Timeline

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The timeline is a list of years which the Riddles and Brad have gone back to visit:

Past

• 543 BCE they visit Confucius in China. As he was born in 551 BCE, this would make him ~7-8 years old.
• 279 BCE they visit Archimedes in Sicily.
• 60 BCE they visit Cleopatra in Egypt. As she was born in 69 BCE, that would make her ~8-9 years old.
• 1000, they visit Jigonsaseh on Turtle Island.
• 1312 they visit Ibn Battuta in Morocco
• 1405 they visit Sejong the Great in Korea.
• 1464 they visit Leonardo da Vinci in Italy in ep 12a (as he was born ~1452, this would make him ~11-12 years old)
• 1488 they visit Michelangelo in Italy. Since he was born in 1475, this would make him 13 years old.
• 1499 is the second visit to Michelangelo ("eleven years later"). He would be 24 years old at this time.
• 1658 they visit Isaac Newton in England (earlier affirmed born in 1643) meaning he is ~15 years old)
• 1692 they visit Johann Sebastian Bach in Germany (born 1685) in episode 1a when he is ~6-7 years old.
• ???? Bach visited for 2nd time (Berby sent them forward.) Since Bach died in 1750 it would've been prior to then.
• 1736 they visit Catherine the Great in Germany. As she was born in 1729 she would've been ~6-7 years old.
• 1741 they visit Benjamin Banneker in Maryland.
• 1743 they visit George Washington in Virginia who since he was born in 1732 would be ~10-11 years old.
• 1754 they visit Abigail Adams in Massachusetts. Since she was born in 1744, she would be ~9-10 years old.
• 1760s is their 2nd visit to Abigail Adams during the American Revolution, sometime between 61-65.
• 1773 they visit Alexander Hamilton in St. Croix in the Caribbean. Since he was born in 1775-1757, he would be ~16-18.
• 1794 they visited Hamilton a 2nd time ("twenty-one years later")
• 1805 they visit Mary Shelley in England (born ~1797) when she's ~7-8 years old.
  • 1805 is also when they visit Sacagawea in North Dakota, when she helps Lewis and Clark explore. Since was born in 1788, she would’ve been ~16-17 years old.
  • In the same year, they visit James Braidwood in Scotland.
• 1811 they visit Mary Anning in England.
• 1817 they visit Charles Dickens in England. Since he was born in 1812, he would be ~5 years old.
  • In the same year, they visit Mary Seacole in Jamaica.
• 1824 they visit Abraham Lincoln in Indiana.
  • They also visit Louis Braille in France during this year.
• 1826 in We Are the Bronte Sisters they visit the Bronte Sisters in England.
• 1827 in I Am Susan B. Anthony they visit Susan B. Anthony in Battenville, New York. As she was born in 1820 she would be ~6-7 years old. Her sister Guelma would've been ~8-9 and her brother Daniel ~2-3.
• 1830 they visit Florence Nightingale in England. She was born in 1820, making her ~9-10 years old.
  • Also in 1830, they visit Louis Pasteur in France.
  • Also, they visit Frederick Douglass in Maryland that same year.
• 1833 they visit Harriet Tubman in Maryland.
• 1840 they visit Kate Warne in New York.
• 1844 in ep 6a I Am Tomioka Tessai they visit Tomioka Tessai (born ~1837) at ~6-7 years old in Japan.
• 1845 they visit Mark Twain in Missouri. Since he was born in 1835, he would be ~9-10 years old.
  • In this year, they also visit Lili'uokalani in Hawaii.
• 1848 they visit Jules Léotard in France.
• 1854 is the 2nd visit to Susan B. Anthony in I Am Susan B. Anthony (27 years later) during a vote on a clocktower vs playground. Susan would be ~33-34 while Guelma would've been ~36 and Daniel ~30.
• 1857 is the 2nd visit to Harriet Tubman, after a "24 years later" timeskip
• 1859 they visit Alexander Graham Bell in Scotland. He was born in 1847, so he would have been ~11-12 years old.
• 1860 they meet Marie Owens in Ottawa during I Am Marie Owens. This was before she married, so she would've actually been named Marie Connolly at this time.
• 1861 is their second visit to Kate Warne (21 years later).
• 1862 they visit Nikola Tesla in Croatia.
• 1865 they visit Theodore Roosevelt in New York who would've been ~6-7 years old.
  • September 6, 1865: they visit Zelia Nuttall in Ireland, and the episode takes place during her birthday.
• 1867 they visit Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Scotland.
• 1868 they visit Marie Owens who would've been ~14-15 years old.
• 1870 they visit George Washington Carver in Missouri. He was born in 1864, so he would have been ~5-6 years old.
• 1871 they visit Nellie Bly in Pennsylvania.
• 1873 they visit James Naismith in Canada.
• 1878 they visit the Wright Brothers in Iowa. Wilbur/Orville were born 1867/1871 so they would only have been ~11-12 and ~6-7 years old.
• 1881 they visit Houdini (born~1874) for 1st time at start of episode 2b when he is ~6-7 years old in Wisconsin.
• 1882 they visit Winston Churchill in England. Since he was born in 1874, that would make him ~7-8 years old.
• 1884 episode 1b they visit Marie Curie when she is ~16-17 years old (the start of the episode mentions she was born in 1867, which corresponds with her real birth year) in Poland.
  • this was 11 years before Maria Salomea Skłodowska married Pierre Curie in 1895, so she wouldn't have changed her name yet)
  • 1884 is also when they visited Albert Einstein in Germany.
• 1886 (though not specified in-show) is the likely year of the 2nd visit to an older Alexander Graham Bell after Berby fast-forwards from the pre-teen version in 1859.
  • Bell is running a school and helping Helen Keller who he is saying goodbye to.. Alexander first met Helen in July (after being sought out by her father Arthur H. Keller). Alexander had recommended Keller to visit the Boston’s Perkins School for the Blind, which is where he met graduate Anne Sullivan.
• 1887, they visit Helen Keller in Alabama. This would be after March fifth, which is when Anne Sullivan arrived at Keller's home to teach her. Specifically Helen learned about water in April, a month later, which is what happens during the episode. Since Helen was born in June 1880, this means she was SIX years (and ~10 months) old, ~2 months shy of her seventh birthday.
  • Berby makes 2 unspecified time jumps after this: to when Helen learns to read Braille, and when she learns to talk.
• ~1889-1890 is probably the time during which Xavier borrows the train of Nellie Bly to race Berby.
• 1890 they visit Dorothy Levitt in England. Since she was born in 1882, she would be 8 years old.
• 1891 they visit Anna Pavlova in Russia. Since she was born in 1881, she would be ~9-10 years old.
• 1894 they visit Charlie Chaplin in England.
• 1895 they visit Jim Thorpe in Sac and Fox Nation, in present day Oklahoma
• 1897 they visit Bessie Coleman in Texas
• 1898 they visit Beulah Louise Henry for the first time in North Carolina
• ???? Marie Curie is visited for 2nd time after a fast-forward. This would've been prior to her death in 1934. She is shown discovering something that glowed green, perhaps 1898 since that is when she discovered radium and polonium. Pierre does not appear.
• 1898, they visit Zora Neale Hurston in Florida. Since she was born in 1891, she would have been ~6-7 years old.
• 1901 (Xavier says "it's twenty-three years later") Berby fast-forwards to re-visit the Wright Brothers in a 2nd instance.
• 1902 they visit Eleanor Roosevelt in New York, when she's ~17-18 years old.
• 1904 they re-visit Marie Owens (this time after her husband died, "forty-four years later" in respect to their earlier visit) during her detective career
• 1904 they also visit Amelia Earhart in ep 12b in Kansas. She's accurately specified as being born in 1897 at the start of the episode, indicating she is ~6-7 years old when they meet her.
• 1905 ("fifteen years later") is the second visit to Dorothy Levitt.
• 1906 (Xavier says "it's forty-one years later") they visit Theodore Roosevelt in a second instance, this time when he's ~47-48 years old.
• 1907 (Xavier says "it's sixteen years later") Berby fast forwards to visit Anna Pavlova for a second time, this time when she's performing The Dying Swan.
• 1909 they visit Golda Meir in Wisconsin, who since she was born in 1898, would be ~10-11 years old
• 1911 they visit Rukmini Devi in India
• 1912 they visit Houdini for 2nd time at end of episode 2b (thirty-one years later he is ~37-38)
  • 1912 is also their 2nd visit to Beulah Louise Henry
• 1913 they visit Lou Gehrig in New York when he's ~9-10 years old.
  • 1913 is also when they visited Thurgood Marshall, in the exact same state.
• 1915 they visit Rachel Carson in Pennsylvania.
• 1920 is the second visit to Bessie Coleman in Chicago.
  • In the same year, they visit Hedy Lamarr in Austria.
• 1921 they visit Jonas Salk in New York.
  • 1921 is also when they visit Jesse Owens in Alabama.
