30,900 --> 00:27:33,200 Seven years after the infamous sighting, 536 00:27:33,300 --> 00:27:35,440 a Pennsylvania-based production company 537 00:27:35,540 --> 00:27:38,010 releases a science-fiction movie. 538 00:27:38,110 --> 00:27:42,610 Its title -- "The Blob." 539 00:27:42,710 --> 00:27:44,010 The film tells the story 540 00:27:44,110 --> 00:27:48,780 of a giant, glowing fiend that terrorizes Philadelphia. 541 00:27:48,890 --> 00:27:49,920 Dave. 542 00:27:50,020 --> 00:27:52,120 Dave, the theater! 543 00:27:52,220 --> 00:27:56,720 There is the classic scene of hundreds of terrified movie fans 544 00:27:56,830 --> 00:27:58,390 running out of the movie theater, 545 00:27:58,500 --> 00:28:01,930 trying to escape this giant, red goo. 546 00:28:04,500 --> 00:28:06,170 WILDMAN: This pivotal scene was shot 547 00:28:06,270 --> 00:28:08,800 in the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville. 548 00:28:11,710 --> 00:28:14,080 And today, this classic movie poster 549 00:28:14,180 --> 00:28:17,450 stands as a reminder of the mysterious purple goo 550 00:28:17,550 --> 00:28:20,250 that spawned a silver screen classic. 551 00:28:24,020 --> 00:28:25,350 The Jersey Shore. 552 00:28:25,460 --> 00:28:29,320 White sandy beaches, Victorian homes 553 00:28:29,430 --> 00:28:32,760 and cool sea breezes have made this coastal region 554 00:28:32,860 --> 00:28:36,530 a popular summer getaway for centuries. 555 00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:39,770 And in the quiet seaside community of Beach Haven 556 00:28:39,870 --> 00:28:43,000 is an institution that honors the area's history -- 557 00:28:43,110 --> 00:28:46,910 the New Jersey Maritime Museum. 558 00:28:47,010 --> 00:28:49,940 Among the items on display are a megaphone 559 00:28:50,050 --> 00:28:52,980 that belonged to a 19th-century sea captain, 560 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,920 a World War I naval diving suit 561 00:28:56,020 --> 00:29:00,320 and a lifesaver from the S.S. Morro shipwreck of 1930. 562 00:29:03,030 --> 00:29:04,760 But among these man-made objects 563 00:29:04,860 --> 00:29:08,400 is a chilling specimen from the animal kingdom. 564 00:29:08,500 --> 00:29:09,760 FESSLER: It's made of a combination 565 00:29:09,870 --> 00:29:13,800 of both cartilaginous material and bone. 566 00:29:13,900 --> 00:29:16,900 The artifact is lined both at the top 567 00:29:17,010 --> 00:29:20,510 and at the bottom with serrated, pointy, 568 00:29:20,610 --> 00:29:22,880 very functional teeth. 569 00:29:24,650 --> 00:29:27,850 WILDMAN: This striking set of jaws belonged to a creature 570 00:29:27,950 --> 00:29:31,290 that terrorized an unsuspecting public. 571 00:29:31,390 --> 00:29:35,290 Beach-goers were literally scared out of the water. 572 00:29:37,860 --> 00:29:39,990 WILDMAN: Summer 1916 -- 573 00:29:40,100 --> 00:29:44,430 the Jersey Shore's tourist season is busier than ever. 574 00:29:44,530 --> 00:29:47,070 A blistering heat wave has prompted thousands 575 00:29:47,170 --> 00:29:49,340 to visit this seaside escape. 576 00:29:49,440 --> 00:29:54,210 The New Jersey Shore became an area for recreation 577 00:29:54,310 --> 00:29:56,980 and relief from the heat 578 00:29:57,080 --> 00:29:59,980 and the oppression of city life. 579 00:30:02,490 --> 00:30:04,520 WILDMAN: But the peace of this summer getaway 580 00:30:04,620 --> 00:30:08,060 is about to be shattered. 