"Mysteries at the Museum" Record Breakers: Special

1 00:00:02,020 --> 00:00:04,720 A daredevil stunt like no other. 2 00:00:04,820 --> 00:00:08,430 Evel Knievel always said, "Some people come to see me live, 3 00:00:08,530 --> 00:00:11,030 and others come to see me die." 4 00:00:11,130 --> 00:00:13,160 A real-life Batman. 5 00:00:13,270 --> 00:00:15,900 MAN: He's a guy that really puts it all on the line. 6 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:18,740 The things that he did were beyond dangerous. 7 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:21,940 And an incredible race beyond the stars. 8 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:25,540 WOMAN: All of the odds were pretty much 9 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:27,610 stacked against her. 10 00:00:27,710 --> 00:00:31,520 These are the mysteries at the museum. 11 00:00:37,820 --> 00:00:39,720 Topeka, Kansas. 12 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:42,630 This state capital gets its name from a Native American word 13 00:00:42,730 --> 00:00:45,630 meaning "a good place to dig potatoes." 14 00:00:45,730 --> 00:00:49,100 In the years before the area was settled by pioneers, 15 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:52,270 the local tribes would ride their horses along 16 00:00:52,370 --> 00:00:54,870 the Kansas River, collecting the tasty tubers, 17 00:00:54,970 --> 00:00:58,580 But it's a more recent rider who's celebrated here 18 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:01,410 at the Evel Knievel Museum. 19 00:01:05,580 --> 00:01:08,520 This institution is part of a vast collection 20 00:01:08,620 --> 00:01:12,690 of pristine motorcycles spanning all decades. 21 00:01:16,860 --> 00:01:18,930 But the artifact that best evokes 22 00:01:19,030 --> 00:01:22,730 the legendary stuntman isn't a motorcycle. 23 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,040 MAURETTE: It's 6 feet tall and about 2 1/2 feet wide. 24 00:01:27,140 --> 00:01:29,940 It's made of white leather. 25 00:01:30,040 --> 00:01:34,380 It is very retro, flashy, '70s, all rolled into one. 26 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,910 It's "The Six Million Dollar Man" 27 00:01:37,020 --> 00:01:38,920 meets "Captain America." 28 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,090 WILDMAN: This spectacular suit tells an incredible tale 29 00:01:45,190 --> 00:01:48,630 of a man who risked everything to be a star. 30 00:01:48,730 --> 00:01:51,260 This is a story about passion, vision, 31 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,830 determination, and living the American dream. 32 00:01:59,270 --> 00:02:03,240 WILDMAN: September 8, 1974, Twin Falls, Idaho, 33 00:02:03,340 --> 00:02:05,240 a vast throng of spectators 34 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:07,680 has gathered to witness the latest stunt 35 00:02:07,780 --> 00:02:10,410 from the world's most famous daredevil, 36 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:11,780 Evel Knievel. 37 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,220 Evel Knievel embodied the American dream. 38 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,720 He was basically a superhero. 39 00:02:20,830 --> 00:02:22,360 WILDMAN: For almost a decade, 40 00:02:22,460 --> 00:02:25,260 the Montana native has made his name performing 41 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,770 nail-biting feats of derring-do. 42 00:02:28,870 --> 00:02:31,500 MAURETTE: He's ridden through rings of fire, 43 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:33,970 jumped over buses, jumped over sharks, 44 00:02:34,070 --> 00:02:37,370 jumped over fountains and has broken almost 45 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,740 every single bone in his body. 46 00:02:43,050 --> 00:02:45,520 WILDMAN: His outlandish efforts have earned him 47 00:02:45,620 --> 00:02:47,880 fame and fortune across the globe. 48 00:02:50,260 --> 00:02:53,390 WILDMAN: Now, he's about to take on his biggest challenge yet, 49 00:02:53,490 --> 00:02:58,030 an epic stunt that will earn him a whopping $6 million. 50 00:02:58,130 --> 00:03:00,930 Everybody wanted to see what he did next. 51 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:06,270 WILDMAN: In Twin Falls, Idaho, Evel Knievel will attempt 52 00:03:06,370 --> 00:03:09,810 to jump a ravine called Snake River Canyon. 53 00:03:09,910 --> 00:03:14,010 It's 1,600 feet wide and 500 feet deep. 54 00:03:14,110 --> 00:03:19,220 This, by far, was his most dangerous stunt yet. 55 00:03:21,190 --> 00:03:22,790 WILDMAN: Unlike his previous stunts, 56 00:03:22,890 --> 00:03:25,220 Knievel won't be riding a motorcycle. 57 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,790 For this one, he'll be strapped into a rocket 58 00:03:27,890 --> 00:03:31,800 specially designed to be powered by steam. 59 00:03:31,900 --> 00:03:33,830 The engine will heat the steam 60 00:03:33,930 --> 00:03:37,130 to more than 450 degrees Celsius, 61 00:03:37,240 --> 00:03:41,200 propelling the rocket clear over the canyon. 62 00:03:41,310 --> 00:03:45,010 Then, a parachute will release from the back of the rocket, 63 00:03:45,110 --> 00:03:48,910 delivering it and Knievel safely to the ground. 64 00:03:49,010 --> 00:03:51,180 But the feat is fraught with danger. 65 00:03:53,390 --> 00:03:57,550 The rocket was designed to go zero to 400 miles per hour 66 00:03:57,660 --> 00:04:00,160 in less than five seconds. 67 00:04:00,260 --> 00:04:01,860 That's an incredible strain on the body. 68 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,660 He easily could've blacked out. 69 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:06,660 WILDMAN: And if anything should go wrong, 70 00:04:06,770 --> 00:04:10,130 it's a 500-foot drop into the canyon. 71 00:04:12,940 --> 00:04:15,040 On the afternoon of September 8th, 72 00:04:15,140 --> 00:04:18,410 Evel Knievel is strapped into the rocket. 73 00:04:18,510 --> 00:04:21,080 With an assembled crowd buzzing with excitement, 74 00:04:21,180 --> 00:04:24,250 the bold adventurer braces for takeoff. 75 00:04:24,350 --> 00:04:29,320 Every last detail had been considered, planned, and tested. 76 00:04:29,420 --> 00:04:32,090 But the risk was enormous. 77 00:04:32,190 --> 00:04:34,220 WILDMAN: The rocket blasts into the air, 78 00:04:34,330 --> 00:04:37,730 leaving behind a trail of superheated steam. 79 00:04:37,830 --> 00:04:39,930 MAURETTE: The launch went off without a hitch. 80 00:04:40,030 --> 00:04:42,300 The rocket was on its perfect trajectory 81 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,830 to go over the canyon. 82 00:04:44,940 --> 00:04:47,200 WILDMAN: But then, midway through its flight, 83 00:04:47,310 --> 00:04:49,970 things take a sudden turn for the worse. 84 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,480 The projectile lurches downward. 85 00:04:52,580 --> 00:04:55,180 MAURETTE: All of a sudden, there's this enormous drag. 86 00:04:55,280 --> 00:04:57,410 And the rocket tilts forward. 87 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,550 Evel realizes there's something wrong. 88 00:05:00,650 --> 00:05:03,090 WILDMAN: The parachute has deployed early. 89 00:05:03,190 --> 00:05:05,520 Evel and his rocket are falling straight towards 90 00:05:05,620 --> 00:05:08,090 the roiling waters of the Snake River. 91 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,830 MAURETTE: There was nothing he could do about it. 92 00:05:11,930 --> 00:05:13,660 He was strapped in. 93 00:05:13,770 --> 00:05:16,970 If Evel landed in the water, he could drown. 