1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,000 An elegant plaza at the center of a bizarre heist. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:08,000 It's almost as if the captors are the good guys. 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:13,000 A terrifying standoff threatens to destroy the world. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:17,000 This was the most dangerous moment in all of human history. 5 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:21,000 And a visionary who built an architectural first. 6 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,000 This building's forever changed in urban skyline. 7 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,000 Sometimes the greatest secrets lie in plain sight. 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,000 These are the mysteries at the monument. 9 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:43,000 Stockholm, Sweden. 10 00:00:44,000 --> 00:00:46,000 Celebrated as the Venice of the North, 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,000 this low-lying capital spreads across 14 islands 12 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,000 and looks out over the Baltic Sea. 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,000 And built on a former swamp 14 00:00:56,000 --> 00:01:00,000 is one of the city's most elegant and prestigious gathering places. 15 00:01:00,000 --> 00:01:04,000 It's about 200 feet wide and made of gray cement squares. 16 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,000 It's flanked by ornate 19th century buildings 17 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,000 that include banks, boutiques and posh shops. 18 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,000 In the Swedish version of Monopoly, 19 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:15,000 this is the most expensive property on the board. 20 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:21,000 This is Normamstort, Stockholm's upscale central square. 21 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:24,000 But according to author Keith Elliott Greenberg, 22 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:28,000 this plaza was once the site of a crime so bizarre, 23 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,000 it led to the discovery of a new psychological phenomenon. 24 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,000 It is one of the strangest chapters in Stockholm's history. 25 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:42,000 It's a twisted tale of danger, intrigue and unforeseen outcomes. 26 00:01:48,000 --> 00:01:52,000 August 23, 1973. Stockholm. 27 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:56,000 A bank located on busy Normamstort square 28 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,000 is being held up by two gun-toting robbers. 29 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:05,000 Convicted felons Jan-Erik Olsen and Clark Olsen. 30 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,000 They've taken over one of the country's largest banks. 31 00:02:10,000 --> 00:02:12,000 But that's not the worst of it. 32 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:18,000 They have four people hostage, three women, one man, all bank employees. 33 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,000 Leading the investigation is Commissioner Kurt Lindroth. 34 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,000 He learns that the robbers are threatening drastic action. 35 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,000 They will kill one of the hostages unless their demands are met. 36 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,000 They demand three million kroner, 37 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,000 the equivalent of about three-quarters of a million dollars, 38 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,000 and a fast getaway car. 39 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,000 Authorities ready the cash and a getaway car. 40 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,000 But when the thieves insist on taking the captives with them 41 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,000 to ensure a safe passage, negotiations stall. 42 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:55,000 And as the hours drag by, the media descends on Normamstort square. 43 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:59,000 Pretty soon it's an international story, 44 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:04,000 with everybody all around the world following what's known as the bank drama. 45 00:03:06,000 --> 00:03:10,000 In the glare of the spotlight, Lindroth makes a desperate plea. 46 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,000 He asks for permission to enter the bank, 47 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:17,000 so he can confirm all four hostages are unharmed. 48 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:23,000 Lindroth wants to assess the mental and physical well-being of the hostages. 49 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:28,000 His paramount goal is getting the hostages out alive. 50 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:34,000 After a day of tense negotiations, the Commissioner's request is unexpectedly granted. 51 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:40,000 But an even bigger surprise is waiting for him inside the bank. 52 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:46,000 The veteran officer expects to see the captives cringing in fear. 53 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,000 But their demeanor is very different. 54 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:58,000 They're downright chummy with their captors, putting their arms around each other. 55 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,000 They seem to be smiling at each other. 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:09,000 And they're snarling at Lindroth, almost as if he's the enemy and the captors are the good guys. 57 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:22,000 One hostage even insists she be allowed to leave with her captors, 58 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,000 because she wants to protect them. 59 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:30,000 Lindroth leaves the building, baffled by the victim's odd mental state. 60 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,000 He's completely perplexed. 61 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:36,000 He has never, ever encountered a situation like this before. 