581 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:10,190 In the early evening of July 1st, 582 00:30:10,290 --> 00:30:11,860 in the town of Beach Haven, 583 00:30:11,960 --> 00:30:14,230 a group of tourists notice a strange, 584 00:30:14,330 --> 00:30:17,300 dark mass moving just offshore. 585 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:21,070 People saw something in the distance on the surface. 586 00:30:21,170 --> 00:30:23,940 WILDMAN: As it draws nearer, onlookers realize that 587 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:27,980 it's the unmistakable shape of a shark. 588 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,350 Beach-goers watch in horror as the shark moves 589 00:30:32,450 --> 00:30:35,380 towards a young man swimming in shallow waters. 590 00:30:35,490 --> 00:30:39,150 People on the shore were yelling to warn him. 591 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:47,074 Do you want subtitles for any video? -=[ ai.OpenSubtitles.com ]=- 592 00:30:48,430 --> 00:30:52,000 WILDMAN: In a flash, the shark sinks its jaws into the man. 593 00:30:53,670 --> 00:30:56,700 Beach-goers watch helplessly as it thrashes the swimmer 594 00:30:56,810 --> 00:30:59,570 from side to side before swimming away. 595 00:31:03,110 --> 00:31:07,780 A lifeguard rushes to the man's aid and drags him to shore. 596 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:09,850 But it's too late. 597 00:31:09,950 --> 00:31:12,390 FESSLER: Unfortunately, the injury was so severe, 598 00:31:12,490 --> 00:31:15,520 he could not survive from the blood loss. 599 00:31:17,930 --> 00:31:21,460 WILDMAN: People up and down the Jersey Shore are stunned. 600 00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:23,630 It's the first confirmed shark attack 601 00:31:23,730 --> 00:31:24,900 in the region's history. 602 00:31:25,000 --> 00:31:27,940 There was a general feeling of shock. 603 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,440 No one had seen such a thing before. 604 00:31:30,540 --> 00:31:32,740 Nobody really knew what to think. 605 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:37,280 WILDMAN: Authorities try to assuage the public by 606 00:31:37,380 --> 00:31:41,350 saying that the tragedy is just a freak occurrence. 607 00:31:41,450 --> 00:31:42,680 But little do they know, 608 00:31:42,790 --> 00:31:46,020 the bloodshed has only just begun. 609 00:31:46,120 --> 00:31:49,060 Five days later, another swimmer is pulled underwater 610 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:51,360 by a shark and killed. 611 00:31:51,460 --> 00:31:53,330 By the time two weeks pass, 612 00:31:53,430 --> 00:31:55,460 three more people have been attacked. 613 00:31:55,570 --> 00:31:58,230 No one knows when the carnage will end. 614 00:31:58,330 --> 00:32:00,670 FESSLER: All of a sudden, people were afraid 615 00:32:00,770 --> 00:32:02,740 to go into the ocean. 616 00:32:06,780 --> 00:32:09,740 WILDMAN: The press latches on to a frightening theory. 617 00:32:09,850 --> 00:32:12,380 They report that the attacks have all been perpetrated 618 00:32:12,480 --> 00:32:13,910 by a rogue shark 619 00:32:14,020 --> 00:32:17,390 that's developed a taste for human flesh. 620 00:32:17,490 --> 00:32:19,720 They dub the killer beast 621 00:32:19,820 --> 00:32:22,720 the Man-eater. 622 00:32:22,830 --> 00:32:25,790 As the hysteria mounts, thousands of people abandon 623 00:32:25,900 --> 00:32:28,930 their vacations and flee the Jersey Shore. 624 00:32:29,030 --> 00:32:31,700 The local tourism industry faces ruin. 625 00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,070 FESSLER: The stakes were very high for the business owners 626 00:32:34,170 --> 00:32:35,540 on the New Jersey Shore. 