94 00:05:17,070 --> 00:05:21,140 ¶ 95 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,740 WILDMAN: Evel braces himself for impact, but against all odds, 96 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:26,740 the rocket gently comes to rest 97 00:05:26,850 --> 00:05:28,310 at the bottom of the canyon. 98 00:05:28,410 --> 00:05:32,120 MAURETTE: He must have felt lucky, invincible. 99 00:05:32,220 --> 00:05:36,120 Evel had defied death one more time. 100 00:05:36,220 --> 00:05:37,950 WILDMAN: He walks away with nothing more 101 00:05:38,060 --> 00:05:41,460 than a few cuts and bruises and a sorely damaged ego. 102 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:44,730 MAURETTE: He put every single thing 103 00:05:44,830 --> 00:05:46,960 that he had into this jump, 104 00:05:47,070 --> 00:05:48,670 eight years of his life, 105 00:05:48,770 --> 00:05:52,640 his own time, his money, his passion. 106 00:05:54,710 --> 00:05:57,310 WILDMAN: Evel Knievel never attempts the stunt again, 107 00:05:57,410 --> 00:05:58,610 and for the rest of his life, 108 00:05:58,710 --> 00:06:02,350 is haunted by his failure at Snake River Canyon. 109 00:06:02,450 --> 00:06:05,250 But, in 2016, inspired by Knievel, 110 00:06:05,350 --> 00:06:07,920 a Hollywood stuntman named Eddie Braun 111 00:06:08,020 --> 00:06:11,620 aims to recreate the spectacle. 112 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,760 He commissions a replica rocket named in his hero's honor -- 113 00:06:15,860 --> 00:06:17,630 Evel Spirit. 114 00:06:17,730 --> 00:06:21,330 And this time, the attempt is a success. 115 00:06:21,430 --> 00:06:25,140 Eddie Braun has completed what Evel Knievel had started 116 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:26,870 more than 40 years earlier. 117 00:06:26,970 --> 00:06:29,870 Evel Knievel was a one-of-a-kind, 118 00:06:29,980 --> 00:06:32,110 death-defying adventurer 119 00:06:32,210 --> 00:06:35,450 that challenged what people thought was possible. 120 00:06:38,250 --> 00:06:40,620 WILDMAN: And today, at the Evel Knievel Museum 121 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,090 in Topeka, Kansas, the famous stuntman's jumpsuit 122 00:06:44,190 --> 00:06:46,190 recalls an American icon 123 00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:49,930 who took his daredevil spirit a leap too far. 124 00:06:54,070 --> 00:06:55,400 The people of Michigan 125 00:06:55,500 --> 00:06:57,370 are so proud of the accomplishments 126 00:06:57,470 --> 00:06:59,240 of their fellow citizens 127 00:06:59,340 --> 00:07:01,100 that they created their own version 128 00:07:01,210 --> 00:07:03,540 of the Hollywood-style Walk of Fame 129 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,110 in the state capital of Lansing. 130 00:07:06,210 --> 00:07:08,950 Made up of 23 bronze plaques, 131 00:07:09,050 --> 00:07:11,980 it honors such famous Michiganders 132 00:07:12,080 --> 00:07:13,780 as Stevie Wonder, 133 00:07:13,890 --> 00:07:17,520 Jeff Daniels and Thomas Edison. 134 00:07:17,620 --> 00:07:19,560 And those looking to dig deeper can 135 00:07:19,660 --> 00:07:21,290 find out more about the history 136 00:07:21,390 --> 00:07:24,560 of the Mitten State at the Michigan History Center. 137 00:07:27,530 --> 00:07:30,100 Here, visitors can find a boat 138 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,340 from the 1930s used for trout fishing, 139 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,640 a re-creation of a mid-20th-century kitchen 140 00:07:36,740 --> 00:07:40,210 and a nose of a World War II B-24 bomber. 141 00:07:43,450 --> 00:07:46,650 But there's one off-beat item on display that looks like it 142 00:07:46,750 --> 00:07:48,280 belongs not in a museum, 143 00:07:48,390 --> 00:07:50,390 but in a Halloween shop. 144 00:07:50,490 --> 00:07:51,820 The artifact is approximately 145 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:55,660 24 inches high and 56 inches wide. 146 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,090 It is made of yards of webbed canvas 147 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,600 attached to steel tubing and leather straps. 148 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:03,130 It is yellowed with age 149 00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:05,640 and shows signs of wear and tear. 150 00:08:08,010 --> 00:08:09,440 WILDMAN: These home-made wings were worn 151 00:08:09,540 --> 00:08:11,210 by an indomitable daredevil, 152 00:08:11,310 --> 00:08:15,410 who took a gravity-defying leap into the unknown. 153 00:08:15,510 --> 00:08:18,550 This is a story about a man who was determined to fly, 154 00:08:18,650 --> 00:08:21,150 no matter the risks. 155 00:08:24,990 --> 00:08:28,220 WILDMAN: It's 1932 in Lansing, Michigan. 156 00:08:28,330 --> 00:08:33,000 21-year-old Clem Sohn is an experienced parachutist. 157 00:08:33,100 --> 00:08:35,430 For two years, he's been jumping out of airplanes 158 00:08:35,530 --> 00:08:38,570 as part of a traveling air show. 159 00:08:38,670 --> 00:08:41,000 CHURTON: He's a guy that really puts it all on the line. 160 00:08:41,110 --> 00:08:43,840 The things that he did were beyond dangerous. 161 00:08:43,940 --> 00:08:45,380 WILDMAN: But for Sohn, 162 00:08:45,480 --> 00:08:48,010 the thrill of skydiving isn't enough. 163 00:08:48,110 --> 00:08:52,550 He longs to soar through the air just like a bird. 164 00:08:55,420 --> 00:08:57,690 CHURTON: Many people have looked up and seen a bird 165 00:08:57,790 --> 00:09:00,060 and been like, "Wow. I wish I could fly like that." 166 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,430 But for Sohn, it was something deep in him, in his soul. 167 00:09:03,530 --> 00:09:05,630 He needed to go after it. 168 00:09:05,730 --> 00:09:09,330 WILDMAN: Sohn thinks there's one way he can reach his goal -- 169 00:09:09,430 --> 00:09:13,000 design and build a flying suit with wings. 170 00:09:15,810 --> 00:09:18,440 Sohn studies the anatomy of winged mammals 171 00:09:18,540 --> 00:09:23,150 and finds the perfect source of inspiration -- the bat. 172 00:09:26,580 --> 00:09:29,950 Using the structure of bat wings as the basis for his design, 173 00:09:30,060 --> 00:09:34,290 Sohn assembles steel tubes to form a skeleton for the wings. 174 00:09:34,390 --> 00:09:37,460 Then, he stretches heavy-duty canvas over the frame 175 00:09:37,560 --> 00:09:41,030 and fastens it to the arms of his jumpsuit. 176 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:44,100 CHURTON: It's pretty incredible. 177 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:47,400 It was a full-piece suit with wings on the sides 178 00:09:47,510 --> 00:09:49,740 and a fin that was fastened between his legs. 179 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:51,870 It's pretty unbelievable that someone could conceive 180 00:09:51,980 --> 00:09:54,010 of this and put it together. 181 00:09:56,550 --> 00:09:58,110 WILDMAN: Sohn plans to don his suit 182 00:09:58,220 --> 00:10:00,780 and then jump out of the aircraft. 183 00:10:00,890 --> 00:10:03,550 He hopes that the webbing will create enough air resistance 184 00:10:03,660 --> 00:10:06,890 to allow him to glide horizontally through the air 185 00:10:06,990 --> 00:10:09,090 and even create lift. 186 00:10:09,190 --> 00:10:10,730 He believes the suit will allow him 187 00:10:10,830 --> 00:10:12,260 to fly for a short time 188 00:10:12,360 --> 00:10:14,600 before his momentum gives out. 189 00:10:14,700 --> 00:10:16,870 Once it does, he'll pull the rip cord 190 00:10:16,970 --> 00:10:19,940 on a parachute and float safely to the ground. 