Ep 20. The Man Who Sold a Million Rocks, Party That Started a War and the Umbrella Man

Mysteries at the Museum is a show that explores the fascinating and sometimes bizarre stories behind some of the world's most interesting artifacts. In season 12 episode 20, titled "The Man Who Sold a Million Rocks, Party That Started a War and the Umbrella Man," we delve into three intriguing mysteries that have puzzled experts and historians for years.

The first story revolves around a man named James Hutton, who in the late 1700s became famous for selling rocks. But these weren't just any rocks – they were geological specimens that inspired Hutton to develop a groundbreaking theory about the age of the Earth. In this episode, we learn about Hutton's fascinating life story and his pivotal contributions to the field of geology, which forever changed our understanding of the planet we live on.

Next up, we explore a party that allegedly sparked a war. In 1914, shortly before the outbreak of World War I, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife visited Sarajevo, Bosnia, where they were assassinated by a group of Serbian nationalists. But the events leading up to the assassination were equally dramatic and intriguing. In this episode, we learn about the fateful party that the Archduke attended, during which a number of bizarre and fortuitous coincidences may have led to his untimely demise.

Finally, we delve into the mystery of the "Umbrella Man," a figure who appears in footage of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. As the President's motorcade passed through Dealey Plaza in Dallas, Texas, a man holding an umbrella in an otherwise sunny day was filmed amid a crowd of onlookers. For decades, conspiracy theories have abounded about the man's true identity and his possible involvement in the assassination. In this episode, we explore the various theories and try to separate fact from fiction in this enduring mystery.

As with every episode of Mysteries at the Museum, "The Man Who Sold a Million Rocks, Party That Started a War and the Umbrella Man" is full of fascinating historical tidbits and curious artifacts that shed new light on some of the biggest questions of our time. Whether you're a history buff or just love a good mystery, this show is sure to entertain and educate.