627 00:32:35,640 --> 00:32:38,170 There was a real danger for the entire summer 628 00:32:38,270 --> 00:32:41,710 to be lost. 629 00:32:41,810 --> 00:32:44,080 WILDMAN: Desperate to salvage the summer season, 630 00:32:44,180 --> 00:32:46,750 the mayor offers a $2,000 reward 631 00:32:46,850 --> 00:32:50,520 for anyone who can capture the bloodthirsty beast. 632 00:32:50,620 --> 00:32:53,090 A massive shark hunt ensues. 633 00:32:53,190 --> 00:32:56,960 Droves of fishermen set out to capture the Man-eater. 634 00:32:57,060 --> 00:33:01,500 The general public basically declared war on the shark. 635 00:33:01,600 --> 00:33:03,160 Anybody who could carry a gun, 636 00:33:03,270 --> 00:33:05,900 a pitchfork, a shovel, a hammer, 637 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:10,270 a piece of dynamite was sent out to kill a shark. 638 00:33:10,370 --> 00:33:13,870 WILDMAN: So can this man-eating shark be stopped? 639 00:33:18,650 --> 00:33:20,350 It's 1916. 640 00:33:20,450 --> 00:33:22,080 The Jersey Shore. 641 00:33:22,180 --> 00:33:26,020 Throngs of fishermen are hunting a man-eating shark 642 00:33:26,120 --> 00:33:27,990 that has attacked five swimmers, 643 00:33:28,090 --> 00:33:29,990 killing four of them. 644 00:33:30,090 --> 00:33:33,830 So can the authorities hook this deadly catch? 645 00:33:35,670 --> 00:33:38,000 The hunt lasts for two days 646 00:33:38,100 --> 00:33:39,600 until a pair of fishermen catch 647 00:33:39,700 --> 00:33:42,500 and kill an 8-foot great white shark. 648 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:46,310 The animal is dissected, 649 00:33:46,410 --> 00:33:50,710 revealing the grisly evidence of its attacks. 650 00:33:50,810 --> 00:33:55,120 Human bones and decomposing flesh spill out of its stomach. 651 00:33:55,220 --> 00:33:58,720 Residents and tourists alike are horrified. 652 00:34:00,990 --> 00:34:03,960 But the horror soon turns to relief. 653 00:34:04,060 --> 00:34:06,290 No further attacks are reported anywhere 654 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:09,430 near the Jersey Shore. 655 00:34:09,530 --> 00:34:12,600 There was a sense of general relief 656 00:34:12,700 --> 00:34:15,500 that now everybody can go back to the beach again. 657 00:34:15,600 --> 00:34:17,240 WILDMAN: But one question remains -- 658 00:34:17,340 --> 00:34:21,380 What caused this shark to develop a taste for people? 659 00:34:24,050 --> 00:34:27,410 Some scientists theorize that the shark had been wounded, 660 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:31,590 causing it to become too weak to hunt its normal prey. 661 00:34:31,690 --> 00:34:34,590 So it turned to slow-moving humans for food. 662 00:34:34,690 --> 00:34:38,830 When a shark can't capture its normal prey item, 663 00:34:38,930 --> 00:34:40,160 the animal will resort 664 00:34:40,260 --> 00:34:42,830 to whatever it can catch at the time. 665 00:34:44,830 --> 00:34:46,800 WILDMAN: The two weeks of terror 666 00:34:46,900 --> 00:34:49,800 that gripped the Jersey Shore are never forgotten. 667 00:34:49,910 --> 00:34:51,270 Not only are they considered 668 00:34:51,370 --> 00:34:53,270 to be the worst spate of shark attacks 669 00:34:53,380 --> 00:34:54,510 in American history, 670 00:34:54,610 --> 00:34:57,480 but they forever cement the perception of sharks 671 00:34:57,580 --> 00:34:59,680 as potential man-eaters. 