191 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:22,170 CHURTON: No one has attempted a jump like this. 192 00:10:22,270 --> 00:10:24,840 And that is definitely borderline crazy. 193 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:34,920 WILDMAN: In 1935, Sohn arrives at an airfield in Miami 194 00:10:35,020 --> 00:10:38,290 to find an enormous crowd cheering him on, 195 00:10:38,390 --> 00:10:41,790 excited to witness his death-defying stunt. 196 00:10:41,890 --> 00:10:44,130 CHURTON: This would be the riskiest jump of his life 197 00:10:44,230 --> 00:10:45,430 in front of all these people. 198 00:10:45,530 --> 00:10:49,030 WILDMAN: He boards a plane and ascends into the sky. 199 00:10:49,130 --> 00:10:51,370 Sohn's one goal was to fly. 200 00:10:51,470 --> 00:10:54,470 He wanted to soar like a bird since he was a child. 201 00:10:54,570 --> 00:10:56,810 And now he was about to take his shot 202 00:10:56,910 --> 00:11:00,440 to achieve his dream. 203 00:11:00,550 --> 00:11:02,910 WILDMAN: When the plane reaches 12,000 feet, 204 00:11:03,010 --> 00:11:06,450 Sohn steps out onto the wing 205 00:11:06,550 --> 00:11:10,590 and jumps head first into the open air. 206 00:11:10,690 --> 00:11:12,960 CHURTON: If he succeeds, he makes history. 207 00:11:13,060 --> 00:11:15,790 But if he fails, he dies. 208 00:11:15,890 --> 00:11:19,360 WILDMAN: So will Sohn's groundbreaking suit take flight? 209 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:27,074 210 00:11:28,070 --> 00:11:29,810 It's 1935. 211 00:11:29,910 --> 00:11:32,980 Stunt parachutist Clem Sohn is determined 212 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,080 to take his aeronautical abilities to new heights. 213 00:11:36,180 --> 00:11:38,650 So he's designed a special winged suit 214 00:11:38,750 --> 00:11:42,590 that will enable him to actually fly. 215 00:11:42,690 --> 00:11:46,320 So will this winged daredevil soar like a bird? 216 00:11:48,930 --> 00:11:51,660 2 miles below, the crowd holds their breath 217 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,300 as they see Sohn free-fall through the sky. 218 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:56,630 The anxious spectators beneath watch 219 00:11:56,730 --> 00:11:58,770 to catch a glimpse of him. 220 00:11:58,870 --> 00:12:02,170 WILDMAN: Then, they witness something incredible. 221 00:12:02,270 --> 00:12:04,540 He opens up his arms. 222 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,780 And suddenly, he's no longer falling. 223 00:12:17,190 --> 00:12:22,530 He produces lift and he's able to now travel over and not down. 224 00:12:22,630 --> 00:12:24,860 He was doing turns and loops and flips 225 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:28,230 and just moving in a way that no one had ever seen before. 226 00:12:28,330 --> 00:12:30,270 And with thousands of spectators below, 227 00:12:30,370 --> 00:12:32,370 looking up, on this grand stage, 228 00:12:32,470 --> 00:12:35,040 he was able to do what he wanted to do. 229 00:12:35,140 --> 00:12:36,370 He flew. 230 00:12:39,210 --> 00:12:41,910 WILDMAN: Finally, Sohn pulls his parachute cord 231 00:12:42,010 --> 00:12:45,280 and safely glides to the ground. 232 00:12:45,380 --> 00:12:47,050 When he landed, he must have been elated. 233 00:12:47,150 --> 00:12:51,550 He was the first one to succeed using a wing suit to fly. 234 00:12:54,130 --> 00:12:56,430 WILDMAN: Sohn's death-defying feat makes headlines 235 00:12:56,530 --> 00:12:58,630 across the country. 236 00:12:58,730 --> 00:13:00,860 And he earns himself a fitting nickname, 237 00:13:00,970 --> 00:13:02,670 "The Bat Man." 238 00:13:02,770 --> 00:13:04,130 Over the next year and a half, 239 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:05,600 Sohn performs in front 240 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:07,900 of sell-out crowds around the world. 241 00:13:08,010 --> 00:13:09,910 For Sohn, being in the sky 242 00:13:10,010 --> 00:13:11,840 was something that was as comfortable as being 243 00:13:11,940 --> 00:13:13,680 in his grandmother's kitchen. 244 00:13:16,350 --> 00:13:18,610 WILDMAN: Today, this set of Sohn's original wings 245 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,350 is on display at the Michigan History Center. 246 00:13:21,450 --> 00:13:23,820 It's a reminder of a high-flying daredevil 247 00:13:23,920 --> 00:13:26,160 who became a real Batman. 248 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:34,630 WILDMAN: New York boasts more skyscrapers 249 00:13:34,730 --> 00:13:36,570 than any other city in the nation. 250 00:13:36,670 --> 00:13:38,970 So it's no surprise that it's home 251 00:13:39,070 --> 00:13:41,000 to a unique institution 252 00:13:41,110 --> 00:13:43,840 dedicated to these soaring structures, 253 00:13:43,940 --> 00:13:45,940 the Skyscraper Museum. 254 00:13:47,310 --> 00:13:50,110 Visitors can enjoy an array of scale models 255 00:13:50,210 --> 00:13:52,450 of some of the Big Apple's tallest buildings, 256 00:13:52,550 --> 00:13:53,950 past and present. 257 00:13:54,050 --> 00:13:56,520 But one extraordinary exhibit salutes 258 00:13:56,620 --> 00:13:57,920 what is perhaps the city's 259 00:13:58,020 --> 00:14:02,390 most iconic architectural achievement. 260 00:14:02,490 --> 00:14:06,430 It's about 40 inches tall by 8 inches wide, 261 00:14:06,530 --> 00:14:08,000 made of plywood 262 00:14:08,100 --> 00:14:11,030 that's painted silver and black. 263 00:14:11,140 --> 00:14:15,040 It's these two tall nearly identical-looking rectangles. 264 00:14:17,540 --> 00:14:20,210 WILDMAN: The Twin Towers will forever honor the men 265 00:14:20,310 --> 00:14:23,280 and women who lost their lives on 9/11. 266 00:14:23,380 --> 00:14:25,210 But there is another story 267 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,020 that played out long before that fateful day 268 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,650 when these soaring monoliths were the stage 269 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,320 for the greatest daredevil stunt of the 20th century. 270 00:14:34,430 --> 00:14:36,930 This is the story of a crazy man 271 00:14:37,030 --> 00:14:39,860 with an even crazier dream. 272 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,640 WILDMAN: It's 1974 in New York. 273 00:14:45,740 --> 00:14:47,770 Twenty-four-year-old 274 00:14:47,870 --> 00:14:50,910 Philippe Petit is a Parisian street performer. 275 00:14:51,010 --> 00:14:54,080 For years, he has wowed crowds in his native Europe 276 00:14:54,180 --> 00:14:55,880 with a repertoire of magic, 277 00:14:55,980 --> 00:14:57,880 circus tricks and juggling. 278 00:14:57,980 --> 00:15:01,050 But he wants to do more than just entertain. 279 00:15:01,150 --> 00:15:02,650 He wants to inspire. 280 00:15:02,750 --> 00:15:04,220 So he's come to New York 281 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,160 to pull of his greatest act yet, 282 00:15:07,260 --> 00:15:09,590 a tightrope walk between the newest addition 283 00:15:09,690 --> 00:15:12,260 to the Big Apple skyline, 284 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,600 the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. 285 00:15:15,700 --> 00:15:18,300 Officially opened in 1973, 286 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,340 the new skyscrapers are the tallest in the world, 287 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:25,980 rising to a dizzying 1,368 feet. 288 00:15:30,250 --> 00:15:31,950 PORGES: Petit thought the towers 289 00:15:32,050 --> 00:15:35,520 were begging him to walk between them. 290 00:15:35,620 --> 00:15:38,620 WILDMAN: The feat will either launch him into superstardom 291 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:42,360 or send the performer plummeting to an untimely death. 