62 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:46,000 Finally, after six days of failed negotiations, police resort to a risky plan. 63 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,000 Storm the bank. 64 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,000 The police release tear gas through the vents 65 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:59,000 to try to force everybody out. 66 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:06,000 Cornered and blinded by the gas, Jan-Erik Olsen and Clark Olsen swiftly surrender. 67 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:14,000 And their hostages, who have endured more than 130 hours in captivity, are released unharmed. 68 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:19,000 Around Sweden, Kurt Lindroth is an absolute hero. 69 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:26,000 Everyone is celebrating the man who encountered a situation that could have been lethal and ended it peacefully. 70 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:30,000 Both Olsen and Olsen are convicted of robbery. 71 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:36,000 But there's one thing about the case that continues to perplex the police and the public. 72 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:44,000 Even after the bank workers were freed, their seemingly irrational attachment to their captors persisted. 73 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:50,000 They continue to insist that the captors are the good guys. 74 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:57,000 One of the hostages even visits Olsen in jail, truly believing that they're friends. 75 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,000 So what could account for the hostages' odd behavior? 76 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:08,000 Some psychologists believe the victims were so traumatized by the event 77 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:13,000 that they diluted themselves into believing their abductors were their friends. 78 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,000 You distort reality to develop a false sense of security. 79 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:22,000 You convince yourself that these people would never hurt you. 80 00:06:24,000 --> 00:06:27,000 And that's how you maintain your hope. 81 00:06:28,000 --> 00:06:34,000 In the wake of the case, a Swedish psychiatrist coins a term to describe the bizarre condition. 82 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,000 The Stockholm Syndrome. 83 00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:46,000 This whole bizarre situation gives rise to a term that has now become part of the international vernacular. 84 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:57,000 More than four decades later, Normamstort is still one of Stockholm's most popular squares. 85 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:02,000 But for many, it also remains a symbol of a botched bank robbery 86 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,000 and the confounding phenomenon it exposed to the world. 87 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:14,000 Just a half hour north of Fort Lauderdale, Florida is the breezy city of Boynton Beach. 88 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:22,000 The town's award-winning shores offer its 71,000 residents a life of relaxation and bliss. 89 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:30,000 But in a park off US Highway 1 stands a stark monument to a more anxious time. 90 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:35,000 It is four feet tall, three feet wide, and made out of great granite. 91 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:40,000 On its surface, it bears the map of the tiny island nation of Cuba. 92 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:44,000 This is a memorial to the Cuban Missile Crisis, 93 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:50,000 the terrifying standoff that brought the world to the brink of nuclear annihilation. 94 00:07:50,000 --> 00:07:55,000 But according to historian Peter Kuznick, the event could have ended very differently, 95 00:07:55,000 --> 00:07:59,000 were it not for the courage of a little-known Russian officer. 96 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:03,000 We were closer than anyone realizes to Armageddon. 97 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:09,000 And if it wasn't for one man, it is possible that the human race may no longer have existed. 98 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:16,000 October, 1962. 99 00:08:17,000 --> 00:08:21,000 The chill of the Cold War permeates the planet. 100 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:27,000 The United States and the Soviet Union have each amassed dangerous arsenals of atomic weapons. 101 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:36,000 And now, the Soviets are secretly building missile silos, just 90 miles off of Florida's coast. 102 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:41,000 The Soviets think that the US is preparing for a strike, so they put the missiles in Cuba. 103 00:08:41,000 --> 00:08:45,000 They now were within striking distance of the United States. 104 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:51,000 Heading to Cuba to reinforce Soviet troops on the Caribbean island is a Russian submarine, 105 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,000 commanded by Captain Valentin Savitsky. 106 00:08:55,000 --> 00:09:00,000 Valentin Savitsky was the one who was barking out the orders on the submarine. 107 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:06,000 He was a very gruff and dogmatic kind of officer, career military man. 108 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:13,000 Savitsky's submarine also carries some very special cargo. 109 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,000 On board is a nuclear torpedo of breathtaking power. 110 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:23,000 The nuclear torpedo aboard the submarine was almost as powerful as the bomb that was used to destroy the ship. 111 00:09:24,000 --> 00:09:26,000 It was destroyed Hiroshima. 112 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:37,000 But on October 15th, as the subnears Cuba, the captain receives a surprising order. 113 00:09:37,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Halt and await further instructions. 114 00:09:43,000 --> 00:09:47,000 No reason is given for the sudden change of plans. 115 00:09:47,000 --> 00:09:51,000 They didn't know what was going on. They would have to stay there. 116 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:56,000 The crew waits, anxious for their next directive. 