672 00:34:59,780 --> 00:35:02,050 In a matter of 12 days, 673 00:35:02,150 --> 00:35:04,650 it just completely changed 674 00:35:04,750 --> 00:35:06,950 the public perception of the shark. 675 00:35:09,090 --> 00:35:11,060 WILDMAN: The events go on to inspire 676 00:35:11,160 --> 00:35:15,560 Peter Benchley's best-selling, 1974 novel about a rogue, 677 00:35:15,660 --> 00:35:19,370 man-eating great white, "Jaws." 678 00:35:19,470 --> 00:35:21,000 FESSLER: It became the impetus 679 00:35:21,100 --> 00:35:22,900 for the subsequent blockbuster movie, 680 00:35:23,010 --> 00:35:24,610 which is still rated 681 00:35:24,710 --> 00:35:28,540 as the number-one horror movie of all time. 682 00:35:29,810 --> 00:35:32,410 WILDMAN: Today, these shark jaws are on display 683 00:35:32,520 --> 00:35:35,080 at the New Jersey Maritime Museum. 684 00:35:35,180 --> 00:35:37,280 They recall the terrifying summer 685 00:35:37,390 --> 00:35:40,150 when it wasn't safe to go into the water. 686 00:35:43,460 --> 00:35:46,190 On the northern tip of the Hawaiian archipelago 687 00:35:46,300 --> 00:35:49,200 is the spectacular island of Kaua'i. 688 00:35:49,300 --> 00:35:53,070 Visitors can explore this remote location by kayak, 689 00:35:53,170 --> 00:35:56,970 take to the air for a helicopter tour of its lush forests, 690 00:35:57,070 --> 00:36:03,210 or relax anywhere along its 111 miles of pristine coastline. 691 00:36:03,310 --> 00:36:05,450 Although known for its natural beauty, 692 00:36:05,550 --> 00:36:07,880 one island institution celebrates 693 00:36:07,980 --> 00:36:10,180 all elements of Hawaiian culture -- 694 00:36:10,290 --> 00:36:13,790 the Kaua'i Museum. 695 00:36:13,890 --> 00:36:15,760 Established in 1960, 696 00:36:15,860 --> 00:36:17,990 the museum houses precious items 697 00:36:18,090 --> 00:36:21,700 that are a fundamental part of Hawaiian history -- 698 00:36:21,800 --> 00:36:25,570 an early canoe used for travel between the islands, 699 00:36:25,670 --> 00:36:29,200 rare shell necklaces made by native inhabitants, 700 00:36:29,310 --> 00:36:34,410 and a feathered lei that belonged to Hawaiian royalty. 701 00:36:34,510 --> 00:36:38,210 But one object hints at a very different heritage, 702 00:36:38,310 --> 00:36:40,610 one that is shrouded in secrecy. 703 00:36:40,720 --> 00:36:44,690 This artifact is approximately 8 inches high, 704 00:36:44,790 --> 00:36:46,920 4 inches in diameter. 705 00:36:47,020 --> 00:36:50,690 It's dense, but very porous. 706 00:36:50,790 --> 00:36:53,560 WILDMAN: This sculpture is at the heart of an extraordinary tale 707 00:36:53,660 --> 00:36:58,030 of an enigmatic race of people that few believed were real. 708 00:36:58,130 --> 00:37:00,770 This stone artifact is connected 709 00:37:00,870 --> 00:37:05,110 to one of the biggest mysteries of the Pacific islands. 710 00:37:05,210 --> 00:37:08,840 ¶¶ 711 00:37:08,940 --> 00:37:10,010 WILDMAN: Hawaii. 712 00:37:10,110 --> 00:37:12,150 Traditional Hawaiian history asserts 713 00:37:12,250 --> 00:37:14,750 that Tahitian settlers arrived on the islands 714 00:37:14,850 --> 00:37:16,980 around 1300 A.D. 715 00:37:17,090 --> 00:37:18,990 CHOCK: For a long time, it was believed 716 00:37:19,090 --> 00:37:23,790 that the Tahitians were the first people. 717 00:37:23,890 --> 00:37:26,130 WILDMAN: But evidence found on the island of Kaua'i 718 00:37:26,230 --> 00:37:29,860 suggests that someone got there first. 