292 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:46,560 PORGES: Nobody has ever done this before. 293 00:15:46,660 --> 00:15:50,700 But he thought this was what he was born for. 294 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,100 WILDMAN: But walking a tightrope more than 1,300 feet up 295 00:15:54,210 --> 00:15:57,110 in the air isn't Petit's only challenge. 296 00:15:57,210 --> 00:15:59,110 There's no way the World Trade Center 297 00:15:59,210 --> 00:16:02,510 authorities would ever approve such a dangerous stunt. 298 00:16:02,610 --> 00:16:04,350 To pull it off, Petit will need 299 00:16:04,450 --> 00:16:07,280 to somehow get to the roof in secret. 300 00:16:09,950 --> 00:16:13,020 The performer recruits three trusted accomplices 301 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:15,930 and devises an audacious plan. 302 00:16:16,030 --> 00:16:19,330 He realizes that most of the inside of the towers 303 00:16:19,430 --> 00:16:21,300 is still under construction, 304 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:22,670 meaning that, at night, 305 00:16:22,770 --> 00:16:25,370 the only people likely to stand in their way 306 00:16:25,470 --> 00:16:27,540 are the security guards in the lobby. 307 00:16:27,640 --> 00:16:30,140 Petit and his team will need to get past the guards 308 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:31,540 and complete the stunt 309 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:34,340 before anyone realizes what's afoot. 310 00:16:34,450 --> 00:16:36,980 This isn't just dangerous. This is illegal. 311 00:16:40,520 --> 00:16:43,090 WILDMAN: On August 6th, 1974, 312 00:16:43,190 --> 00:16:46,960 Petit and his team put their lofty plan into motion. 313 00:16:47,060 --> 00:16:49,760 It's showtime. He's going for it. 314 00:16:49,860 --> 00:16:53,000 The group disguises themselves as construction workers 315 00:16:53,100 --> 00:16:55,100 and hide their equipment in long tubes 316 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,900 that would normally carry blueprints. 317 00:16:58,000 --> 00:16:59,600 They enter the building and approach 318 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:02,170 the security checkpoint. 319 00:17:04,980 --> 00:17:06,510 If he got caught, game over. 320 00:17:06,610 --> 00:17:09,480 He's probably gonna be sent back to France. 321 00:17:14,150 --> 00:17:16,720 WILDMAN: But much to his relief, 322 00:17:16,820 --> 00:17:20,960 Petit and his pals are allowed through. 323 00:17:21,060 --> 00:17:22,660 The team heads up to the roof 324 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,290 where the real work begins, 325 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:28,760 getting the tightrope wire from one building to the other. 326 00:17:28,870 --> 00:17:31,670 The towers are 140 feet apart, 327 00:17:31,770 --> 00:17:34,270 too far to simply throw the cable. 328 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:40,240 Their solution? They go old school. 329 00:17:40,340 --> 00:17:42,280 WILDMAN: Using a bow and arrow, 330 00:17:42,380 --> 00:17:45,550 they shoot a line from the south tower to the north. 331 00:17:45,650 --> 00:17:48,150 Then they affix the steel wire to the line, 332 00:17:48,250 --> 00:17:51,350 pull it across and tether it to the building. 333 00:17:54,690 --> 00:17:57,190 Before Petit can step onto the tightrope, 334 00:17:57,300 --> 00:18:00,000 he needs to complete a crucial test, 335 00:18:00,100 --> 00:18:03,270 making sure the wire is properly secured. 336 00:18:03,370 --> 00:18:06,670 If it's not just right, it could detach mid-walk. 337 00:18:06,770 --> 00:18:11,040 But just as he is about to perform the inspection, 338 00:18:11,140 --> 00:18:14,010 there's trouble. 339 00:18:14,110 --> 00:18:17,150 They hear the elevator on the roof move. 340 00:18:20,250 --> 00:18:21,920 WILDMAN: Petit fears that security 341 00:18:22,020 --> 00:18:24,890 is on its way up to stop him. 342 00:18:24,990 --> 00:18:27,890 The performer knows it's now or never. 343 00:18:27,990 --> 00:18:29,790 PORGES: If he didn't get out on that tightrope 344 00:18:29,890 --> 00:18:31,130 at that very instant, 345 00:18:31,230 --> 00:18:33,560 he was gonna miss his chance forever. 346 00:18:41,170 --> 00:18:43,370 It's 1974 in New York City. 347 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,140 French daredevil, Philippe Petit, is attempting 348 00:18:46,240 --> 00:18:48,610 the highest tightrope act in history -- 349 00:18:48,710 --> 00:18:51,980 crossing the chasm between the Twin Towers. 350 00:18:52,080 --> 00:18:55,650 But when the building's security suddenly storms the roof, 351 00:18:55,750 --> 00:18:58,090 Petit elects to step onto the wire 352 00:18:58,190 --> 00:19:00,560 before it's been properly tested. 353 00:19:00,660 --> 00:19:03,760 So can he pull off this suspenseful stunt, 354 00:19:03,860 --> 00:19:05,860 or will he plummet to his death? 355 00:19:11,300 --> 00:19:14,340 To Petit's relief, the wire holds. 356 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,610 Seconds later, police and security rush onto the roof. 357 00:19:18,710 --> 00:19:22,210 But by now, there's nothing they can do to stop him. 358 00:19:22,310 --> 00:19:24,910 Battle strong winds, the daredevil slowly 359 00:19:25,020 --> 00:19:28,080 makes his way across the chasm. 360 00:19:28,190 --> 00:19:30,520 Almost a quarter mile below, 361 00:19:30,620 --> 00:19:31,960 thousands of New Yorkers 362 00:19:32,060 --> 00:19:35,290 on their way to work start to notice the amazing sight 363 00:19:35,390 --> 00:19:37,890 unfolding above their heads. 364 00:19:38,000 --> 00:19:40,060 They could not believe what they were seeing. 365 00:19:44,340 --> 00:19:46,300 WILDMAN: After several tense minutes, 366 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,470 Petit approaches the south tower. 367 00:19:49,570 --> 00:19:51,040 But the consummate showman 368 00:19:51,140 --> 00:19:54,380 isn't about to let this be the end of his act. 369 00:19:56,410 --> 00:19:58,210 But as he's about to get to the end, 370 00:19:58,320 --> 00:20:00,080 he turns around. 371 00:20:00,190 --> 00:20:02,920 Walking across it just once and being done with it, 372 00:20:03,020 --> 00:20:04,490 that was not enough. 373 00:20:04,590 --> 00:20:05,920 He was gonna enjoy it. 374 00:20:06,020 --> 00:20:09,260 WILDMAN: Petit puts on a dazzling performance. 375 00:20:09,360 --> 00:20:11,630 He gives a ceremonial salute, 376 00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:14,130 dramatically lies down on the wire 377 00:20:14,230 --> 00:20:16,570 and even does a dance routine. 378 00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:18,270 PORGES: He was in his element. 379 00:20:18,370 --> 00:20:21,000 He was having the time of his life. 380 00:20:24,680 --> 00:20:26,640 WILDMAN: More than 1,300 feet below, 381 00:20:26,750 --> 00:20:30,880 the mesmerized crowd cheers at each daring move. 382 00:20:30,980 --> 00:20:34,550 All told, Petit spends 45 minutes on the wire 383 00:20:34,650 --> 00:20:38,320 and crosses the chasm an incredible eight times. 384 00:20:38,420 --> 00:20:42,260 Once would've been groundbreaking, history-making. 385 00:20:42,360 --> 00:20:44,090 Eight: That's just madness. 386 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:46,930 WILDMAN: Satisfied that his goal is achieved, 387 00:20:47,030 --> 00:20:49,000 Petit finally steps off the wire 388 00:20:49,100 --> 00:20:51,700 and into the waiting arms of the police. 