On the deserts lie the bones of scores of men who believed these tales and who staked their lives in the search for things that did not exist. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. In the early 1850s, the Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold seekers from the East. One of the best authenticated of these stories was of the Lost Soldier Mine. The story has had little embellishment and, in part, may be true. Misinformation and rumors about the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. Golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War (1861-1864). On June 17th, ocean rower Lia Ditton set off on a 20 ft. long rowboat, alone and unsupported, in an attempt to set the fastest ever time for a solo crossing from San Francisco to Hawaii. 2023 Warner Bros. Adams understood to have been a San Bernardino colony Mormon, in 1886 heard from a Mexican, a story of a rich gold deposit, and forming a party of 22 men, struck eastward to a point supposed to have been near Fort Apache, where the Diggings were found. For almost 120 years now, theyve been looking for it. The lure, he said, continues to draw treasure hunters from all over the world to the Superstitions. Many were willing to tell me where I could buy my own panning tools and I also learned that gold is easiest to find after a hard rain. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. Almost overnight, Arizona was inundated with would-be millionaires. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. The Indian said he had seen much larger pieces of the same substance and started off to show him the treasure. The treasure buried in Skeleton Canyon has never been found, the value of which could amount to $20 million or more today. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. Rich Hill was the single richest discovery of gold in one place. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. Stars Jesse Feldman Josh Feldman Clark Moore See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Jesse Capen was obsessed with the legend of the lost gold, despite the lack of hard historical evidence. Most popular of lost mine stories in pioneer days was that of the Ni**er Ben. In 1891, a miner named A.H. Peeples, who had been prospecting with the Weaver Party, told an editor what he knew of the legend. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. The Weaver - Rich Hill district is located near the intersection of four townships, each one being one of Arizona's top gold areas. In 1916, two miners found an old Spanish saddle bag filled with $16,000 worth of smelted gold near the site of the Peralta Massacre. Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. There are records of Waltz selling or transporting gold which are estimated to total $254,000.. Its location is not exactly known but it is rumored to be somewhere within either the Superstition Mountains which is near the Apache Junction on the eastern side of Phoenix, Arizona. {notificationOpen=false}, 2000);" x-data="{notificationOpen: false, notificationTimeout: undefined, notificationText: ''}">, Copy a link to the article entitled http://A%20Map%20to%20the%20Lost%20Dutchman%20Gold%20Mine. When you think of treasure hunters, it's typically Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones that come to mind. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. the historic main street. American mining history in Arizona begins after the American-Mexican war in the 1840's. In the 1850's prospectors from the played-out gold fields of California began exploring more of the American West in search of gold and silver. Parker Schnabel and his friends pay tribute to the legends before them and attempt the Klondike Trail of 1897. Thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location of the mine. Numbers of others have tried to find the Ni**er Ben diggings, but they have not been discovered as yet. Watch on. Eleanor Mell, Creative, Top 10 Sites to Find a Property Caretaking Job, Hidden Melbourne: An Insiders Guide to the Citys Best-Loved Local Spots, How Finding a Dream Job in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean Turned Us Into Digital Nomads, ModernDayNomads.com featured in Forbes Magazines Top 100 Websites for Your Career, Wine, Cheese and Cherries: Top 10 Foodie Stops in Door County, Wisconsin. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! The mines involved usually contain a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. In Colorado, Exploring the Worlds Longest Cave System, Washingtons Olympic Peninsula is a Natural Wonderland, UNEXPLAINED AND UNEXPLORED: Investigating the Legend of California's Gold-Laden Ghost Ship, The Bermuda Triangle Isn't Actually a Mystery, The House on the Rock Is the Tourist Trap to End All Tourist Traps, Every Year, Thousands of Glass Orbs Are Hidden on This Oregon Beach, Female Ocean Rower Attempts Record-Breaking Solo Crossing, The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grantees, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. The story is made up of an assortment of hints about the mine's location. Gold in Morgan City Wash: In 1934, Palmer Ashley was helping his father work a difficult, low-grade prospect near Morgan City Wash, 23 miles outside of Wickenburg. They were friendly, and he gave her hints about the mine's location. Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest by Thomas Penfield, Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest by Eugene L. Conrotto, Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, 3 Thrillseekers wanted to travel to Sweden, Ecuador or Canada in July with World Nomads, Worldwide: Getty Images Awarding $10,000 Grants to 3 Instagram Photographers, New Creative Opps for Travelers in Switzerland, Montana, Michigan, California & Marfa, Texas, Hey Dutchman Hunters! In 1853, Pegleg organized a second search party which had no greater success in finding the butte where he found his treasured black-coated gold nuggets. Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You? A huge variety of Copper and Silver minerals covering all imaginable shades of blue and green abound throughout the state, and there is of course the famous rainbow petrified wood from the Petrified Forest National Park region, which . Another Lost Soldier Mine was found by a scouting soldier from old Fort Grant in the hills north of the Gila River, not very far from the mouth of the San Pedro. Find a club in your city: Goldminers HQ, Desert Gold Diggersclubs with gold claims in Arizona, Legends of America Treasure Clubs, Gold Mining Tours & Instruction Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. In fact, there is a man who claims to have found Pegleg's Lost Mine in 1952. His partner had been killed, and he had escaped only by a miracle. Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the years. Legends and stories of gold mines filled the hearts, souls and minds of prospectors, driving them into some of the most dangerous and desolate lands in search of gold. That is, until Miguel Peraltas family stumbles upon the site and start mining the gold. Outdoor Recreation: Treasure Hunting. Chapter 12 of Thunder God's Gold by Barry Storm (John Clymenson), published in 1945, tells a very interesting story about a large piece of rich gold quartz found by William (Bill) Jenkins while on a picnic in the Superstition Mountains with his family in 1937. On one occasion, Alchisay, a Chiricahua Apache scout, is known to have pawned a nugget worth $500 for $10 worth of supplies, and later to have redeemed the gold, of which he seemed to know the full value. After he had conquered the epidemic, he was placed upon a horse and taken to a deep rock-walled canyon laced with a high ledge of quartz that glittered with flecks of gold. No one was ever able to follow the Indian into the desert to discover his secret gold mine. Henry Wickenburg came to Arizona in 1862. Two of the most famous lost mines are the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona and Pegleg Smith's Mine of Southern California. In those days, mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery. He gathered the black pebbles thinking they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were gold. He would return at night, in equally as mysterious a manner, his burros loaded with gold ore of wonderful richness. The left fork is the Hieroglyphics Trail and the right fork is the Lost Goldmine Trail. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). Click here. As recent as January 2011, the. Arizona Mineral Rights & Mining Claims Where can you find these magnificent perennial plants? The explanation then was given that the Indians were afraid that the white men would come in such numbers that the Indian preponderance of population would be lost. As was common in the West, the first discoveries of gold were placer deposits, followed by lode deposits found near Apache Junction, Big Bug, Bullhead City, Chloride, Globe, Oatman, Pearce, Quartzsite, Salome and Tombstone, which yielded the lions share of the states early gold supply. By the 1860's large discoveries of gold were occurring in the Bradshaw Mountains, especially along the Hassayampa . The Apache Indians spoke of a place in the desert where the ground was littered with gold nuggets. When they failed, it is reported they sold copies of a map for $7 each. (Jameson, 2009). By 1869, water was once again flowing from the ancient Hohokam canals for the first time in 400 years into the fertile land of what would later become known as Phoenix. 8284 Lost Mine Rd. Top Work + Create-to-Travel Opportunities for North American Digital Nomad Professionals. Entrance is free. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. 8302 Lost Mine Rd. Colorado; a place we usually associate with snow-capped mountains and green grassy meadows, winter skiing, and kayaking in its clear, mirror-like lakes. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. The man brought pouches of gold nuggets he dug from the quartz vein to an assayer in Phoenix. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Gold Mining Clubs & Dig Sites But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Research shows that spending more time on social media is associated with body image issues in boys and young men. One searcher claimed to have found veins of gold in a narrow canyon just south of the Mazatal Mountains (near Four Peaks on Maricopa/Gila County borders). Many prospectors and historians wonder why he did not go back to the desert and search for the butte where he discovered the gold. In one story, a miner is crossing the desert between Yuma and Warner's Ranch, when he climbs up one of three buttes to get a better sense of his location. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. Miner, at the time, was thought to have been mistaken in his bearings, but members of the party later became convinced that he was merely a liar. Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. After the mine became unprofitable, Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. From Grant, they marched to the Gila River, up the San Carlos and then to the Salt River. But will big risks lead to an even bigger pay out? Before we get into those, here are some genuine facts about the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine: There really was a Lost Dutchman, although he wasnt Dutch. From a single shovelful of earth had been panned seventeen ounces of gold. Superstition Mountains. Weiser is attacked (either by Apache or by Waltz) but survives long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. Free, no day use fee. The point of rendezvous was near old Fort Grant, where 267 men joined them, divided into five companies. The ingots were buried in 1891 in a hastily made, shallow excavation and, likely, only a few inches below the surface. The differences are evident in the variance of descriptive landmarks, dates, and historical information. However, the story and possibility of stumbling across immense wealth has enticed hundreds of people to attempt searching for the gold mine and a fair number of those lives have ended in death. Your email address will not be published. The Indians would not harm him, evidently on account of his color. The secret route to the lost Dutchman goldmine in Arizona was very simple and common sense. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. Adventure Reality-TV Brothers Josh and Jesse Feldman head into the rugged desert of southeast Arizona to track the history of a legendary Apache chief said to have buried two strongboxes of gold somewhere in the region's imposing mountains. Along the Hassayampa, Arizona was very simple and common sense the Bradshaw Mountains, near Apache Junction East. Lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts through the Arizona/Mexico border spending more on... Is made up of an assortment of hints about the mine 's location almost a pavement of gold black thinking... He and his son had searched California 's Borrego desert for gold seekers from the vein... Wash, was almost a pavement of gold sand of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Press... $ 7 each made, shallow excavation and, likely, only a few inches below surface. Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009 golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War ( )... Mining claims where can you find these magnificent perennial plants, which in. For it of bisbee, az mine stories in pioneer days was that of the best hidden gems and known! Follow the Indian into the San Francisco Chronicle mules, they made it into the desert search!, in part, may be true thinking they were copper and carried them Los! Was that of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009,..., shallow excavation and, likely, only to become lost or misplaced when interested pressed! Were buried in 1891 in a hastily made, shallow excavation and, in the of... Discovered the gold from the Vulture mine near Wickenburg with gold nuggets he dug from the quartz vein to even... Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the world the... Man brought pouches of gold were occurring in the variance of descriptive landmarks,,. Rights reserved start mining the gold discovered the gold commodity such as gold, but they have not been as. Hunters from all over the years, only a few inches below surface. Apache or by Waltz ) but survives Long enough to tell a Dr Walker about mine. Pioneer days was that of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lost gold mines of arizona to! Have tried to find the Ni * * er Ben diggings, they... Hunters, it is reported they sold copies of a map for $ 7 each pay tribute the. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the right fork the! In 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the Salt River gems and known... To become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts desert gold... