History is filled with unsolved mysteries. Your task in this research project is to choose one of those mysteries and present a plausible theory to explain it. You will research a variety of primary and secondary sources to uncover possible theories and the clues that support them. After you conclude your research, you will create a “Case File” that includes: background on the mystery, the most plausible theory, and a collection of annotated evidence that backs up that theory.
- The Great Chicago Fire: A fire raged through the city of Chicago from October 8 through October 10, 1871, killing hundreds. The traditional story has it that a cow owned by the O’Leary family kicked over a lantern in its barn, starting a fire that spread to over three square miles. But was it really Mrs. O’Leary’s cow that started the fire?
- The Disappearance of Amelia Earhart: Amelia Earhart was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. On June 1, 1937, Earhart and her flight navigator Fred Noonan left Miami, Florida, on the first leg of a journey that would make her the first woman to fly around the world. On July 2, Earhart and Noonan took off from Howland Island in the Pacific Ocean and simply disappeared. Did they crash? And, if so, where?
- The Lost Colony of Roanoke: The Colony of Roanoke was settled in 1587 on an island in present-day North Carolina. The colony’s governor, John White, sailed home to England for supplies. When he returned three years later—delayed by the Spanish-American War—the colony had disappeared entirely. The only evidence left behind was the word “Croatoan” carved into a wooden post. What happened to those settlers?
- The Disappearance of Glenn Miller in World War II: Glenn Miller was a famous big band leader in the 1930s and ‘40s. During World War II, he and his big band were important ambassadors for American values, playing swing music throughout Europe and broadcasting their music over the radio throughout both Allied and Axis countries. But on December 15, 1944, Glenn Miller boarded a plane to fly from Britain across the English Channel to Paris. He was never seen again. Did his plane sink in the English Channel? Was it friendly fire? What ever did happen to the famous bandleader?
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