Mysteries at the Monument Season 1 Episode 9 American Venus, Buffalo Wings

The ninth episode of season 1 of Mysteries at the Monument is called "American Venus, Buffalo Wings". Host Don Wildman takes viewers on a journey through American history to explore the mysteries behind two unlikely icons of American culture: the Buffalo wing and the famous statue known as the American Venus.

The episode begins with a visit to Buffalo, New York, where Wildman examines the origins of the beloved bar food known as the Buffalo wing. Although the city of Buffalo is now synonymous with the spicy chicken wings, few people know the true story behind their creation. Wildman ventures to the Anchor Bar, where the first Buffalo wings were supposedly cooked up in 1964 by Teressa Bellissimo, the wife of the bar's owner. The wings were originally meant as a snack for late-night bar patrons, but they quickly gained fame and became a staple in Buffalo cuisine. Wildman also explores the rivalry between the Anchor Bar and its competitor, Duff's Famous Wings, and investigates the unique sauce recipe that makes Buffalo wings so distinctive.

Next, Wildman travels to Nashville, Tennessee, where he investigates the mystery behind a stunning marble statue known as the American Venus. The statue was created by renowned artist Randolph Rogers in 1858 and was intended to be a symbol of American beauty and virtue. However, its journey to Nashville was not without controversy. Wildman explores the scandalous story of how the statue was originally commissioned by a wealthy Kentucky farmer who hoped to use it as a tribute to his young mistress. When the farmer died suddenly, his widow was outraged by the statue's suggestive pose and attempted to destroy it. Eventually, the statue was acquired by Nashville's Parthenon museum and became one of the city's most cherished landmarks.

Throughout the episode, Wildman draws connections between the Buffalo wing and the American Venus, two seemingly unrelated icons of American culture. He notes that both represent uniquely American ideas about beauty, strength, and perseverance. The Buffalo wing, with its fiery spice and messy, communal eating experience, embodies the American spirit of rugged individualism and toughness. The American Venus, with its graceful poses and idealized form, represents America's aspirations towards moral purity and artistic excellence.

As always, Wildman's investigations are filled with colorful anecdotes, fascinating historical details, and surprising twists and turns. By the end of the episode, viewers will have a newfound appreciation for both the Buffalo wing and the American Venus, and will understand how these two seemingly disparate symbols have come to represent the essence of American culture.