DESCRIPTION: (from Travel Channel's press release, March 2013) Where did the term "flying saucer" originate? Who was an inspiration for Bram Stoker's "Dracula?" Did John Wilkes Booth escape justice and live out his life in Texas? In Travel Channel's new original series "Monumental Mysteries," history explorer and museum enthusiast Don Wildman uncovers some of America's most intriguing events, greatest triumphs, well-known disasters, and even some notorious crimes that are linked to many of the nation's monuments. These include iconic buildings, bridges, memorials, national parks, statues, sculptures and gravestones across the country. The 13-episode one-hour series premieres Thursday, May 9 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. "Monumental Mysteries" scours the United States for the nation's history-rich monuments and unveils tales that are unknown to many Americans. These fascinating stories include why New York's Ellis Island served as a beacon of hope for the world-famous Von Trapp family, why the hands of a huge clock on the island of Hawaii are forever frozen in time, and how a newlywed couple inexplicably vanished in Arizona's breathtaking Grand Canyon.