389 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:56,410 The daredevil is arrested 390 00:20:56,510 --> 00:20:59,040 for disorderly conduct and trespassing. 391 00:20:59,140 --> 00:21:01,210 But he receives such an outpouring 392 00:21:01,310 --> 00:21:02,780 of public support 393 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,480 that officials later agree to drop all charges. 394 00:21:07,590 --> 00:21:10,190 The ambitious stunt catapults 395 00:21:10,290 --> 00:21:12,920 Petit to new levels of fame. 396 00:21:13,020 --> 00:21:14,720 Everybody loves this. 397 00:21:14,830 --> 00:21:18,430 He becomes kind of a folk hero. 398 00:21:18,530 --> 00:21:20,400 WILDMAN: And today, this scale model 399 00:21:20,500 --> 00:21:23,300 of the Twin Towers at the Skyscraper Museum 400 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:25,500 is a reminder of the most incredible street 401 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,240 performance the world has ever seen. 402 00:21:32,540 --> 00:21:37,080 Detroit, Michigan, is home to the legendary Motown studios 403 00:21:37,180 --> 00:21:40,450 where such chart-topping artists as The Temptations, 404 00:21:40,550 --> 00:21:44,450 The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye crafted their hits. 405 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,260 This part of the nation's culture, 406 00:21:46,360 --> 00:21:48,390 and so much more, is celebrated 407 00:21:48,490 --> 00:21:52,300 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. 408 00:21:56,970 --> 00:22:00,540 The vast collection of more than 35,000 artifacts 409 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:04,670 includes shackles used during the slave trade, 410 00:22:04,780 --> 00:22:08,810 a 19th-century handcrafted doll, 411 00:22:08,910 --> 00:22:11,110 and an 1845 edition 412 00:22:11,220 --> 00:22:13,620 of Frederick Douglass' autobiography. 413 00:22:17,620 --> 00:22:21,520 But one object represents a life without boundaries. 414 00:22:21,630 --> 00:22:25,260 DEBARDELABEN: The artifact is 5 inches wide 415 00:22:25,360 --> 00:22:28,500 and 3 inches in height. 416 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:34,070 It is comprised of many threads that are stitched together. 417 00:22:34,170 --> 00:22:38,910 It features the colors red, white, blue, and black. 418 00:22:42,150 --> 00:22:44,710 WILDMAN: This mission patch stands as a reminder 419 00:22:44,820 --> 00:22:46,480 of an out-of-this-world adventure 420 00:22:46,580 --> 00:22:50,290 that launched one woman straight into the history books. 421 00:22:50,390 --> 00:22:52,920 This is a story about perseverance, 422 00:22:53,020 --> 00:22:55,860 determination, and inspiration. 423 00:23:00,830 --> 00:23:04,730 WILDMAN: It's 1982 in Los Angeles, California. 424 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,500 Dr. Mae Jemison is a 29-year-old general practitioner 425 00:23:08,610 --> 00:23:11,340 specializing in medical research. 426 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:14,510 Dr. Mae Jemison was highly driven. 427 00:23:14,610 --> 00:23:18,650 Her nature is to be a risk taker 428 00:23:18,750 --> 00:23:23,250 and to see challenges as opportunities. 429 00:23:23,350 --> 00:23:25,320 WILDMAN: But this doctor wants to do much more 430 00:23:25,420 --> 00:23:27,160 than practice medicine. 431 00:23:27,260 --> 00:23:31,290 Her childhood dream was to one day go to space. 432 00:23:31,400 --> 00:23:32,460 WILDMAN: In her youth, 433 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,430 Jemison was a fan of the TV show "Star Trek" 434 00:23:35,530 --> 00:23:38,070 and found herself hooked by the pioneering character 435 00:23:38,170 --> 00:23:39,900 of Lieutenant Uhura. 436 00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:44,140 She would watch this amazing African American actress, 437 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:45,540 Nichelle Nichols. 438 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:50,350 And that inspired her to consider science for a future. 439 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:55,690 WILDMAN: But finding a real-life role model was harder. 440 00:23:55,790 --> 00:24:00,390 In 1983, Sally Ride becomes the first woman in space. 441 00:24:00,490 --> 00:24:02,990 That same year, Guy Bluford made history 442 00:24:03,090 --> 00:24:06,960 as the first African American man in orbit. 443 00:24:07,070 --> 00:24:08,530 DEBARDELABEN: There were no examples 444 00:24:08,630 --> 00:24:10,130 of African American women 445 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:13,640 who had accomplished that achievement. 446 00:24:16,070 --> 00:24:19,510 WILDMAN: Mae figures she can fit that bill. 447 00:24:19,610 --> 00:24:21,740 In October of 1985, 448 00:24:21,850 --> 00:24:25,820 Jemison applies to NASA's astronaut training program. 449 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:29,250 DEBARDELABEN: She was full of excitement. 450 00:24:29,350 --> 00:24:32,790 There was probably a sense of "anything is possible." 451 00:24:35,490 --> 00:24:38,060 WILDMAN: She anxiously waits for a response. 452 00:24:38,160 --> 00:24:41,730 But then something happens that changes everything. 453 00:24:41,830 --> 00:24:45,300 On January 28, 1986, the world watches 454 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:48,140 the launch of the space shuttle Challenger. 455 00:24:48,240 --> 00:24:52,480 But seconds after liftoff, tragedy strikes. 456 00:24:52,580 --> 00:24:54,110 The Challenger explodes, 457 00:24:54,210 --> 00:24:56,850 killing all seven astronauts onboard, 458 00:24:56,950 --> 00:24:59,420 among them teacher Christa McAuliffe, 459 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:01,020 the first American civilian 460 00:25:01,120 --> 00:25:04,050 to be part of a mission into space. 461 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:08,420 Jemison, like the rest of the nation, is stunned. 462 00:25:08,530 --> 00:25:11,330 I know that she was just devastated 463 00:25:11,430 --> 00:25:17,500 and absolutely saddened by the news. 464 00:25:17,600 --> 00:25:19,100 WILDMAN: In the wake of the disaster, 465 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,540 NASA's shuttle program is immediately suspended. 466 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:25,170 DEBARDELABEN: Her dreams were shattered. 467 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:29,110 She was wondering whether she would ever fulfill 468 00:25:29,210 --> 00:25:30,780 that childhood dream. 469 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:33,380 WILDMAN: So will Mae Jemison ever boldly go 470 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:37,190 where no woman like her has gone before? 471 00:25:40,830 --> 00:25:43,060 It's January 1986. 472 00:25:43,160 --> 00:25:45,560 Dr. Mae Jemison has a dream 473 00:25:45,660 --> 00:25:47,730 to be the first African American woman 474 00:25:47,830 --> 00:25:49,730 to make it into space. 475 00:25:49,830 --> 00:25:52,300 But in the wake of the Challenger disaster, 476 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,540 NASA has shut down its astronaut training program indefinitely. 477 00:25:56,640 --> 00:25:58,670 So what will it take for Mae Jemison 478 00:25:58,780 --> 00:26:01,280 to launch her great ambition? 479 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:05,650 After a year of uncertainty, 480 00:26:05,750 --> 00:26:08,350 NASA restarts its shuttle program 481 00:26:08,450 --> 00:26:12,590 and once again opens its doors to applications. 482 00:26:12,690 --> 00:26:16,830 In October 1986, Mae resubmits hers. 483 00:26:16,930 --> 00:26:19,960 But it seems she'll have an uphill battle. 