Josh Rosen

At the mention of the word "vampire," images of bloody fangs, dark capes, and a man with a hideous, spooky laugh immediately come to mind. These conventional images, born from countless vampire films over the years, are most commonly associated with Irish writer Bram Stoker and his iconic 1897 novel Dracula. However, despite the popularity and influence of this celebrated nineteenth-century tome, the vampire myth dates back more than 1,000 years, long before Stoker ever put pen to paper. In this fascinating journey through time, HISTORY uncovers the ancient folkloric origins of blood-craving creatures from beyond the grave. Learn how the vampire myth is strongly rooted in Eastern European lore, but how it has also played a prominent role in the ancient cultures of Greece and China. From wooden stakes to garlic apotropes to ancient burial rituals, VAMPIRE SECRETS explores how this long-standing myth has been interpreted by different cultures around the world.

Though the end of the United States Civil War gave the nation much to celebrate, there were nonetheless those unpleased with the North's victory, the key example, perhaps, being John Wilkes Booth. Eager to declare one definitive "victory" for the South, Booth shot and killed President Abraham Lincoln in front of thousands of witnesses. However, despite one of the largest manhunts in US history, Booth was able to evade capture for nearly two weeks. This program offers an in-depth look at exactly how Booth nearly escaped successfully after assassinating the President of the United States.