719 00:37:29,970 --> 00:37:33,470 A bizarre stone structure called the Menehune Ditch, 720 00:37:33,570 --> 00:37:35,970 believed to be an ancient irrigation system, 721 00:37:36,070 --> 00:37:37,200 can be dated to a time 722 00:37:37,310 --> 00:37:40,340 before the supposed arrival of the Tahitians. 723 00:37:40,440 --> 00:37:43,810 The opening is about 2 feet by 3 feet in diameter. 724 00:37:43,910 --> 00:37:48,520 Curiosity sets in. Who built that cave? 725 00:37:48,620 --> 00:37:51,120 WILDMAN: According to legend, the ditch is the handiwork 726 00:37:51,220 --> 00:37:55,090 of a long-lost dwarf-like people called the Menehune. 727 00:37:55,190 --> 00:37:59,830 They were little leprechauns that did everything at night, 728 00:37:59,930 --> 00:38:03,900 from fishing to hunting to building their rock walls, 729 00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:06,370 which is what they're known for. 730 00:38:06,470 --> 00:38:08,600 WILDMAN: The stonework is highly refined 731 00:38:08,700 --> 00:38:11,610 and unlike anything else found in Hawaii, 732 00:38:11,710 --> 00:38:13,140 but apart from the legends 733 00:38:13,240 --> 00:38:15,210 and this ancient stone structure, 734 00:38:15,310 --> 00:38:16,880 there is no other proof 735 00:38:16,980 --> 00:38:20,350 that this fabled race of little people even existed. 736 00:38:20,450 --> 00:38:23,320 Are these real leprechauns? 737 00:38:23,420 --> 00:38:25,220 Are these real people? 738 00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:27,690 WILDMAN: To many historians and anthropologists, 739 00:38:27,790 --> 00:38:30,520 the Menehune are nothing but a myth. 740 00:38:30,630 --> 00:38:32,830 So what's the truth behind these tales 741 00:38:32,930 --> 00:38:36,360 of the tiny island dwellers? 742 00:38:36,470 --> 00:38:40,600 In 1974, an author and historian named Edward Joesting 743 00:38:40,700 --> 00:38:42,370 is determined to find out. 744 00:38:42,470 --> 00:38:46,610 Edward Joesting was a very successful American businessman 745 00:38:46,710 --> 00:38:48,410 living in Hawaii. 746 00:38:48,510 --> 00:38:50,910 WILDMAN: After 20 years in the corporate world, 747 00:38:51,010 --> 00:38:54,350 Joesting develops a keen interest in local history, 748 00:38:54,450 --> 00:38:58,320 and decides to write a book about Kaua'i. 749 00:38:58,420 --> 00:39:02,790 He turns his attention to the stories of the Menehune. 750 00:39:02,890 --> 00:39:05,090 If he could prove that they were real, 751 00:39:05,190 --> 00:39:08,560 it would be a groundbreaking discovery. 752 00:39:08,660 --> 00:39:12,400 WILDMAN: So can Joesting be the one to verify their existence 753 00:39:12,500 --> 00:39:14,740 once and for all? 754 00:39:18,340 --> 00:39:20,440 For years, historians have believed 755 00:39:20,540 --> 00:39:23,210 that the Hawaiian islands were first populated 756 00:39:23,310 --> 00:39:26,350 by seafarers who voyaged from the Tahitian Islands 757 00:39:26,450 --> 00:39:28,020 in the 14th Century. 758 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:31,390 But local legends tell a very different story -- 759 00:39:31,490 --> 00:39:32,820 that the first inhabitants 760 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:35,620 were actually tiny, Hobbit-like people 761 00:39:35,730 --> 00:39:37,490 known as the Menehune. 762 00:39:37,590 --> 00:39:43,000 So is there any truth behind these mysterious myths? 763 00:39:43,100 --> 00:39:44,970 An historian named Edward Joesting 764 00:39:45,070 --> 00:39:47,670 uncovers a number of promising clues 765 00:39:47,770 --> 00:39:52,010 that suggest the Menehune actually existed. 