484 00:26:20,060 --> 00:26:26,770 The vast majority of applicants were white, and they were male. 485 00:26:26,870 --> 00:26:29,340 WILDMAN: Still, in June 1987, 486 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,640 Jemison receives the news she's been waiting for. 487 00:26:32,740 --> 00:26:36,710 She is accepted into NASA's astronaut training program. 488 00:26:36,810 --> 00:26:39,380 It was one of the happiest days of her life. 489 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,150 This was historic. 490 00:26:45,890 --> 00:26:50,360 For the next five years, Jemison trains hard 491 00:26:50,460 --> 00:26:53,530 until, finally, her dream is realized. 492 00:26:53,630 --> 00:26:57,630 On September 12, 1992, Jemison is strapped in 493 00:26:57,740 --> 00:27:01,240 alongside six other astronauts. 494 00:27:01,340 --> 00:27:06,580 Dr. Mae Jemison has spent years preparing for this moment. 495 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:12,710 And it was time for her to make history. 496 00:27:12,820 --> 00:27:15,280 WILDMAN: The Space Shuttle Endeavor launches Jemison 497 00:27:15,390 --> 00:27:18,590 into the stratosphere and the history books. 498 00:27:18,690 --> 00:27:22,060 At 35 years of age, Mae Jemison becomes 499 00:27:22,160 --> 00:27:25,660 the first African American woman in space. 500 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,400 DEBARDELABEN: She was representing all black women 501 00:27:29,500 --> 00:27:33,640 that faced all sorts of barriers in their lives. 502 00:27:37,610 --> 00:27:39,510 WILDMAN: After a successful 8-day mission 503 00:27:39,610 --> 00:27:41,840 testing the effects of weightlessness, 504 00:27:41,950 --> 00:27:45,150 the Endeavor returns to Earth. 505 00:27:45,250 --> 00:27:49,550 But there's one more historic first for Mae to accomplish. 506 00:27:49,650 --> 00:27:51,790 In 1993, she appears on 507 00:27:51,890 --> 00:27:54,060 "Star Trek: The Next Generation," 508 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,930 where she gets to meet her idol, Nichelle Nichols. 509 00:27:58,030 --> 00:28:04,270 She became the first real astronaut to be on "Star Trek." 510 00:28:04,370 --> 00:28:10,540 She must have felt so humble to make this dream come true. 511 00:28:13,380 --> 00:28:14,980 WILDMAN: Today, this mission patch 512 00:28:15,080 --> 00:28:17,610 from the Shuttle Endeavor is on display 513 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,520 at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. 514 00:28:21,620 --> 00:28:26,290 It recalls a pioneering woman who blazed a trail into space. 515 00:28:30,590 --> 00:28:31,830 London, England. 516 00:28:31,930 --> 00:28:34,330 This capital city is home to a wealth 517 00:28:34,430 --> 00:28:37,500 of cultural and architectural attractions, 518 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,800 including Buckingham Palace, Madame Tussauds 519 00:28:41,910 --> 00:28:44,410 and Tower Bridge. 520 00:28:44,510 --> 00:28:48,680 But amid these famous sights is a lesser-known institution, 521 00:28:48,780 --> 00:28:51,280 The Postal Museum. 522 00:28:51,380 --> 00:28:53,750 Here, visitors can find a collection 523 00:28:53,850 --> 00:28:56,920 of Britain's famous red mailboxes, 524 00:28:57,020 --> 00:28:59,620 a 1930s postal car, 525 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:01,260 and a five-wheeled bicycle 526 00:29:01,360 --> 00:29:05,860 specifically designed to transport mail. 527 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:10,300 But among these time-worn tools of the postal trade 528 00:29:10,400 --> 00:29:13,870 is one item that holds a bizarre secret. 529 00:29:13,970 --> 00:29:16,440 McSORLEY: It is hollow and has removable legs. 530 00:29:16,540 --> 00:29:19,310 Inside there are three yellow leather straps 531 00:29:19,410 --> 00:29:22,680 because it was designed for one very strange purpose. 532 00:29:26,120 --> 00:29:27,920 WILDMAN: Although it looks innocuous, 533 00:29:28,020 --> 00:29:29,280 a box like this one 534 00:29:29,390 --> 00:29:31,950 was used to make one of the strangest deliveries 535 00:29:32,060 --> 00:29:34,560 the world has ever seen. 536 00:29:34,660 --> 00:29:38,830 To say this was irregular mail would be an understatement. 537 00:29:38,930 --> 00:29:42,430 WILDMAN: What unexpected cargo did this wooden crate contain? 538 00:29:47,170 --> 00:29:49,840 It's 1964 in London. 539 00:29:49,940 --> 00:29:51,470 22-year-old Reg Spiers 540 00:29:51,580 --> 00:29:54,540 is a hard-working airport baggage handler 541 00:29:54,650 --> 00:29:56,010 from Adelaide, Australia. 542 00:29:56,110 --> 00:29:57,210 McSORLEY: Reg Spiers was someone 543 00:29:57,310 --> 00:29:59,380 who had a really can-do positive attitude 544 00:29:59,480 --> 00:30:01,820 and he lived every day like it was his last. 545 00:30:04,820 --> 00:30:06,090 WILDMAN: In October, 546 00:30:06,190 --> 00:30:08,990 Reg receives some exciting news from back home. 547 00:30:09,090 --> 00:30:11,230 His brother is getting married. 548 00:30:11,330 --> 00:30:13,400 He wanted to be at his brother's wedding. 549 00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:17,430 WILDMAN: But the spirited Aussie has a problem. 550 00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:19,670 He doesn't have enough money for a plane ticket 551 00:30:19,770 --> 00:30:22,300 to fly from England to Down Under. 552 00:30:22,410 --> 00:30:25,940 Reg was pretty much penniless. He was stuck. 553 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:27,440 WILDMAN: Reg resigns himself 554 00:30:27,540 --> 00:30:29,810 to having to miss his brother's wedding. 555 00:30:32,350 --> 00:30:34,650 But one day at work, he notices something 556 00:30:34,750 --> 00:30:38,720 that could help him get to AUZ for free. 557 00:30:38,820 --> 00:30:42,220 McSORLEY: Reg saw that air freight could be sent cash on delivery, 558 00:30:42,330 --> 00:30:43,530 which meant there would be nothing 559 00:30:43,630 --> 00:30:46,360 to pay until the package got to the other end. 560 00:30:46,460 --> 00:30:49,000 WILDMAN: Then inspiration strikes. 561 00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:54,840 Reg thinks he might be able to mail himself home. 562 00:30:54,940 --> 00:30:56,640 But it won't be easy. 563 00:30:56,740 --> 00:30:58,640 The 13,000-mile flight 564 00:30:58,740 --> 00:31:02,680 includes stopovers in Paris, India and Singapore. 565 00:31:02,780 --> 00:31:05,080 And with every stop, the risk of Reg 566 00:31:05,180 --> 00:31:08,880 being detected by ground crews increases. 567 00:31:08,990 --> 00:31:12,190 And if he's caught, he could face jail time. 568 00:31:12,290 --> 00:31:14,120 McSORLEY: It was completely insane. 569 00:31:14,220 --> 00:31:18,090 He was hell bent, nothing was going to stop him. 570 00:31:18,200 --> 00:31:19,660 WILDMAN: With the help of a friend, 571 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:22,100 Reg builds a very special box 572 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:23,970 that's suited for such a long 573 00:31:24,070 --> 00:31:26,570 and unusual journey. 574 00:31:26,670 --> 00:31:29,240 The men attached leather straps for Reg 575 00:31:29,340 --> 00:31:31,940 to hold on to in case the crate gets bounced around 576 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,610 during the flight. 577 00:31:34,710 --> 00:31:35,980 They design the box 578 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:38,510 so that it can be opened from the inside 579 00:31:38,620 --> 00:31:40,550 to allow Reg to let himself out 580 00:31:40,650 --> 00:31:43,590 when he needs to use the bathroom. 