• 1921~1922 after a fast-forward to when Amelia is older, they are in a grounded plane with her. Amelia didn't receive flying lessons until 1921 when she was 24 years old, so it was probably not meant to be any earlier than that. Amelia specifies this was the Canary, a bi-plane she purchased in the summer (~July) of 1921, so it definitely happened after that. Amelia was setting records by October 1922 (her training was over) so it would've been before then.
• 1922 is the third visit to Bessie Coleman in France.
• 1923 they visit Julia Child in California. Since she was born in 1912, she would be ~10-11 years old.
  • In 1923, they also visit Mary Leakey in England who since she was born in 1913 would be ~9-10 years old.
  • They also visited Rosa Parks in Alabama in 1923.
• 1926 they visit Jane Jacobs in Pennsylvania.
  • 1926 is also when they visit Edmund Hillary in New Zealand.
• 1927 they visit Jackie Robinson in California. Since he was born in 1919, he would be ~7-8 years old.
• 1928~1931 after a 2nd fast-forward to when Amelia is even older, Xavier says "Berby says it's eleven years later and we're over the Atlantic Ocean". Amelia's first trans-Atlantic flight was in 1928, which was 11 years after 1917, which was 4 years prior to Amelia's flight training, so this math doesn't match up with actual history.
• 1929 they meet Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in Cleveland, Ohio. They both would have been 15.
• 1931 they visit Eugenie Clark in New York
• 1934+ (could be any time until 1945) they visit Eleanor Roosevelt a second time when she is First Lady, and is already doing her radio show.
  • 1934 is when they visit Ella Fitzgerald in New York City.
  • 1934 is their first meeting with Fred Rogers in Pennsylvania, where he's ~5-6 years old.
• 1935 they visit Neil Armstrong in Ohio. Since he was born in 1930, he would be ~5 years old.
  • 1935 is also their 2nd visit to Rukmini Devi, 24 years after their first meet with her
• 1938 they visit Celia Cruz in Cuba.
  • 1938 is also when they visit Norval Morrisseau in Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, a First Nation in Ontario, Canada.
• 1939 they visit Lou Gehrig a 2nd time after Berby fast-forwards twenty-six years. Although they do not say the year, it can be discerned from his comment about playing Major League for sixteen years, as he is known to have begun in 1923.
• 1940 they visited Maya Angelou in Arkansas.
  • March 15, 1940: they visited Ruth Bader Ginsburg in New York on her seventh birthday, where she shares ice cream with the kids at the Pride of Judea orphanage.
• 1941 they visit David Suzuki in British Columbia, Canada.
• 1942 they visited Cesar Chavez in California.
  • They also visited Carol Burnett, and later Alvin Ailey in the exact same year and location.
• 1946 Jackie is visited for a second time, at his first baseball game.
  • 1946 is also when they visited Dolores Huerta in California.
• 1948 the 1st visit to Bob Ross.
  • 1948 is also when they visited Bruce Lee in Hong Kong. Since was born in 1940, he would’ve been ~8 years old.
• 1949 they visit Wilma Rudolph in Tennessee.
• 1950 Rachel is visited for a second time as a marine biologist (‘thirty-five years later“).
• 1952 they visited Arthur Ashe in Virginia.
• 1953 they visited Billie Jean King in California.
  • 1953 is also when they visited Temple Grandin in Massachusetts.
• 1957 they visit Arthur Ashe a 2nd time after a 5-year fast-forward
  • 1957 is also when they visit Zaha Hadid in Iraq.
• ~1962 Neil is visited for a second time, this time test flying a plane. Estimated year is due to 26 July 1962 being Flight 64 a test flight of the North American X-15.
  • 1962 is also the trio’s 1st visit to Willard Wigan; he would have been 4-5 years old.
• 1969 they visit Neil for a third time, this time when he landed on the moon on July 20, 1969.
• 1971 is the 2nd meeting with Fred Rogers.
  • It’s also their 2nd meeting with David Suzuki after a 30-year fast forward.
• 1973 is their 2nd visit to Billie Jean King after a 20-year fast-forward
  • It's also their 2nd visit to Ruth Bader Ginsburg after a 33-year fast forward.
• 1974 they visit Grandmaster Flash in New York
• May 16, 1975: They visited Junko Tabei as she was climbing Mount Everest. Since Tabei was born on September 22, 1939, she would have been 42 years old.
• June 18, 1983: They visited Sally Ride as the first woman in space. Since Ride was born on May 26, 1951, she would have been 31 years old.
• 1992 is the 2nd visit to Bob Ross, 43 years later
• 2022 is the 2nd visit to Willard Wigan and is the most recent year the trio has visited.