117 00:09:56,000 --> 00:10:02,000 But during that time, radio contact with Moscow cuts out. 118 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:07,000 Then, one week later, disaster strikes. 119 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:14,000 There was a loud fud. They felt as if it was a sledgehammer hitting the submarine. 120 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:20,000 Fearing they could be under attack, Savitsky and his men scramble to radio Moscow. 121 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:25,000 Once again, there is no reply. 122 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:34,000 The only information they pick up is from Miami radio stations, where there's talk of an expected US invasion of Cuba. 123 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:39,000 Savitsky thought the Americans were out to destroy the submarine and to kill them. 124 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,000 He assumed that World War 3 had already begun. 125 00:10:45,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Determined to defend his country, Savitsky pulls out the key that will load the nuclear torpedo. 126 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:58,000 He prepares to launch it at the American fleet, even though the move would surely trigger a catastrophic war. 127 00:10:59,000 --> 00:11:07,000 We're talking about much of the planet being destroyed, but he thought that it was his duty to attack the American war fleet. 128 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:12,000 The captain inserts the launch key into the control panel. 129 00:11:15,000 --> 00:11:17,000 The weapon is armed. 130 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,000 This was the most dangerous moment in all of human history. 131 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:33,000 It's October 27, 1962, off the coast of Cuba. 132 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:42,000 Soviet Captain Valentin Savitsky believes his submarine is under attack and fears that World War 3 is about to begin. 133 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:47,000 He's armed his vessel's nuclear torpedo and aimed it squarely at the American fleet. 134 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,000 So how can nuclear holocaust be stopped? 135 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,000 Savitsky is desperate to launch the deadly weapon. 136 00:11:56,000 --> 00:12:04,000 But to do so, he needs the approval of another man on the vessel, the commander of the Soviet naval fleet, Vesely Arkapov. 137 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:10,000 Arkapov was a much more meditative, reflective man, so he pondered the situation. 138 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:14,000 Savitsky rages at Arkapov to approve the launch. 139 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,000 Savitsky is convinced that this is the right thing to do. 140 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,000 He said, we're disgracing the Russian Navy, and we've got to act now. 141 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:30,000 But the veteran officer is all too aware of the consequences of triggering a nuclear conflict. 142 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:39,000 Arkapov had served on a Soviet nuclear sub that had a core reactor accident in which eight people were killed. 143 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:45,000 So he understood in a very visceral way what would happen in the event of a nuclear war. 144 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:49,000 An unwavering Arkapov refuses to give the order. 145 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:55,000 The launch is aborted. 146 00:12:57,000 --> 00:13:00,000 We came within a hair's breadth of nuclear annihilation. 147 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:07,000 When the Soviet submarine surfaces, the men on board are in for a surprise. 148 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,000 World War III had not begun. 149 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:21,000 They also learn that the explosion they felt earlier was from a depth charge that a U.S. warship had dropped to drive Russian subs away from Cuba. 150 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:28,000 They realize that the American destroyers were trying to force them to surface, that they were trying to destroy them. 151 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:35,000 After a period of tense negotiations, the Soviets agree to dismantle their missiles in Cuba. 152 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:40,000 In exchange, the United States vows not to invade the Caribbean island. 153 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:45,000 Kennedy and Khrushchev both side, this is insanity. 154 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:49,000 They realize how close we had come to nuclear war. 155 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:55,000 For decades, the details of this harrowing confrontation are hidden from the public. 156 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:03,000 Then in 2002, the U.S. National Security Archive goes public with the story, finally bringing to light the tale of the cool-headed Russian commander. 157 00:14:04,000 --> 00:14:10,000 Arkapov now is considered by many to be the man who single-handedly saved the world. 158 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:18,000 And today, this simple monument in Boynton Beach floor is the first to be built. 159 00:14:19,000 --> 00:14:32,000 And today, this simple monument in Boynton Beach, Florida serves as a reminder of the courageous officer who brought both superpowers back from the brink of World War III. 160 00:14:36,000 --> 00:14:38,000 Honolulu, Oahu. 161 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:46,000 On the south shore of this capital city is Waikiki Beach, once an exclusive retreat for Hawaiian kings. 162 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:52,000 And near the center of town is a majestic structure that recalls this regal spirit. 163 00:14:57,000 --> 00:15:02,000 This building is built in its own distinct, really beautiful European style. 164 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:05,000 It's a wonderful jewel in the middle of the Hawaiian island. 165 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:13,000 This is Ayolani Palace, the only royal residence in America. 166 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:21,000 Originally built to house Hawaiian monarchs, this lavish landmark served as the state capital building until 1969. 