Ep 7. Shrunken Heads; Greeley Expedition; Broken Arrow

In season 2 episode 7 of Mysteries at the Museum, viewers are taken on a journey through three intriguing cases: shrunken heads, the Greeley Expedition, and the Broken Arrow incident.

The episode opens with an investigation into the bizarre world of shrunken heads. Host Don Wildman travels to the Museum of the Oddities in New York City, where he discovers a display of these macabre artifacts. He delves into the history of shrunken heads, exploring their origins in South America and the complex rituals associated with their creation. As he examines the gruesome objects, he learns about the colonial exploitation that contributed to their spread and the mystery surrounding their preservation.

Next, Wildman turns his attention to the ill-fated Greeley Expedition, which took place in the late 19th century. He visits the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., to learn about the relics recovered from the expedition, including a stunning collection of photographs and journals that offer an intimate glimpse into the explorers' experience. Wildman uncovers the harrowing details of the expedition's tragic end and the controversy that followed, as public scrutiny questioned both the motives and methods of the expedition's leader, Adolphus Greely.

Finally, the episode examines the Broken Arrow incident, a pivotal moment in Cold War history. Wildman travels to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he investigates the remnants of a B-52 bomber that crashed during a training exercise in 1961. He meets with experts who explain the significance of the crash and the tense political climate that surrounded it, as the United States and Soviet Union stood on the brink of nuclear war. Through archival footage and expert testimony, Wildman brings the dramatic events of the Broken Arrow incident to life.

Through these three diverse cases, Mysteries at the Museum season 2 episode 7 offers a fascinating insight into the untold stories hidden in some of the world's most intriguing collections and institutions. Viewers are taken on a journey through history and across the globe, encountering a wide range of artifacts that challenge their understanding of the world around them and offer new perspectives on some of the most significant events of our time.