The stories behind the museums

A vanity tool that turned the African American hair-care industry on its ear. A humble bank account register tied to an elaborate scheme that fooled the founder of Tiffany & Co. A not-so-secret substance used for a highly classified purpose to help win World War II. An instrument connected to the devil himself.

If you’ve ever watched the wildly popular Mysteries at the Museum series on The Travel Channel, you’ve seen host Don Wildman uncover and reveal the mystery behind artifacts hidden away in museums all over America. There are some unexpected treasures—from the bizarre to the extraordinary—to be found inside museums across Kentucky, and here are some of the remarkable mysteries surrounding them.