167 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:32,000 But according to author Dale Hope, a decidedly unregal movement was born here that would alter the very fabric of daily life. 168 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:38,000 What started as a laid-back idea in Hawaii became ingrained across the country. 169 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,000 Honolulu, 1961. 170 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:46,000 For years, the town's tourism industry has been enjoying a spectacular boom. 171 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:53,000 Among those who profited from this surge is a clothing vendor named Bill Foster. 172 00:15:54,000 --> 00:16:00,000 The businessman specializes in the brightly colored iconic Hawaiian tops known as Aloha shirts. 173 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:07,000 The visitors were all born from the traditional Hawaiian clothing. 174 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:12,000 You could find these shirts as souvenirs. It was a postcard you could wear. 175 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:19,000 But Foster is now looking to expand sales by tapping a new market, Hawaiian locals. 176 00:16:21,000 --> 00:16:27,000 So with the help of his wife, Mary, Bill designs a line of more muted, subtly colored shirts. 177 00:16:28,000 --> 00:16:30,000 I like the palm trees and the flowers. 178 00:16:31,000 --> 00:16:38,000 Their aim was to sell to the sophisticated local, not gaudy Hawaiian, but tasteful Hawaiian. 179 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:42,000 Something that their employees could wear and could in their offices. 180 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:45,000 I think people are really going to go crazy for this. 181 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:52,000 Investing nearly all they have into the venture, the Fosters open a storefront near Waikiki Beach. 182 00:16:53,000 --> 00:16:56,000 But just months after its launch, sales are flagging. 183 00:16:57,000 --> 00:16:59,000 While the shirts are comfortable and cool, 184 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:04,000 Honlulu residents are reluctant to sport such a casual look on workdays. 185 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:10,000 I think the sentiment was that the Aloha shirts were not something I'd have major meetings. 186 00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:12,000 It was very undignified. 187 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:21,000 But Foster refuses to accept the fact that the Fosters are not a product of the local market. 188 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:23,000 The status quo. 189 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:30,000 And he's tailoring a scheme that will split Honlulu's stuffy dress code apart at the seams. 190 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:36,000 This was a bold plan that would help transform American fashion. 191 00:17:37,000 --> 00:17:42,000 How did one man on a remote island revolutionize the way Americans dress? 192 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:48,000 It's 1962 in Hawaii. 193 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:53,000 With tourism booming, the island's quintessential garment, the Aloha shirt, 194 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:57,000 has turned into a tacky cliche worn mostly by tourists. 195 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:02,000 But businessman Bill Foster has redesigned it as everyday wear for locals. 196 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:07,000 But can he convince his fellow Hawaiians to buy his splashy shirts? 197 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:15,000 With his livelihood on the line, Foster unleashes Operation Liberation. 198 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:17,000 The strategy is simple. 199 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:23,000 Give away his Aloha shirts for free to one particularly influential group of locals. 200 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:32,000 Bill Foster comes up with a plan to give two shirts to each senator and representative in the Hawaii legislature. 201 00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:40,000 Foster hopes that when the lawmakers finally try on the lightweight shirts, 202 00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,000 they will ditch their hot, uncomfortable suits. 203 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:47,000 Their reaction is swift and decisive. 204 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,000 Now that you have a mind, what do you think? 205 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,000 Operation Liberation totally worked. 206 00:18:54,000 --> 00:19:00,000 People began throwing off their coats and ties and they started wearing more casual, relaxed shirts. 207 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:09,000 To Bill's delight, lawmakers at Iolani Palace soon pass a resolution 208 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,000 that encourages employees to wear Aloha shirts on the last day of the week. 209 00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,000 The practice comes to be known as Aloha Fridays. 210 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:22,000 It was this idea that we can still conduct business and we can still be official. 211 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,000 But we're dealing it on our terms and we're doing it with ease. 212 00:19:28,000 --> 00:19:33,000 With the birth of Aloha Fridays, Bill Foster's clothing label thrives. 213 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:39,000 The movement he helped trigger also spreads far beyond the Hawaiian islands. 214 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:46,000 And soon, employers across the country adopt their own version of Hawaii's relaxed dress code. 215 00:19:47,000 --> 00:19:48,000 Casual Fridays. 216 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:52,000 Everybody was becoming more relaxed in their offices. 217 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:55,000 Casual Friday really grew out of Aloha Friday. 218 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:05,000 And back in Honolulu, the Iolani Palace, where lawmakers adopted Aloha Fridays, 219 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:13,000 still proudly stands as a symbol of how a far flung paradise can make waves that are felt on distant shores. 220 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:24,000 On the banks of the James River sits Richmond, the capital of Virginia. 221 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:30,000 Established in 1742, the town boasts a long and storied past. 222 00:20:30,000 --> 00:20:35,000 It is where founding father Patrick Henry gave his fiery ultimatum, 223 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:38,000 Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death. 