Present date references

Various statements are made regarding how the past years relate in chronological distance to the time the Riddles and Brad leave. These statements are chronicled below. The term "almost" indicates an upper cap on the year it could be, while the term "over" indicates a lower cap on the year it could be.

Upper limits

The "almost" statements which indicate time-when-stated is LESS than a certain relative date:

• 1822 is indirectly described as "almost 200 years ago" in I Am Harriet Tubman, ("Harriet was born...") establishing prior to 2022 when it aired in 2020
  • 1833 is similarly called "almost 200" by Brad when they travel back
• 1830 is described as "almost two hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Florence Nightingale establishing prior to 2030.
• 1827 is described as "almost two hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Susan B. Anthony, indicating the episode takes place prior to 2027.
  • 1927 (the year Cesar Chavez was born) is "almost one hundred years ago" according to Yadina in I Am Cesar Chavez, also indicating it is before 2027
• 1927 is described as "almost one hundred years ago", ALSO indicating that it is prior to 2027.
• 1826 is described as "almost two hundred years ago" by Brad in We Are the Bronte Sisters, indicating that the episode takes place prior to 2026.
• 1923 is "almost a hundred years ago" according to Brad in I Am Julia Child, indicating it takes place prior to 2023.
  • 1973 is described as "almost seventy years ago" in I Am Billie Jean King, indicating it is prior to 2023 as well
• 1891 is described as "almost 130 years ago" by Brad in I Am Anna Pavlova, indicating it is before 2021.
• 1840 is described as “almost 180 years ago“ by Brad in I Am Kate Warne, indicating it is before 2020.
• 1845 is described by Brad in I Am Mark Twain as "almost 170 years ago", indicating that it is prior to 2015.

Exact or middling statements

The "like" statements or statements lacking adjectives:

• Brad says that 1921 was 100 years ago in I Am Jesse Owens, indicating that it is 2021.
• 1870 is described by Xavier as "like 150 years ago" in I Am George Washington Carver, indicating it is approximately the year 2020.
• 1934 is described by Brad as "eighty-five years ago" in I Am Fred Rogers, indicating it is exactly the year 2019
• in episode 12b I Am Mary Shelley, Xavier says "two hundred years later" (not "over" nor "almost") in respect to people enjoying Frankenstein, which was published 1 January 1818, so this indicates it is EXACTLY the year 2018, at least in that episode (it might be 2019+ or 2017- in other episodes)
• when Xavier finds out they were going to 60 BCE, he said it was "two thousand years", indicating it was 1940 if taken literally, though they could've jumped 2000 then another amount.
  • when Yadina says Cleopatra was born a long time ago, Xavier says "two thousand years to be exact". Since she was born in 69 BCE, that would make the year 1931. This is dramatically different than the other guidelines, indicating that the children may live their childhood across nearly a century.
    • collectively, these two problems might also just mean that Xavier is bad at math, or that he doesn't care that rounding off differences to the nearest millenia is NOT "exact"
• In I Am Albert Einstein, Yadina mentions that they live in the 21st century, indicating it is between 2000 and 2099.