581 00:31:43,690 --> 00:31:45,190 And they even stocked the crate 582 00:31:45,290 --> 00:31:47,820 with a backpack full of food and supplies, 583 00:31:47,930 --> 00:31:50,590 including two essential items. 584 00:31:50,690 --> 00:31:51,660 McSORLEY: He had two bottles, 585 00:31:51,760 --> 00:31:55,330 one for drinking and one for peeing. 586 00:31:55,430 --> 00:31:58,130 He didn't want to mix those up. 587 00:31:58,240 --> 00:32:02,040 WILDMAN: On October 17th, Reg is ready to go. 588 00:32:02,140 --> 00:32:03,270 He addresses his box 589 00:32:03,370 --> 00:32:06,270 to a fictitious Australian Shoe Company 590 00:32:06,380 --> 00:32:08,580 and then he climbs inside. 591 00:32:12,720 --> 00:32:16,280 Reg's friend takes the unusual cargo to Heathrow. 592 00:32:16,390 --> 00:32:18,790 There airport personnel accept the crate 593 00:32:18,890 --> 00:32:22,020 without a second thought and load it on to the plane. 594 00:32:24,530 --> 00:32:27,430 Reg braces himself inside the cramped box 595 00:32:27,530 --> 00:32:30,430 as the plane takes off. 596 00:32:30,530 --> 00:32:33,540 Finally, when the aircraft reaches cruising altitude, 597 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,370 the stowaway decides he can relax. 598 00:32:36,470 --> 00:32:41,580 Reg got out of the box. Nature was calling. 599 00:32:41,680 --> 00:32:45,380 WILDMAN: Reg relieves himself in an empty container. 600 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:49,420 Realizing the aircraft is making its descent toward Paris, 601 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:53,790 he quickly gets back inside his crate. 602 00:32:53,890 --> 00:32:58,260 Reg knows he is one step closer to completing his epic journey. 603 00:33:02,670 --> 00:33:05,600 But as the plane rolls down the tarmac, 604 00:33:05,700 --> 00:33:07,940 Reg has a flash of panic. 605 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:10,040 He's left his container of urine 606 00:33:10,140 --> 00:33:11,810 on the outside of the box. 607 00:33:11,910 --> 00:33:14,240 Reg thought he was going to be discovered. 608 00:33:14,340 --> 00:33:18,850 WILDMAN: Suddenly, Reg hears the cargo door open. 609 00:33:18,950 --> 00:33:20,580 He listens in fear 610 00:33:20,680 --> 00:33:23,250 as baggage handlers enter the hold. 611 00:33:23,350 --> 00:33:26,290 If they spot the bottle, it might be a dead giveaway 612 00:33:26,390 --> 00:33:28,720 that something suspicious is afoot. 613 00:33:28,830 --> 00:33:30,290 McSORLEY: Instead of being sent to Australia, 614 00:33:30,390 --> 00:33:33,260 Reg was inches away from being sent to jail. 615 00:33:41,170 --> 00:33:43,170 It's 1964, 616 00:33:43,270 --> 00:33:46,710 and eccentric Australian Reg Spiers has a problem. 617 00:33:46,810 --> 00:33:50,010 His brother is getting married back in Australia. 618 00:33:50,110 --> 00:33:51,280 And Reg doesn't have enough money 619 00:33:51,380 --> 00:33:53,350 to buy a plane ticket to attend. 620 00:33:53,450 --> 00:33:55,850 So he comes up with a crazy scheme. 621 00:33:55,950 --> 00:33:59,350 Ship himself Down Under in a crate. 622 00:33:59,460 --> 00:34:02,690 So, what will happen to the special delivery? 623 00:34:05,300 --> 00:34:08,660 Reg holds his breath as the Parisian baggage handlers 624 00:34:08,770 --> 00:34:11,170 move through the plane's cargo hold. 625 00:34:11,270 --> 00:34:14,900 McSORLEY: The baggage handlers were making their way 626 00:34:15,000 --> 00:34:16,740 closer and closer to Reg. 627 00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:20,170 He's thinking, "This is it." 628 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:21,410 WILDMAN: Sure enough, the men 629 00:34:21,510 --> 00:34:24,610 approach Reg's crate and spot the container. 630 00:34:28,120 --> 00:34:32,650 But then... they start to laugh. 631 00:34:32,760 --> 00:34:34,520 McSORLEY: The baggage handlers thought 632 00:34:34,620 --> 00:34:37,190 that the English had left this can of pee 633 00:34:37,290 --> 00:34:38,630 on the outside of the box 634 00:34:38,730 --> 00:34:41,200 and that it was a prank. 635 00:34:41,300 --> 00:34:44,600 WILDMAN: The men collect a few packages and take them off the plane. 636 00:34:46,140 --> 00:34:48,470 Reg breathes a sigh of relief. 637 00:34:50,670 --> 00:34:52,370 Three connecting flights later, 638 00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:55,710 the aircraft touches down in Australia. 639 00:34:55,810 --> 00:34:59,910 McSORLEY: Reg got out of the box. 640 00:35:00,020 --> 00:35:01,780 He pulled it off. 641 00:35:04,150 --> 00:35:07,160 WILDMAN: Soon after, Reg attends his brother's wedding. 642 00:35:07,260 --> 00:35:08,960 McSORLEY: Reg is a testament 643 00:35:09,060 --> 00:35:12,130 to what you can do when you think out of the box. 644 00:35:12,230 --> 00:35:14,400 WILDMAN: Today this replica of the crate 645 00:35:14,500 --> 00:35:17,470 that Reg Spiers shipped himself in 646 00:35:17,570 --> 00:35:21,170 sits on temporary display at the Postal Museum in London. 647 00:35:21,270 --> 00:35:23,440 It's a tribute to a determined man 648 00:35:23,540 --> 00:35:26,840 whose creative spirit couldn't be contained. 649 00:35:30,480 --> 00:35:33,510 Ontario, Canada, is home to one of North America's 650 00:35:33,620 --> 00:35:37,050 most awe-inspiring natural wonders, 651 00:35:37,150 --> 00:35:38,590 Niagara Falls. 652 00:35:38,690 --> 00:35:42,120 More than 600,000 gallons of water per second 653 00:35:42,230 --> 00:35:44,190 cascade over the falls, 654 00:35:44,290 --> 00:35:48,200 plummeting 167 feet. 655 00:35:48,300 --> 00:35:50,770 In celebrating the men and women who've taken on 656 00:35:50,870 --> 00:35:54,300 this force of nature is the Daredevil Exhibit. 657 00:35:56,810 --> 00:35:59,940 Here, visitors can marvel at home-spun vessels, 658 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:03,880 like this long steel boat or this giant rubber ball, 659 00:36:03,980 --> 00:36:07,550 that were used by thrill seekers who've gone over the edge. 660 00:36:10,350 --> 00:36:12,150 But there's one item in the collection 661 00:36:12,260 --> 00:36:14,520 that's the grand-daddy of them all. 662 00:36:14,620 --> 00:36:16,620 It weighs 160 pounds. 663 00:36:16,730 --> 00:36:18,590 It's made of white Kentucky Oak slants 664 00:36:18,700 --> 00:36:21,230 and held together with iron rings. 665 00:36:21,330 --> 00:36:24,200 And it has a distinct handmade quality to it. 666 00:36:26,670 --> 00:36:28,840 WILDMAN: This simple wooden barrel was used 667 00:36:28,940 --> 00:36:30,710 by an unlikely dare devil 668 00:36:30,810 --> 00:36:34,080 who kickstarted this death-defying craze. 669 00:36:34,180 --> 00:36:36,140 GRUNDHAUSER: This is a story of desperation 670 00:36:36,250 --> 00:36:39,010 in which no one could predict the outcome. 671 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,120 ¶ 672 00:36:44,120 --> 00:36:47,190 WILDMAN: It's 1901 in Bay City, Michigan. 673 00:36:47,290 --> 00:36:51,490 62 year old Annie Edson Taylor is a retired teacher. 674 00:36:51,590 --> 00:36:53,530 She should be enjoying her golden years, 675 00:36:53,630 --> 00:36:56,800 but lately, she's fallen on hard times. 676 00:36:56,900 --> 00:37:00,470 Her husband's death has left her alone and penniless, 677 00:37:00,570 --> 00:37:03,640 and the struggling widow finds herself scraping the barrel 678 00:37:03,740 --> 00:37:05,070 just to get by. 679 00:37:05,170 --> 00:37:07,010 In those days, there just weren't a lot of ways 680 00:37:07,110 --> 00:37:09,810 for an older, single lady like Edson Taylor 681 00:37:09,910 --> 00:37:11,010 to make a lot of money. 682 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:15,880 WILDMAN: But one day, while flipping through a magazine, 683 00:37:15,990 --> 00:37:18,250 an article grabs her attention. 684 00:37:18,350 --> 00:37:19,520 According to the story, 685 00:37:19,620 --> 00:37:22,220 hoards of thrill seekers are taking on 686 00:37:22,330 --> 00:37:25,560 one of the biggest waterfalls in North America -- 687 00:37:25,660 --> 00:37:28,200 Niagara Falls. 688 00:37:28,300 --> 00:37:30,630 GRUNDHAUSER: There were people doing tightrope walks 689 00:37:30,730 --> 00:37:31,770 across the falls. 690 00:37:31,870 --> 00:37:33,730 There were people riding into the whirlpools 691 00:37:33,840 --> 00:37:35,700 at the foot of the falls. 692 00:37:35,810 --> 00:37:39,510 WILDMAN: The risk to life and limb seems worth the reward. 693 00:37:39,610 --> 00:37:41,610 Niagara Falls was the greatest challenge for daredevils, 694 00:37:41,710 --> 00:37:43,410 and their exploits made a lot of money, 695 00:37:43,510 --> 00:37:45,810 selling memorabilia, signing autographs, 696 00:37:45,920 --> 00:37:49,850 doing talks, and making appearances. 697 00:37:49,950 --> 00:37:52,020 WILDMAN: Taylor thinks she, too, could make money 698 00:37:52,120 --> 00:37:54,790 as a daredevil at Niagara Falls. 699 00:37:54,890 --> 00:37:57,360 And she vows to do a stunt so daring, 700 00:37:57,460 --> 00:37:59,890 it will blow everyone out of the water. 701 00:38:00,000 --> 00:38:02,330 Daredevils have tried a lot of feats at Niagara Falls, 702 00:38:02,430 --> 00:38:05,170 but nobody had tried to go over them. 703 00:38:08,100 --> 00:38:09,840 WILDMAN: Taylor thinks if she can plummet 704 00:38:09,940 --> 00:38:11,240 from the top of the falls 705 00:38:11,340 --> 00:38:13,070 all the way to the river below 706 00:38:13,180 --> 00:38:17,450 and live to tell the tale, she'll become rich and famous. 707 00:38:17,550 --> 00:38:19,780 GRUNDHAUSER: She wanted to make headlines across the world, 708 00:38:19,880 --> 00:38:22,450 and then go on a lecture tour across the states, 709 00:38:22,550 --> 00:38:25,150 and generally never having to work again. 710 00:38:25,250 --> 00:38:28,290 WILDMAN: Taylor risks drowning or being seriously injured 711 00:38:28,390 --> 00:38:30,560 by the fall's sharp rocks. 712 00:38:30,660 --> 00:38:33,060 But her financial situation is so dire 713 00:38:33,160 --> 00:38:35,100 that she sees no other choice. 714 00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:37,930 The prim and proper Victorian lady was willing to do anything, 715 00:38:38,030 --> 00:38:40,430 including risking her life. 716 00:38:40,540 --> 00:38:42,900 ¶ 717 00:38:43,010 --> 00:38:44,770 WILDMAN: But if she's to stand any chance 718 00:38:44,870 --> 00:38:47,210 of making it over the falls in one piece, 719 00:38:47,310 --> 00:38:49,110 she'll need some kind of protection. 720 00:38:49,210 --> 00:38:52,750 So she decides she'll face the raging torrent... 721 00:38:52,850 --> 00:38:54,150 in a barrel. 722 00:38:54,250 --> 00:38:56,350 GRUNDHAUSER: Taylor designed her own barrel to go over the falls, 723 00:38:56,450 --> 00:38:58,350 and it was made of regular wooden slants 724 00:38:58,450 --> 00:38:59,990 surrounded by iron rings, 725 00:39:00,090 --> 00:39:01,390 and then on the inside, 726 00:39:01,490 --> 00:39:03,820 there would be a set of straps to hold her in 727 00:39:03,930 --> 00:39:08,300 and nothing but a mattress to protect her. 728 00:39:08,400 --> 00:39:10,800 WILDMAN: On October 24, 1901, 729 00:39:10,900 --> 00:39:14,270 she arrives at the mighty Niagara Falls. 730 00:39:14,370 --> 00:39:16,270 Thousands of spectators have gathered 731 00:39:16,370 --> 00:39:18,710 to watch her take the plunge. 732 00:39:18,810 --> 00:39:20,140 But most are there to watch 733 00:39:20,240 --> 00:39:24,180 what they think will be a foolish woman's last moments. 734 00:39:24,280 --> 00:39:25,710 GRUNDHAUSER: Many people thought she was crazy, 735 00:39:25,820 --> 00:39:29,380 thought she was just setting herself up for public suicide. 736 00:39:29,490 --> 00:39:30,850 WILDMAN: With her heart pounding, 737 00:39:30,950 --> 00:39:34,520 Taylor crawls into the barrel and is sealed inside. 738 00:39:34,620 --> 00:39:36,560 She says a prayer as she feels herself 739 00:39:36,660 --> 00:39:39,560 being pushed into the fast flowing rapids. 740 00:39:39,660 --> 00:39:42,900 Once she was in the water, the terror kind of set in. 741 00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:46,070 WILDMAN: Will Taylor survive her perilous plummet? 742 00:39:52,010 --> 00:39:54,980 It's 1901 in Niagara Falls. 743 00:39:55,080 --> 00:39:58,010 A penniless widow named Annie Edson Taylor 744 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:00,080 is attempting to become the first person 745 00:40:00,180 --> 00:40:03,790 to ever go over the mighty falls in a barrel. 746 00:40:03,890 --> 00:40:05,950 She hopes the stunt will net her enough cash to live 747 00:40:06,060 --> 00:40:08,220 out the rest of her days in comfort. 748 00:40:08,330 --> 00:40:11,290 So can Taylor survive the drop? 749 00:40:13,900 --> 00:40:16,700 The crowd watches as Taylor is swept down the river 750 00:40:16,800 --> 00:40:22,340 and disappears into the spray at the fall's edge. 751 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:24,670 Taylor's barrel was lost in the mist 752 00:40:24,780 --> 00:40:28,440 for several heart-stopping minutes. 753 00:40:28,550 --> 00:40:31,950 WILDMAN: Then after 20 excruciating minutes, 754 00:40:32,050 --> 00:40:33,920 Taylor's barrel bobs to the surface 755 00:40:34,020 --> 00:40:36,520 at the bottom of the falls. 756 00:40:36,620 --> 00:40:38,320 A group grabs the battered vessel 757 00:40:38,420 --> 00:40:41,320 from the surging water and pries it open. 758 00:40:41,430 --> 00:40:43,930 The crew opening the barrel had no idea 759 00:40:44,030 --> 00:40:46,090 what they were about to find inside. 760 00:40:48,270 --> 00:40:52,570 WILDMAN: But there before their eyes is Annie Edson Taylor, 761 00:40:52,670 --> 00:40:54,700 and she's very much alive. 762 00:40:54,810 --> 00:40:59,810 A feeling of amazement just flowed through the crowd. 763 00:40:59,910 --> 00:41:01,480 WILDMAN: Taylor's death-defying stunt 764 00:41:01,580 --> 00:41:03,480 makes headlines across the country. 765 00:41:03,580 --> 00:41:06,050 She launches a successful speaking tour 766 00:41:06,150 --> 00:41:07,550 where she poses for pictures 767 00:41:07,650 --> 00:41:10,250 and sells memorabilia to eager fans, 768 00:41:10,350 --> 00:41:13,720 all the while earning herself a pretty penny. 769 00:41:13,820 --> 00:41:16,120 And soon, people of all stripes 770 00:41:16,230 --> 00:41:18,790 start going over the falls in all manner of vessels, 771 00:41:18,900 --> 00:41:22,260 from steel drums to giant rubber balls. 772 00:41:24,570 --> 00:41:28,200 When she dies in 1921 at the age of 82, 773 00:41:28,310 --> 00:41:31,010 Taylor is buried alongside other daredevils 774 00:41:31,110 --> 00:41:33,810 in Niagara Falls cemetery in New York. 775 00:41:35,950 --> 00:41:39,280 And today, the Daredevil Exhibit displays her barrel 776 00:41:39,380 --> 00:41:43,190 as a testament to an unlikely risk-taking pioneer 777 00:41:43,290 --> 00:41:45,950 who survived against all odds. 778 00:41:47,360 --> 00:41:49,260 From a heart-stopping high-wire act 779 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:51,630 to a rocket-powered mishap. 780 00:41:51,730 --> 00:41:53,800 A real-life Batman 781 00:41:53,900 --> 00:41:56,800 to an out-of-this-world adventure. 782 00:41:56,900 --> 00:42:00,100 I'm Don Wildman, and these are the mysteries at the museum. 782 00:42:01,305 --> 00:43:01,324 Watch Online Movies and Series for FREE www.osdb.link/lm