Searching for Secrets

Why is the Empire State Building listed as having 102 floors when it actually has a 103? How did a German spy's terror attack cause the Statue of Liberty's torch to be closed to the public for over a century? And what does tiny North Brother Island in the East River have to do with "Typhoid Mary"? The Big Apple is a city of secrets, some tucked away and others hidden in plain sight. We follow six experts as they journey uptown, downtown, east to west, and even underground in search of New York's most remarkable and surprising stories.

Why are London's black cabs so oddly shaped? How did the city's first toilets help create the first subway? And what's the story with the tree dedication at the end of Europe's busiest shopping street? We send five local experts out to investigate some of London's surprising secrets, some buried underground, and others hiding (and driving) in plain sight. From the colossal Marble Arch to thumbnail-sized bone discs buried in the banks of the Thames, we examine remarkable objects great and small and unveil their hidden histories.

Why is one of San Francisco's fire hydrants painted gold? What are two Dutch windmills doing on the edge of Golden Gate Park? And what does one apartment on Telegraph Hill have to do with the CIA, mind control, and the "Summer of Love"? Join us on a one-of-a-kind tour of the City by the Bay as we seek out the city's most remarkable and surprising secrets, many of which are hiding in plain sight. Our journey includes a bakery made famous by the Gold Rush, landmarks of the 1906 earthquake, and the evolution of the rainbow flag.

What do pink pipes have to do with Hitler's plan for world domination? How did an enterprising woman combine the Cold War and curry powder into a popular local snack? And was there a body swap on top of the Brandenburg Gate? Berlin is a city full of fascinating yet little-known stories, but if you know where to look, you can spot them hiding in plain sight all over the city. Enjoy a tour of Berlin unlike any other as we explore its famous landmarks, enter its sprawling forest, sample its favorite wurst, and uncover its hidden history.

What are Notre Dame's gargoyles guarding? What do five ordinary flagstones have to do with one of the most notorious killing machines ever created? What is the Phantom of the Opera's connection to a statue on the Seine? Paris has one of the richest and most exciting histories of any city in the world, but some of its most fascinating stories have been lost to the ages. Enjoy this one-of-a-kind tour as we reveal its many secrets, hiding in catacombs and cathedrals, sidewalks and cemeteries, and along its famous river.

What’s the secret history behind Singapore's legendary gourmet street food? Why are some of its roads designed to be emergency runways? And how did toilets make the city rich? Singapore is full of strange and fascinating stories, and if you know where to look, you can find them hiding in famous landmarks and obscure locations all over the city. Join us on a one-of-a-kind tour as we look into the special sauce that keeps Hawker Center food court independent, a stealthy jungle predator that terrorized Serangoon Road, and more.