WQLN PBS NPR
8425 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509

Phone
(814) 864-3001

© 2026 PUBLIC BROADCASTING OF NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Become a member and start watching.

Cracking the Queen's Code

Season 22 Episode 9 | 55m 15s

In early 2023, three amateur codebreakers announced they had successfully decoded the secret correspondence of one of the most tragic characters in European history: Mary, Queen of Scots. 57 encrypted letters detail the exiled queen’s efforts to free herself from imprisonment and gain advantage over her rival, Queen Elizabeth. Now, after four centuries, Mary’s urgent pleas can be revealed.

Aired: 10/21/25 | Expires: 11/19/25
SECRETS OF THE DEAD is made possible, in part, by public television viewers.
Latest Episodes
Explore the site of the Battle of Camden and its importance to the American Revolution.
Scientists race to save the historic island on the Chesapeake Bay from rising sea levels.
See how the unique partnership between two countries made the iconic monument possible.
New discoveries reveal how pivotal Great Zimbabwe was to global trade.
A professor seeks to prove Arthurian legends have roots in actual British history.
The chance discovery of a jade artifact unearths an ancient Chinese city.
Experts search for evidence that female gladiators once existed in Ancient Rome.
Could the discovery of a third portrait of William Shakespeare be a genuine article?
Scientists study medieval bubonic plague victims in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.
An unprecedented discovery could reveal new information about Cleopatra’s reign.
Extras
Explore the site of the Battle of Camden and its importance to the American Revolution.
Formerly enslaved Americans formed Britain's Colonial Marines unit and marched on Washington, D.C.
DNA may help identify a soldier killed at the Battle of Camden.
A musket ball reveals the deadly reality of Revolutionary War combat.
A metal detector survey reveals long-lost soldiers at Camden Battlefield.
Scientists race to save the historic island on the Chesapeake Bay from rising sea levels.
The search for a sunken fort uncovers a powerful freedom story.
Tangier Island's lawns are turning into marshes. Can oyster reefs help?
A controversial symbol was removed from Lady Liberty's original design. Here's why.
Rare photographs reveal how the Statue of Liberty was constructed piece by piece.
WQLN PBS Passport is a member benefit that provides you with extended access to an on-demand library of quality public television programming!