766 00:39:52,110 --> 00:39:54,680 He locates an account from the 1940s 767 00:39:54,780 --> 00:39:56,740 in which a teacher and some school children 768 00:39:56,850 --> 00:40:00,050 saw a group of hairy, dwarf-like creatures 769 00:40:00,150 --> 00:40:02,520 hiding in trees. 770 00:40:02,620 --> 00:40:07,890 He also finds an 1820 census that lists people as Menehune. 771 00:40:07,990 --> 00:40:11,230 Joesting discovers that there are two families 772 00:40:11,330 --> 00:40:15,700 that claim to be descendents of the Menehune. 773 00:40:15,800 --> 00:40:17,370 WILDMAN: But the real clue comes 774 00:40:17,470 --> 00:40:18,930 when his research brings to light 775 00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:21,970 a set of ancient mortar-and-pestle-like tools, 776 00:40:22,070 --> 00:40:23,700 used for grinding food, 777 00:40:23,810 --> 00:40:26,470 that are found almost exclusively on Kaua'i 778 00:40:26,580 --> 00:40:29,210 and on no other Hawaiian islands. 779 00:40:29,310 --> 00:40:31,210 Yet similar grinders have been discovered 780 00:40:31,310 --> 00:40:33,050 on other Pacific islands 781 00:40:33,150 --> 00:40:36,820 and are known to date back as far as 600 A.D. 782 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:39,890 The carvings and tools could actually represent 783 00:40:39,990 --> 00:40:41,820 a people living in Kaua'i 784 00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:45,260 that predate the Tahitians' arrival. 785 00:40:45,360 --> 00:40:46,290 For a long time, 786 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:48,300 it was believed that the Tahitians 787 00:40:48,400 --> 00:40:50,060 were the first in Hawaii, 788 00:40:50,170 --> 00:40:52,200 but now we have evidence 789 00:40:52,300 --> 00:40:55,170 that there was a whole nother civilization, 790 00:40:55,270 --> 00:40:56,540 and they were the Menehune. 791 00:40:56,640 --> 00:40:57,840 They were here first. 792 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:01,810 WILDMAN: With his new understanding, 793 00:41:01,910 --> 00:41:06,210 Joesting publishes a book called "Kauai: The Separate Kingdom." 794 00:41:06,320 --> 00:41:10,620 Now it is believed that the Menehune were not a myth, 795 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:14,690 but the first race of people in Hawaii. 796 00:41:14,790 --> 00:41:16,720 WILDMAN: And it turns out 797 00:41:16,830 --> 00:41:19,930 that reports of their allegedly diminutive stature 798 00:41:20,030 --> 00:41:22,760 were simply the result of a misunderstanding. 799 00:41:22,870 --> 00:41:25,370 The word "Menehune" was first translated 800 00:41:25,470 --> 00:41:28,670 by early Westerners to mean "short." 801 00:41:28,770 --> 00:41:30,340 But its original Tahitian meaning 802 00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:34,410 is "low in social standing." 803 00:41:34,510 --> 00:41:36,480 Today, this ancient stone figure 804 00:41:36,580 --> 00:41:39,110 on display at the Kaua'i Museum 805 00:41:39,220 --> 00:41:42,350 is a small reminder of a mythical civilization 806 00:41:42,450 --> 00:41:44,320 that turned out to be real. 807 00:41:46,320 --> 00:41:48,920 From alligators in the sewer 808 00:41:49,030 --> 00:41:51,460 to the Loch Ness Monster. 809 00:41:51,560 --> 00:41:53,860 An extraterrestrial blob 810 00:41:53,960 --> 00:41:56,500 to a killer shark. 811 00:41:56,600 --> 00:41:59,630 I'm Don Wildman, and these are the mysteries at the museum. 811 00:42:00,305 --> 00:43:00,912 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm