Lost Treasure Stories

"There's gold in them hills!"

Read about hidden treasure in the United States or click EasyEdit and scroll down to add to other famous treasure stories. If you have a question or observation, feel free to post a comment on this page.

Treasure Mountain

Washington State

Date Found: --- In the 1700's Location: --- What is now Summitville, CO. Several miles east of Wolf Creek Pass How was the treasure obtained?--- A French expedition of 300 men were prospecting their way west and found a vast amount of gold on Treasure Mountain How much is it worth? --- $33 million+ Key Players: --- 300 Frenchmen One sole Survivor - LeBlanc Treasure Map(s)?--- Supposedly two maps remain - one belonging to the French government, and one to the descendants of the LeBlanc family

And the story goes... French explorers had a successful gold expedition until they arrived at Summitville to set up camp and bury their loot. Their neighbors were Native Indians, and at first, the relationship was friendly. However, one group provoked the other and a battle ensued. The gold was reburied and the French made a map to the new location. However, through the battle with the Natives, the weather, a second battle with the Natives, and starvation, there was one sole survivor - a Frenchman named LeBlanc. He had two maps - one he gave to the French government, and one he kept for himself. There are many versions of what happened next. Some say there have been several unsuccessful expeditions to find the gold. Some say that the French government found it and kept it a secret. The truth of what happened has yet to be discovered.

The Hidden Cache in Bumble Bee

Date Found: --- In the 1800s Location: --- Bumble Bee is a ghost town near Yavapai, just north of Black Canyon in Arizona How was the treasure obtained?--- Two miners found a vein of gold in the area How much is it worth? --- $80,000 under a rock, plus 200 lbs of gold at the junction of Slate and Squaw Creeks Key Players: --- Two miners and tribe of Apaches Treasure Maps? --- None known

And the story goes... Two miners began prospecting gold quartz near Bumble Bee, AZ, and the fruits of their labor were plentiful. They hid their treasure under a large rock near their camp. However, before they could leave for the winter, they were attacked by Apache Indians. One miner was killed, and the other escaped without the gold. He tried to wait out the Apaches and wouldn't return until they had vacated the area. However, he died before he could return to the gold, and told the story of his findings on his death bed.

Milton Sharp's Buried Booty

Date Found: --- 1870 - 1881 Location: --- Rumored to be buried on old stage roads around Aurora Nevada and Bodie California How was the treasure obtained?--- The treasure was obtained during several robberies How much is it worth? --- Unknown Key Players: --- Milton Sharp, Outlaw W.C. "Bill" Jones aka "Frank Dow," Outlaw The Wells Fargo Express Treasure Maps?--- None known

And the story goes... Known as a courteous robber, Milton Sharp teamed with W.C. Jones to rob 'Wells Fargo Express' stagecoaches as the coaches were carrying money from one bank to another. Jones would guard the passengers with a gun as Sharp would relinquish the stagecoaches of their strongboxes and women of their jewlery. Sharp stood out from other outlaws as a well-spoken and well-dressed robber. It was even said that if a woman cried during the robbery, he might return her jewelry. He also liked to bury his treasure, and never told of his secret hiding spots. He was apprehended several times, and was as talented at escaping from prison as he was at robbing stagecoaches. He was eventually declared rehabilitated by the penal system, and lead a law-abbiding life thereafger. However, what happened to his treasure is unknown. In 1910, two brothers by the names of Gus and Will Hess claimed to have found small amounts of Sharp's loot hidden in the hills of Bodie, CA. However, it is estimated that over 70% of the treasure has never been found.