224 00:20:42,000 --> 00:20:47,000 But the city is also home to a monument that honors a lesser known figure. 225 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,000 It's approximately 10 feet tall and 12 feet wide and it's made out of great granite. 226 00:20:54,000 --> 00:21:00,000 There's a group of bronze figurines and at their center is a slender young woman 227 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:05,000 with a determined look on her face and her hand reaching out towards the sky. 228 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:15,000 According to museum official Justin Reed, this sculpture depicts a groundbreaking heroine who inspired a momentous change. 229 00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:22,000 She helped found the civil rights movement and laid the groundwork for all that came afterwards. 230 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:28,000 1951. 231 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:33,000 Across the American South, racial segregation is the law of the land. 232 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:40,000 But the separate facilities for black and white citizens are rarely equal, especially when it comes to education. 233 00:21:40,000 --> 00:21:46,000 Black students, schools were often very inferior, glaringly so. 234 00:21:47,000 --> 00:21:53,000 Yet in Farmville, Virginia, one 16-year-old student is determined to change the system. 235 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:56,000 Her name is Barbara Rose Johns. 236 00:21:57,000 --> 00:22:00,000 Barbara Johns was an engaged student, very involved in student life. 237 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:02,000 And there was this maturity about her. 238 00:22:02,000 --> 00:22:06,000 She was the type of person that when she did speak, people tended to listen. 239 00:22:09,000 --> 00:22:13,000 The teen is frustrated with the conditions at her school, moat and high. 240 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:21,000 Unlike the local school for white students, moat and high is dilapidated and severely overcrowded. 241 00:22:23,000 --> 00:22:28,000 To deal with the overcrowding, the county built additional classrooms made out of tarpaper shacks. 242 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:31,000 The same materials used to build chicken houses. 243 00:22:31,000 --> 00:22:34,000 So no insulation whatsoever. 244 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:36,000 The roofs leaked horribly. 245 00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,000 The students would have to sit under umbrellas when it rained. 246 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:45,000 For years, the county has refused to upgrade the all-black school. 247 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:50,000 But Barbara has an idea that she hopes will finally force officials into action. 248 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:53,000 A student strike. 249 00:22:53,000 --> 00:23:00,000 Barbara wanted to convince the students to walk out and refuse to go to class until they were given a new school building. 250 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:06,000 She thought that once people knew how bad the conditions were, that the school board would have to give into their demands. 251 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:10,000 April 23rd, 1951. 252 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:15,000 On this clear spring day, Barbara is ready to put her plan into action. 253 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:19,000 But the entire scheme rests on one crucial step. 254 00:23:19,000 --> 00:23:23,000 The principal must first be lured away from the school property. 255 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,000 And so this principal was very strict. 256 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,000 If he had gotten wind of the strike, he would have stopped it in his tracks. 257 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:33,000 For this critical task, she enlists the help of a friend. 258 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:39,000 So one of the students disguises his voice and tells the principal there are students downtown causing trouble. 259 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,000 I need you to come down here and take care of it. 260 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:44,000 And that if he doesn't come and get them, he's going to call the police. 261 00:23:45,000 --> 00:23:54,000 As the administrator races out, Barbara immediately spreads word that all 450 students should gather in the school auditorium. 262 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:02,000 There, she steps in front of the assembled crowd and asks them to strike. 263 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,000 This school is appalling. 264 00:24:06,000 --> 00:24:11,000 Barbara thought that they needed to let the entire community know that these schools were awful. 265 00:24:11,000 --> 00:24:16,000 And they would do that by refusing to go to class and demonstrating outside of the building. 266 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:20,000 We need to go on strike and we need to do it now. 267 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,000 At first, her peers are skeptical and afraid of being arrested. 268 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:25,000 We're going to go to jail. 269 00:24:25,000 --> 00:24:27,000 They're never going to listen to us. 270 00:24:27,000 --> 00:24:29,000 But Barbara presses her case. 271 00:24:30,000 --> 00:24:34,000 Barbara replies that the formal jail isn't big enough to hold us off. 272 00:24:34,000 --> 00:24:35,000 We can do this. 273 00:24:35,000 --> 00:24:38,000 She knew that this was their moment and that they needed to seize it. 274 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,000 Finally, the teen activist wins over her peers. 275 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:49,000 They begin chanting, and rising out of their seats, and they all march out of the school building. 276 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:58,000 Over the next several days, the students protest in front of their nearly empty school. 277 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:06,000 But their actions draw a predictably vicious backlash from some of the town's white residents. 278 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:11,000 And a cross is burned in Barbara's front yard. 279 00:25:12,000 --> 00:25:13,000 There was intimidation, coercion. 