The History Channel

The Pawn Stars meet a man hoping to sell a several hundred-year old edition of one of the world's most hellish books--"Dante's Inferno." Will they pass through the gates of hell for this evil epic or will they be tricked by the devil? Then Rick is presented with an antique serpent shaped sword from the Philippines. Can he hold on to the twisted steal weapon or will this deal slither out of his grip? And later Corey has a chance to purchase photo rights to the late great King of Pop: Michael Jackson. Can he make a "Thriller" of a deal or will he moonwalk straight out of the negotiation.

Rick and the Old Man look to buy a 1965 Shelby Cobra classic car--one of the most expensive American race cars. Will they burn rubber and make a deal or will they slam on the brakes for a fake? Then the Pawn Stars have a chance to buy a ship's clock from a 1942 WWII Ship that's worth money only if it ticks.

As the season picks up speed, not everyone can keep up with the pace. At Rygaard, odd man out DJ Jeremiah is pushed to his breaking point. In Alaska, Coatsy boots Joe Linderborg from his seat in the yarder, but the consequences could prove deadly. In Florida, The Dreadknots find themselves on the wrong end of a falling log, and in the swamp, Shelby and his assistants fight to claim the biggest Cypress of the season.

Ever since the Pilgrims boarded the Mayflower, what we believe and how we believe has shaped the American map. Could Utah have been bigger than Texas? How did religion shatter New England into such odd little shapes? And did the Civil War actually begin... in Kansas?

We all live in the same country, so why do we sound do different? It's a matter of where you are on the map. Why didn't the southern accent exist until after the Civil War? How did California athletes end up coining so many new words? Why do we have so many different words for the same things -- like pop versus soda? Will one particularly strong accent cause New York to break up and create a 51st state?

Did money make our map? Through boom and through bust, the sweet smell of profit has drawn and redrawn our states. How did Green Bay help carve our border with Canada? What does football have to do with fur? Is North Carolina the real "Golden State"? And why should we all move to North Dakota?

What secrets are hiding in our map? What's behind the "blank spots" like Area 51? What possessed the citizens of Key West to throw down their margaritas and secede from Florida? And even in the heartland, there are those living on the edge -- in Kansas, old missile bunkers are now five bedroom dream homes. And what about the county in Georgia that was left off the state's quarter?

Mike and Frank are freestyling in Minnesota where they stumble on salvage operator Terry who has a staggering scrap yard. Everything is for sale, including a mother lode of retro signage. Next, coin-op kings Gary and John "say" they're ready to sell some of their vast collection of vintage arcade games. Frank takes a major gamble on some old school peep show coin operated machines. And retired twin brothers Steve and Tom open up their massive collection of toy cars and trucks. Danielle gets an appraisal on the peep show item.

In Florida, Mike and Frank visit a hangar-sized barn full of treasures, owned by a couple of junkyard junkies who've been picking since 1948. An awesome circus property turned animal preserve features lions, tigers and bears among circus paraphernalia and a mysterious locked trunk. And while freestyling, the guys come to a screeching halt after spotting a zebra-striped vintage motorbike in a yard. The collection is an Indian's dream. A major score leads to an unlikely reunion at a vintage motorbike museum.

All hail the Pawn Stars when they check out a uniform from the King of England's royal guard. Used by those guarding the royal palace in England since the 1700s, can the guys get the seller to crack a smile, or is he strictly business? Then, Rick checks out a guitar made from a tortoise shell. Does a slow and steady negotiation win this rare piece, or will the price leave Rick shell shocked? And later, when a seller brings in an antique BBQ built in the shape of a pig, the Old Man reminisces about the good old days smoking pork in the South.

Get strung along with the Pawn Stars as a 1961 Les Paul SG guitar jams into the shop. Owned by a member of Les Paul's family, will the guys be able to fine-tune their offer, or will the deal de-tune? Then, Rick and the Old Man are presented with a copy of National Geographic from 1969 covering the momentous Apollo 11 moon landing. Will this special issue drag in some moon rock sized profits or will they abort their mission? And later, when Rick brings in a new hire to work the night shift, Chumlee volunteers to help train them into a pawn superstar.

The Pawn Stars are presented with a letter signed by one of the 20th century's greatest leaders, Winston Churchill. Will the guys stand up and fight for a deal or will unverified signature force them to surrender? Then, Rick and the Old Man meet a guy hoping to sell a Holy Relic from the first American Saint Elizabeth Seton. Will this precious religious item bring the guys good fortune or will the Old Man remain the only relic in the shop? And later, a man brings in a gas fueled remote controlled toy Hummer with some mechanical problems. Will they take a chance at rewiring this RC truck to make a buck or will this deal run out of batteries?

In this episode, Rick refurbishes a gas pump with a bird's nest inside, Corey takes a quiz after misidentifying a Faberge crystal glass--if he loses, he works graveyard, if he wins he gets $2500,--and Rick buys some bayonets.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Informational programming.

Virginia was not only the home of the first permanent British colony; it was the birthplace of eight presidents of the United States. "The Gravity Grand Prix" has been an annual event in Akron, Ohio, since the 1930s and today draws 500 young entrants from around the nation. The discovery of gold, then lead, copper, zinc and silver, has made Idaho one of the richest mineral producing states in the nation. Poor hill farmers in Winston County rarely owned slaves and when Alabama seceded from the Union in 1861, Winston County tried to secede from Alabama. Teddy Roosevelt, America's first conservation president, learned valuable lessons about preserving nature while on his North Dakota ranch.

Michigan's logging industry helped build fortunes, but over-harvesting also threatened the environment. Davy Crocket, the coonskin-capped congressman from Tennessee, became more legend than reality thanks to 19th century political campaigns. Originally disdained as a food fit only for servants, lobsters are now a delicacy fueling Maine's fishing industries. Riverboat traffic and trailheads to Santa Fe and Oregon made Missouri the "Gateway to the West." The discovery of gold in the Black Hills in 1874 created a rush of prospectors who displaced Indians from sacred land that they'd been promised for eternity.

If you thought our borders were set in stone, you'd be wrong. Who stole a corner of Washington, DC? Is Ohio actually a state? And why isn't St. Louis our nation's capital? One thing's for sure -- our map could look very different. How did we create order out of so much chaos? With the vote.

The history of transportation is hidden in the lines of the map. From canals to trains and cars, how did getting around help draw the American map? Could Chicago have been in Wisconsin? Why are states out West or so big and boxy? And why did we almost had a state called Forgottonia?

Will rivalries within our states break them into pieces? Cultures compete against each other all over the map. In extreme cases, they can divide states in two. How did World War II preserve the shape of California? Will part of Maine break off and become Northern Massachusetts? And as new cultures move into Florida, will the state's cowboy tradition get pushed off the map?

How has water has literally shaped the States? There's surprising history hidden in the blue, squiggly lines on the map. Did the founding fathers make a mistake along the Georgia Tennessee border? Can that boundary actually change because of water? Why does Maine have so much water? Why was Nevada was left high and dry? -- All these answers can be found in the unique shapes of these states.