Greek sponge divers, nuclear missiles hidden in the Everglades, Charles Ponzi selling fake swampland, and a town erased from the map.
The Detail That Changes Everything
NASA ran a classified nuclear rocket program in Florida that could reach Mars in months
Historical Context
This story spans 1800s-2000s and is centered in Florida. Understanding the broader historical context is essential to grasping why events unfolded as they did.
Key Figures
The central figures in this story include Henry Flagler, and Charles Ponzi. Each played a distinct role in the events documented in this episode.
What This Documentary Covers
- NASA’s classified nuclear rocket program that could reach Mars in months
- Why Key West declared independence and surrendered the same day
- The 1923 Rosewood massacre that erased a thriving Florida town
- How Charles Ponzi returned to Florida to run another scam
- Henry Flagler’s impossible 128-mile railroad built across the ocean
Themes Explored
This episode examines interconnected themes including space program, civil rights, Cold War, Ponzi scheme, infrastructure. These themes recur across multiple episodes in our documentary collection, revealing patterns that connect seemingly unrelated stories.
Watch the Full Documentary
This companion article provides context and background for the full documentary. For the complete story with narration, original music, and archival imagery, watch the episode above or on YouTube.