280 00:25:13,000 --> 00:25:16,000 There were a lot of things at risk for the students. 281 00:25:17,000 --> 00:25:20,000 But little do the young protesters know. 282 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:24,000 The reaction will echo far beyond the corridors of Motun Hai. 283 00:25:30,000 --> 00:25:33,000 1951, Farmville, Virginia. 284 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:40,000 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns is fed up with the appalling conditions at her segregated all-black high school. 285 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:45,000 So she leads a student strike to force administrators to construct a new building. 286 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:49,000 But will her plan to strong arm authorities really work? 287 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,000 Barbara and her peers refuse to back down. 288 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,000 They continue to strike for two straight weeks. 289 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:02,000 And it seems their determination just might pay off. 290 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:11,000 Barbara is contacted by the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. 291 00:26:12,000 --> 00:26:15,000 Their attorneys have learned about the student strike in Farmville. 292 00:26:17,000 --> 00:26:22,000 They were so impressed with how determined these students were, they agreed to represent them in court. 293 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:28,000 But rather than just fight for a new building, the NAACP has an even bigger goal in mind. 294 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:32,000 The end segregation in all public schools. 295 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:36,000 The thought of integration had never crossed the students' minds. 296 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:41,000 The NAACP says that only through integration could education be equal. 297 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:45,000 The Farmville lawsuit is combined with four other claims. 298 00:26:45,000 --> 00:26:48,000 And they are presented before the U.S. Supreme Court. 299 00:26:48,000 --> 00:26:53,000 In a case that becomes known as Brown versus the Board of Education. 300 00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:00,000 Brown versus the Board of Education is the case calling for the complete desegregation of America's public schools. 301 00:27:00,000 --> 00:27:02,000 It's history in the making. 302 00:27:02,000 --> 00:27:10,000 And in a landmark 1954 ruling, segregation is outlawed in all public schools across the country. 303 00:27:11,000 --> 00:27:14,000 For Barbara, she said it seemed like reaching for the moon. 304 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,000 These young people played such a huge role in pioneering the civil rights movement. 305 00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,000 Today, this sculpture in Richmond, Virginia, 306 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:30,000 endures as an inspiring celebration of a courageous girl who refused to see the world in black and white. 307 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:45,000 On the banks of the Genesee River, in New York's Finger Lakes region, lies the small town of Avon. 308 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:51,000 For years, the river's fast flowing waters powered a flourishing paper mill industry. 309 00:27:53,000 --> 00:28:01,000 But it was the advent of the railroad that produced the deceptively simple structure still standing at 100 West Main Street. 310 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:06,000 It's about 80 feet by 24 feet. It has some beautiful wooden details. 311 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:13,000 It's green with maroon trim. And it stands right next to a working train line. 312 00:28:16,000 --> 00:28:19,000 This is the old Avon Railroad Station. 313 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:28,000 Once a busy depot, today this restored station house is a popular watering hole for locals. 314 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:37,000 But according to historical tour guide Seth Camel, the station is also linked to a stunning first in urban architecture. 315 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:43,000 This building is the launching pad for a man whose ideas forever changed in urban skyline. 316 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:52,000 1879. America's network of railroads is rapidly expanding. 317 00:28:52,000 --> 00:29:00,000 And among the industry's leading architects is 26-year-old Bradford Lee Gilbert, designer of the Avon Rail Station. 318 00:29:00,000 --> 00:29:06,000 The train station in Avon, New York represents a cornerstone of Bradford Lee Gilbert's career. 319 00:29:06,000 --> 00:29:12,000 You can really see the care he took in the simplest structures he built. 320 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:18,000 But the young architect yearns for something more. 321 00:29:18,000 --> 00:29:26,000 Gilbert wanted to break away from building train stations and build a legacy that would hold up for generations. 322 00:29:26,000 --> 00:29:34,000 In 1887, Gilbert's friend, John Stearns, approaches him with an opportunity he simply can't pass up. 323 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:41,000 Stearns has recently purchased a narrow 21-foot wide plot of land. 324 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:46,000 On which he plans to build new office space. 325 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:51,000 And the ambitious entrepreneur wants his construction to stand out. 326 00:29:51,000 --> 00:29:57,000 Stearns wanted to make a name for himself by being the owner of the tallest building in New York. 327 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:04,000 He tells Gilbert he wants it to be 11 stories high. This presents the architect with a daunting challenge. 328 00:30:04,000 --> 00:30:10,000 At the time, high-rise buildings in New York are extremely uncommon. 329 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:13,000 Most buildings are under six stories. 330 00:30:13,000 --> 00:30:23,000 The idea of building an 11-story structure on really the equivalent of a postage stamp piece of land is seemingly impossible. 331 00:30:23,000 --> 00:30:30,000 Stearns admits that he's approached almost every architect in the city and all have turned him down. 332 00:30:30,000 --> 00:30:32,000 Gilbert is his last hope. 333 00:30:32,000 --> 00:30:44,000 Gilbert saw Stearns' problem as a tremendous opportunity to not only break into the urban market, but to do something that had never been done before. 