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The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine

Date Found: --- 1840's Location: --- Superstition Mountains of Arizona How was the treasure obtained?--- The gold was mined by the Peralta family from northern Mexico. How much is it worth? --- A undetermined vast amount of gold based upon reports from those who had direct knowledge of the mine. Key Players: --- Peralta family, Jacob Waltz (the Dutchman) Jacob Weiser, Julie Thomas Treasure Maps?--- Take your choice: http://www.thelostdutchmangoldmine.com/smaps/?menu=9

And the story goes... . The Peralta family from Mexico discovered the gold and mined the site during the 1840s. The mining of rich veins came to a tragic end in 1848 when the family was massacred by the Apaches. Only one member of the family escaped.The gold was lost until in the 1870s when the Dutchman, Jacob Waltz, and his partner, Jacob Weiser rediscovered the mine with the help of the Peralta family survivor. They worked the mine and even hid caches of gold in the area. Weiser was killed by the Apaches. The Dutchman abandoned the mine because of failing health and died in Phoenix. Before his death he passed the information about the treasure to Julie Thomas, a neighbor who had taken take of the ailing Dutchman. The mine and the hidden treasures remains lost. If you are a hardy soul, the bets are on the area around Weiser's Needle. Beware: tragedy and foul play surround those who have attempted to find the treasure.

WASHINGTON STATE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

• Located in the heart of Puget Sound is Vashon Island where a successful lumberman by the name of Lars Hanson lived in the 1870’s. On the banks of Judd Creek, near Burton, he was said to have hidden more than $200,00 in gold coins.
• Outlaws are said to have buried some $30,000 in gold in a cave somewhere on Sentinel Mountain in the Saddle Mountain Range, about three miles southeast of Beverly.
• Captain James Scarborough was the first white settler north of the Columbia River and built a frontier cabin in 1843. Allegedly, he buried a treasure near his cabin on what is now Fort Columbia. If a treasure is buried there, it will have to stay hidden, as the historic fort is now a Washington State Park.
• A Robbers' Roost near Fruitland, Washington is said to be the site of buried loot.
• The Lost Doukhober Mine, discovered in 1929, is said to be located in the northern part of Stevens County. Ore from this mine assayed at 1,000 oz of silver per ton.
• According to the tales, bandits took a number of gold bars in a train robbery near Wallula in the late 19th century. Intending to catch a boat for Portland, they missed it and buried their stolen cache near old Fort Walla Walla. Later the bandits were shot before ever telling of the hiding place of the loot. Today, the old fort is gone and the location has become Fort Walla Walla Park located at the western edge of Walla Walla, Washington.
• Located near the town of Colville, a treasure known as The Highgrader's Poor Farm treasure is said to be hidden. Poor Farm treasure refers to "Matte" - a crude mixture of sulphides produced when smelting gold. It is thought to be buried near an old brickyard.
• In the area of Government Camp at Mount Hood in Clackamas County, a cache of stolen treasure is said to be buried.
• Pirate treasure is said to be buried near Cascade Head, Lincoln County.
• The Lost Spaniard Mine is said to be located somewhere between Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, near the head of the Lewis River in Skamania County.
• Pierre Rabado's Lost Mine is thought to be located near Mt. Adams in either Skamania or Yakima County.
• At Horse Thief Meadows near Parkdale in Hood River County, $25,000 from a stagecoach robbery is believed to be hidden.
• The stagecoach loot of Horse Thief Charley Maguire is said to be buried near Rogersburg, Asotin County
• Situated in the southeastern most corner of Washington is Asotin County. Here, in a remote mountainous area is the ghost town of Rogersburg, with less than 25 residents today.. A river boomtown stimulated by gold discoveries, the town was once accessible only by horse or by boat. In fact, it wasn’t until 1938, that a road from Asotin finally reached the small village. On or near Shovel Creek, off the Snake River, is thought to be the lost Shovel Creek Mine. Also near Rogersburg is said to be the Trio Lost Mine, as well as a hidden cache left by a long ago prospector.

The Lost Confederate Treasure :
The Knights of the Golden Circle

Date Found: --- Before 2003 Location: --- Bushy Creek, Arkansas and elsewhere How was the treasure obtained?--- Unearthed by Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas with a metal detector. How much is it worth? ---$ 200,000 (maybe 10s or 100s of millions - if Bob is right) Key Players: --- The Knights of the Golden Circle, Albert Pike, Jesse James, powerful former leaders of the Confederacy and sympathizers in the North Treasure Maps? --- This link is to a Los Angles Times Story: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-treasure5dec05,0,547476,full.story?coll=la-home Jessie James

