Plot Synopsis

Storyteller and local historian Bil Lepp travels off the beaten path across America to discover the truth behind mysteries and legends of American history. Each one-hour episode of MAN VS. HISTORY sees Bil investigate, decode and debunk one iconic subject or figure, like Billy the Kid, Johnny Appleseed, Davy Crockett, Houdini and more. Whether speaking to experts, handling artifacts or testing historical weapons, Bil works to determine if the story in question was fact, fiction or somewhere in-between.

In the series opener, "Billy the Kid's Great Escape," images of the Wild West are inscribed in the American DNA. We've been raised on tales of cowboys with great nicknames dueling it out and then riding off into the sunset. We've consumed so much fiction about the Wild West, it's time to get down to the facts. In search of the truth, Bil Lepp, puts Billy the Kid's famous escape to the test, attempts Annie Oakley's most difficult shot and investigates the validity of the "Tombstone Thunderbird."
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On Tuesday, August 31, 2021 from 9-11pm ET/PT, History Channel premiered the season finale of MAN VS. HISTORY, debuting back-to-back new episodes immediately following a five-hour marathon (4-9pm) of encore episodes. New episodes include:

"Franklin's Electric Kite" (9pm): It's often said that necessity is the mother of invention, although no one knows who first said that or when. Which makes sense, because when it comes to inventors, murky origin stories go along with the territory. Bil sheds light on how Ben Franklin really discovered electricity, examines if Edison truly invented the lightbulb, and sorts out if the Wright Brothers were actually first in flight.

"Revere's Midnight Ride" (10pm): The pursuit of American Independence spawned some of the greatest achievements and inspirational moments in the nation's history. Not surprisingly, they've taken on a mythical quality over the course of generations. Bil saddles up to find out what Paul Revere's ride was really like, if the turning point in Revolutionary War was a seemingly impossible sniper shot, and if Betsey Ross was really responsible for Old Glory.