Ep 1. Trailblazers

Mysteries at the Museum is a beloved show that explores the world's most intriguing stories and artifacts. In the show's Season 7 premiere episode, entitled Trailblazers, viewers are taken deep into the lore of some of history's most innovative thinkers. This episode's subjects were trailblazers both in their fields and in terms of their tenacity and determination to succeed.

The episode starts in New York City at the American Museum of Natural History. There, viewers are introduced to a curious artifact: long, thin tubes made of ivory. These items, called "divining rods," were once used by colonial Americans to locate fresh water underground. The story goes that these rods could be held by one person while another person walked around looking for the source of underground water. The rods would supposedly bend when the person with them was over an underground spring. The rods may sound like nothing more than pseudoscience, but experts on the show reveal that they actually worked.

Next, viewers are taken to the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia. There, they get a history lesson on the bell that helped to signify the birth of America. But this particular segment focuses on the mystery of one word that appears engraved on the bell: "Pensilvania." The question is, why is the word spelled with a single N? Experts weigh in, revealing a fascinating backstory behind the bell's creation.

The episode's next stop is the Museum of Aviation in Georgia. There, viewers learn about a man named John Kittinger, a pilot who boldly jumped out of an aircraft from a height of over 100,000 feet back in 1960. The reason for Kittinger's feat was to study how astronauts might survive such a high drop should they need to eject from a spacecraft. This segment explores both the science behind Kittinger's jump and the frightening experience of actually taking the leap.

The fourth story in the episode takes viewers to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee. This feature focuses on a team of pioneers who played during a time when women's basketball was not even considered a legitimate sport. The team being highlighted was from Oklahoma Presbyterian College, where the basketball program was so new that the players had to supply their own equipment. But despite the lack of resources, the team went on to become a powerhouse in the sport. Through interviews with members of the team, viewers get a glimpse into how these women overcame adversity and blazed a trail for future generations of female basketball players.

The fifth segment in this episode brings viewers to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Oregon. There, they are introduced to the discovery of a 120-year-old sound recording device. The device was used to capture the sounds of native peoples in the Pacific Northwest and offers a unique insight into the cultures of those indigenous to the area. This story explores the history of sound recording and how important it has been to capturing the music and language of cultures across the globe.

The final stop on the episode is at the Frontier Army Museum in Kansas. There, viewers learn about a man named John Dillinger, who was a notorious criminal during the early 20th century. But the story behind Dillinger being in the museum has to do with something else altogether. The museum's holdings include a Colt revolver that was once owned by Dillinger. The story takes viewers on a journey through Dillinger's life of crime, discussing how he became one of the most legendary criminals in American history.

Overall, Mysteries at the Museum's Season 7 premiere episode, Trailblazers, takes viewers on a journey through history, science, sports, and crime. Each story showcases the human spirit's tenacity and determination to be the first, to succeed, to break down barriers. The episode offers fascinating insights into the past, reminding us of the incredible strides humanity has made in science and technology and how these innovations have changed our lives forever.