334 00:30:44,000 --> 00:30:51,000 Gilbert works for months at his drafting table. 335 00:30:51,000 --> 00:30:54,000 Suddenly, an image comes to him. 336 00:30:54,000 --> 00:31:01,000 The steel skeleton of a railroad trestle bridge, like the one erected 20 miles from Avon. 337 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:06,000 Gilbert imagines turning the bridge vertically on its end. 338 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:13,000 Its strong steel framework could be used to support the floors and walls of a tall, narrow building. 339 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:23,000 He envisions a steel skeleton supporting the weight of the building. 340 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:34,000 On April 17, 1888, using this novel steel framework, Gilbert and Stearns set about constructing the tallest building New Yorkers have ever seen. 341 00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:39,000 And eight months later, everything except for its roof is in place. 342 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:47,000 Stearns and Gilbert called their 11-story building the Tower because it would tower over everything. 343 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:52,000 But the design is so unusual, critics are skeptical it will hold. 344 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:59,000 Headlines claim that with the first great storm, the building will fall. 345 00:31:59,000 --> 00:32:03,000 And soon, their theory will be put to the test. 346 00:32:03,000 --> 00:32:09,000 One Sunday morning in 1889, a hurricane approaches New York City. 347 00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:19,000 Gilbert rushes to a structure and finds a nervous Stearns and a swarm of disbelievers all expecting the building to collapse. 348 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:25,000 With his reputation on the line, Gilbert does something no one would have expected. 349 00:32:25,000 --> 00:32:30,000 He grabs a plum line and climbs a scaffolding. 350 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:36,000 Dropping the plum line from the top will show if the building stays vertical in the buffeting winds. 351 00:32:36,000 --> 00:32:39,000 He's going to prove to the world that it's safe and secure. 352 00:32:41,000 --> 00:32:46,000 But as Gilbert scales the edifice, the storm intensifies. 353 00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:53,000 It's 1889 in New York City. 354 00:32:53,000 --> 00:33:00,000 Architect Bradford Gilbert has nearly completed construction of the tallest building the city has ever seen. 355 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:06,000 But as a hurricane approaches, his critics announce the structure is doomed to collapse. 356 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,000 So will Gilbert's skyscraper hold up? 357 00:33:10,000 --> 00:33:16,000 The crowd watches in disbelief as Gilbert scales the scaffolding floor after floor. 358 00:33:16,000 --> 00:33:21,000 The crowd is calling him a fool, suicidal, an idiot. 359 00:33:21,000 --> 00:33:29,000 And as he reaches the top, mother nature seems to conspire against him. 360 00:33:29,000 --> 00:33:35,000 He's facing 80 mile an hour winds and it knocks him to his knees. 361 00:33:37,000 --> 00:33:42,000 The spectators below await his almost certain fall from the top. 362 00:33:43,000 --> 00:33:48,000 He crawls to the edge of the building and he drops his plum line. 363 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:53,000 The weighted line settles perfectly straight next to the building, 364 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,000 proving his structure is still vertical. 365 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:02,000 The crowd breaks out in a cheer and they all celebrate his tremendous victory. 366 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:09,000 Stearns is thrilled. 367 00:34:10,000 --> 00:34:16,000 He's got the tallest building in New York that people now want to be in. 368 00:34:18,000 --> 00:34:21,000 Gilbert's creation gains him the recognition he yearned for 369 00:34:21,000 --> 00:34:25,000 and makes history as New York City's first skyscraper. 370 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:31,000 Almost immediately, the design principles are replicated all throughout New York City. 371 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:36,000 Bradford Gilbert's pioneering use of skeleton or curtain wall construction 372 00:34:36,000 --> 00:34:40,000 helps transform the urban skyline forever. 373 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:46,000 Today, Gilbert's historic train station in Avon, New York 374 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,000 stands as a monument to a visionary who scaled the heights of his profession 375 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:54,000 and changed the face of American architecture. 376 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:04,000 Nevada City, Montana was the site of one of the richest gold strikes in the American West. 377 00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:07,000 Boasting more than 100 landmark buildings, 378 00:35:07,000 --> 00:35:12,000 the town is now an open-air museum that celebrates daily life on the frontier. 379 00:35:13,000 --> 00:35:19,000 And near a cluster of cabins on Main Street is a plaque that recalls a notorious episode 380 00:35:19,000 --> 00:35:23,000 from the town's earliest and darkest days. 381 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:26,000 It's 24 by 26 inches. 382 00:35:26,000 --> 00:35:29,000 It is weathered with age, made of metal, 383 00:35:29,000 --> 00:35:34,000 and it makes a bold claim about the most extraordinary trial in history. 384 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:41,000 This sign marks the spot where a despicable outlaw was finally brought to justice. 385 00:35:41,000 --> 00:35:44,000 But as historian Ellen Baumler knows, 386 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:49,000 his infamous case uncovered an even more sinister secret. 387 00:35:49,000 --> 00:35:53,000 The town would discover something shocking about one of its own. 388 00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:58,000 What deadly tale of greed, gold, and corruption does this marker commemorate? 389 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:05,000 1863, the Montana Territory 390 00:36:05,000 --> 00:36:09,000 This rugged region is in the throes of the gold rush. 391 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:14,000 But along with a flood of riches has come a wave of crime and terror. 392 00:36:17,000 --> 00:36:22,000 There is no law in order. There is no government presence whatsoever. 