PBS Green-Lights Updated Format of HISTORY DETECTIVES – New Format Investigating Iconic Mysteries Debuts in 2014

History detectives Wes Cowan, Kaiama Glover and Tukufu Zuberi
(Photo Credits: Stephanie Berger, Asiya Khaki)

Alexandria, VA -- July 8, 2013 -- PBS announced today a new format of HISTORY DETECTIVES to air in 2014. Comprised of four one-hour programs, HDSI—HISTORY DETECTIVES SPECIAL INVESTIGATION (w.t.), introduces the fresh perspective of a new detective and focuses on a single story per episode. The new episodes will air as part of a block of history programming and offer viewers a night of intriguing glimpses into our past.

Kaiama (ki YA ma) Glover will join forces with two veteran History Detectives, Wes Cowan and Tukufu Zuberi to collectively investigate each mystery from all angles. Glover is a professor at Barnard College, Columbia University, where she teaches literature of the French-speaking Caribbean and sub-Saharan West African cinema.

Each new hour-long episode will ask probing questions behind a single iconic mystery from America's past. What was behind the tragic sinking of the SS Sultana at the end of the American Civil War? Can we solve the mystery of the Austin Servant Girl Murders of the 1880s? Did a Mafia kingpin’s darkest secret trigger Jimmy Hoffa’s disappearance? And what led to the mysterious disappearance of big band leader Glenn Miller during World War II?

The HDSI team will bring cutting edge tools to some of our biggest historical mysteries. As they unearth fresh evidence, sift through clues and crisscross the country in search of answers, they reveal new perspectives on stories we thought we knew. 

“We are thrilled to bring the detectives back to solve famous mysteries from American history,” said Beth Hoppe, Chief Programming Executive and General Manager of General Audience Programming for PBS. “With the new program format and a fresh face added to the team, HDSI sheds new light on historical moments and revamps a treasured show.”

PBS will announce airdates as soon as they become available. 

View past episodes of HISTORY DETECTIVES on our website at http://pbs.org/historydetectives. “Like” HISTORY DETECTIVES on Facebook and follow the detectives on Twitter. HISTORY DETECTIVES SPECIAL INVESTIGATION will be a co-production of Lion Television and Oregon Public Broadcasting for PBS.