Our world is full of the unexplainable.

And if history is an open book, all of these amazing tales are right there on display,

just waiting for us to explore.

Welcome to the Cabinet of Curiosity's.

In 1927, Mercedes was a secretary with grand ambitions.

Having been born to an English mother and a German father, she was fluent in both languages

and leveraged them to personal success while working in Westminster.

But Mercedes wanted more.

There was a great big world out there, much of it covered in blue, and that was what she

wanted to make her mark on.

She began swimming in the river Thames, building up her stamina until she could swim for

hours in the water.

In October of 1927, she became the first woman to swim the English Channel.

She had endured dense fog and frigid water temps, as well as the very real threats of passing

ships that couldn't see her.

But she'd done it.

She'd set a world record.

At least she thought she had, until another woman came forward soon after claiming that

she had been the first woman to swim the English Channel.

After an investigation, the other woman's claim had been debunked as a hoax, but its presence

had poured out on Mercedes' own achievement.

Through media pressure and a desire to prove her efforts as authentic, she took to the

...