393 00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:28,000 In particular, outlaws have been targeting stagecoaches carrying gold back east. 394 00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:33,000 And all of the bandits seem to share one striking feature. 395 00:36:33,000 --> 00:36:37,000 They do seem to wear the same type of masks. 396 00:36:37,000 --> 00:36:41,000 So it seems like there may be some network of criminals. 397 00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:47,000 The people of Nevada City are baffled by another conspicuous pattern. 398 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:51,000 Although the stagecoaches transporting the gold look like just any other wagon, 399 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:55,000 the thieves seem to know precisely which ones to hit. 400 00:36:56,000 --> 00:37:02,000 Residents wonder if there are spies in their community who are tipping off the bandits. 401 00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:08,000 People are afraid to talk to their neighbors and they're afraid to walk in the streets. 402 00:37:08,000 --> 00:37:11,000 So something clearly has to be done. 403 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:16,000 The panicked community demands action from its sheriff, Henry Plummer. 404 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:22,000 Plummer was a very energetic, genteel person who was proficient with a gun. 405 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,000 He was also very persuasive. 406 00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:29,000 Plummer declares he will put a stop to the crimes. 407 00:37:31,000 --> 00:37:37,000 And in the coming weeks, hopeful Montanans watch their sheriff patrol the surrounding valley. 408 00:37:38,000 --> 00:37:42,000 It seems that he was out investigating crimes, doing his job. 409 00:37:42,000 --> 00:37:49,000 Citizens observe Henry building a jail. He builds a gallows. He even hangs someone. 410 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:54,000 Despite these tough measures, the banditry only seems to get worse. 411 00:37:57,000 --> 00:38:05,000 And in December of 1863, a young miner is robbed of his mules and gold and slaughtered in cold blood. 412 00:38:05,000 --> 00:38:09,000 It was a heinous crime and citizens were very, very upset. 413 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:14,000 It seems that the gang is getting bolder and more violent. 414 00:38:15,000 --> 00:38:20,000 It seems as if nothing can stop the mysterious gang of outlaws. 415 00:38:20,000 --> 00:38:27,000 But then, one day, while Sheriff Plummer is away in a neighboring town, some local miners catch a break. 416 00:38:27,000 --> 00:38:34,000 They recognize the murder victim's stolen mules in the possession of a man named George Ives. 417 00:38:35,000 --> 00:38:39,000 The men organize a posse and they arrest George Ives. 418 00:38:40,000 --> 00:38:45,000 They're thinking that perhaps this might be the beginning of breaking that criminal ring. 419 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:52,000 The miners take Ives to nearby Nevada City and organize a people's court on Main Street. 420 00:38:52,000 --> 00:38:55,000 The verdict is put to the people. 421 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:00,000 And they vote to convict him. 422 00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:06,000 Within an hour, they put the noose over his head and hang him. 423 00:39:10,000 --> 00:39:17,000 Buied by their success, the miners agree to establish a militia called the Montana Vigilantes. 424 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:22,000 They decide they can't wait for Plummer and so they take the law into their own hands. 425 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:27,000 The men immediately set out to track down Ives' known associates. 426 00:39:28,000 --> 00:39:32,000 But little do they know, they're about to make a shocking discovery. 427 00:39:33,000 --> 00:39:37,000 It's 1863, Nevada City, Montana. 428 00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:42,000 This mining boom town is being terrorized by a gang of ruthless bandits. 429 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:47,000 So locals set up a vigilante committee to hunt down the gang members. 430 00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:52,000 But these self-appointed lawmen are about to make an alarming discovery. 431 00:39:54,000 --> 00:40:00,000 While patrolling the town, the vigilantes spot a known associate of George Ives. 432 00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:05,000 I need you to tell me everything that you know about this road-aging gang. 433 00:40:06,000 --> 00:40:11,000 Under questioning, the man admits to being part of the gang that has plagued the area. 434 00:40:11,000 --> 00:40:15,000 He goes on to detail the group's elaborate operations. 435 00:40:15,000 --> 00:40:19,000 He tells them that there are many, many people involved in this. 436 00:40:19,000 --> 00:40:21,000 There's more people than you ever know. 437 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:25,000 The system is much bigger than they could have imagined. 438 00:40:25,000 --> 00:40:31,000 But most shocking of all is the revelation of who's really behind the brutal robberies. 439 00:40:32,000 --> 00:40:35,000 And the leader of this huge criminal network. 440 00:40:36,000 --> 00:40:37,000 It's Henry Plummer. 441 00:40:38,000 --> 00:40:44,000 It seems that, as the sheriff, Plummer knew which stagecoaches were loaded with gold. 442 00:40:44,000 --> 00:40:47,000 And he would pass on the information to his fellow bandits. 443 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,000 His corruption knew no bounds. 444 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:54,000 Even rigged the trials of gang members and let them off the hook. 445 00:40:56,000 --> 00:41:02,000 On January 10th, 1864, the vigilantes show up at Sheriff Plummer's home. 446 00:41:03,000 --> 00:41:07,000 They arrest him and they lead him to the gallows and hang him. 447 00:41:09,000 --> 00:41:16,000 Over the next few months, 20 other members of Plummer's gang are arrested and executed in the public's quest for justice. 448 00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:22,000 They rid the territory of this extremely sophisticated criminal network. 449 00:41:25,000 --> 00:41:32,000 And today, the site where George Ives stood trial endures as a testament to a vicious reign of terror. 450 00:41:32,000 --> 00:41:37,000 And the outraged citizens who took the law into their own hands to stop it. 451 00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:49,000 From a harrowing heist to a Soviet savior, a student strike to a gang of outlaws. 452 00:41:49,000 --> 00:41:54,000 I'm Don Wildman and these are the Mysteries at the Monument.