Lower limits

The "over" or "more than" statements which indicate time-when-stated is MORE than a certain relative date:

• 1894, which is described "over 125 years ago" in I Am Charlie Chaplin indicating 2020+
• 1898 is described as "over 120 years ago" by Brad in I Am Zora Neale Hurston. This indicates 2018+
  • 1743 was described as "over 275 years ago" in I Am George Washington, also indicating 2018+
  • 1878 is described by Brad as "over 140 years ago" in We Are the Wright Brothers, also indicating 2018+
  • 1948 is described as "over seventy years ago" by Brad in I Am Bob Ross indicating 2018+
• 1817 is described as "over two hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Charles Dickens, indicating 2017+
• 1736 is described as "over 280 years ago" by Xavier in I Am Catherine the Great, indicating 2016+
• 1935 is described as "over eighty years ago" establishing 2015+
  • 1865 is described as "over 150 years ago" by Brad in I Am Theodore Roosevelt, ALSO indicating 2015+
  • 1915 is described as “over one hundred years ago” by Brad in I Am Rachel Carson, ALSO indicating 2015+
• 1754 is described as "over 260 years ago" by Brad in I Am Abigail Adams, indicating 2014+
• 1913 is described as "over a hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Lou Gehrig indicating 2013+
  • Charlie Chaplin worked on movies from 1914 until 1967. Brad comments "Charlie made movies a hundred years ago" which establishes it being later than 2013.
    • Rosa Parks (who was born in 1913) is described as "born over one hundred years ago" indicating 2013+
    • 1913 is also when they visit in I Am Thurgood Marshall, described as "over a hundred years ago"
• 1882 is described as “over 130 years ago” by Xavier in I Am Winston Churchill, indicating 2012+
  • 1312 is over 700 years ago, meaning it is 2012+
• 1811 is described as "over two hundred years ago" in I Am Mary Anning, indicating 2011+
  • 1911 is described as "over a hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Rukmini Devi, also indicating 2011+
    • Before Brad says this he hesitates and counts on his fingers, saying to himself, “Carry the three.”
• 1860 is described as "over 150 years ago" by Brad in I Am Marie Owens, indicating 2010+
• 1830 is described as “over 180 years ago” by Brad in I Am Louis Pasteur, ALSO indicating 2010+
• 1909 was described as "over one hundred years ago" in 4b, indicating 2009+
  • 1859 is said to be "over 150 years ago" by Xavier in I Am Alexander Graham Bell, ALSO indicating 2009+
• 1658 was described as "over 350 years ago" in 4a, establishing 2008+
• 1867 was described by as “over 140 years ago” by Brad in I Am Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, indicating 2007+
• 1805 was described as "over two hundred years ago" by Xavier in I am Mary Shelley, indicating 2005+
  • 1805 is also described that way by Brad in I Am Sacagawea
    • 1955 is described as "over fifty years ago" in I Am Arthur Ashe, also indicating 2005+
      • • 1955 is described as "over fifty years ago" by Xavier in I Am Rosa Parks, indicating 2005+
• 1904 was described as "over a hundred years ago" in 12b, establishing 2004+
• 1902 is described as "over one hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Eleanor Roosevelt, indicating 2002+
• 1946 is described as "over fifty years ago" in I Am Dolores Huerta indicating 1996+
• 1844 is described as "over 150 years ago" by Brad, indicating 1994+
• 1692 was described as "over three hundred years later" in ep 1, establishing 1992+
  • 1942 is described "more than fifty years ago" in I Am Cesar Chavez, also establishing 1992+
• 1887 is described as "over a hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Helen Keller, establishing 1987+
• 1884 was also described as "over a hundred years ago" in 1b establishing 1984+
• 1773 is described as "over two hundred years ago" by Brad in I Am Alexander Hamilton, indicating 1973+
• 1464 was also described as "over five hundred years ago" in 12b establishing 1964+.
• 543 BCE was described by Brad as "over two thousand years" back in time, establishing 1457+
• 1488 was described as "over five hundred years ago" in I Am Michelangelo, establishing 1988+.
• 1890 was described as "over 130 years ago" in I Am Dorothy Levitt, establishing 2020+.
• 1942 was described as "over 80 years ago" in I Am Alvin Ailey, establishing 2022+.

Non-mentions

• I Am Mary Leakey had nobody comment on how long ago 1923 was.
• None of the years were displayed in I Am Madam President, so there were no comments made.
• 1923 (when Rosa Parks was visited) was given no comparison at all, but there were two references to times prior to arriving in the museum.

Future

• 2057+: The kids travel forward in time to see an adult Yadina as President. This is deciphered from a picture stating that Yadina would run in 2056. As the winner of a U.S. presidential election is inaugurated the following January, the earliest the trio could see a President Yadina would be in 2057.