And the story goes.... There are vast tracks of wilderness in the forest covered hills and mountains of Arkansas. Bob Brewer of Hatfield Arkansas just might have solved the mystery to one of the greatest lost treasures of all time. As a boy Bob would hunt the hills of western Arkansas with his great uncle "Grandpa" Ashfield." Often they would come upon a grove of trees with strange craving.Grandpa would say, "If you can figure out the markings you will find some gold." It took him years but he finally broke the code and found $200,000 in coins which silenced the sceptics. But this is only the beginning of the story. Bob maintains that his great uncle kept a secrete. Across the country and even into Canada similar caches of treasure are hidden. Hidden by a group of conspirators bent on bringing down the established government. The intrigue involves a powerful group of Confederates and northern sympathizers known as the Knights of the Golden Circle. Influential men and even the outlaw Jessie James were committed to the cause. If Bob is right there are dozens of these treasure troves to find. Maybe near you. Bob is currently searching in Oklahoma, 80 miles from his Hatfield home. The stash is rumored to be worth $2,000,000 dollars. His story is the bases of a book: "Shadow of the Sentinel: One Man's Quest to Find the Hidden Treasure of the Confederacy" by Warren Getler and Bob Brewer. Bob is an adviser on the movie "National Treasure: Book of Secrets" with Nicolas Cage which has a similar story. Don't ignore those strange markings you come upon, they just might make you rich. P.S. There is a Photo of prime Turquoise from near Hatfield on the Arkansas National Directory.

Lost French Blue Diamond

Date Found: --- ? before the 1600 hundreds Location: --- India How was the treasure obtained?--- The earth created the stone miles below the earth's surface and slowly forced it to the surface; later to be recovered from a rushing stream. How much is it worth? --- Priceless Key Players: --- , King Louis XV, King XV1, Henry Philip Hope Treasure Maps? --- No The Curse of the Blue Diamond Jean Baptiste Tavernier was torn apart by a pack of wild dogs after he returned to India. Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded. King George IV died a pauper. Henry Philip Hope's heir, Lord Franci Hope, lost a leg in an accidential shooting and went bankrupt. Maybe this Treasure is best left alone.

And the story goes : Over one billion years ago hot magma was working its way to the surface through a kimberlite pipe and with the magma was a large steel blue diamond. That stone was found in India. After shaping it into a rough triangle it weighed 112 carats. It was purchased by a French merchant, Jean Baptiste Tavernier, and sold to the King Louis XV . The big blue was re-cut into a 67 carat diamond called the "Blue Diamond of the Crown".Misfortune followed the treasure and Louse XVI and Marie Antoinette were beheaded and the diamond was stole; never to be seen again or so it would seem. In 1812 a 44.5 carat blue diamond surfaced in London. King George IV purchased the diamond but he also ran into misfortune and the diamond was sold to pay off debts at his death in 1830. The diamond was acquired by Henry Philip Hope and the name changed to the "Hope Diamond". The diamond did not bring the family good luck and they were forced to sell the stone . The Hope diamond was donated to the Smithsonian Institute in our nation's capital there it resides today. The mystery remains.Is there a large 67 carat Blue Diamond that is waiting for someone to recover or is the French Blue the Hope Diamond?

Hidden Treasure Near Vallecito Station

Date Found: --- Location: --- California How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps? ---

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Portneuf Canyon Stage Robbery

Date Found: --- Location: --- Idaho How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps? ---

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The Cherokee Bad Boy's Hidden Loot

Date Found: --- Location: --- Kansas How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players:--- Treasure Maps?---

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Joaquin Murrieta's Stolen Cache

Date Found: --- Location: --- California How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps? ---

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Parson Keithly's Hidden Gold

Date Found: --- Location: --- Missouri How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps?---

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Gold Coins in Genoa Hills

Date Found: --- Location: --- Nevada How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps?---

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The Red Hill Treasure

Date Found: --- Location: --- New Mexico How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps?---

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Cursed Treasure of Columbia City

Date Found: --- Location: --- Oregon How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps?---

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Newton Gang Loot in Bexar City

Date Found: --- Location: --- Texas How was the treasure obtained?--- How much is it worth? --- Key Players: --- Treasure Maps?---

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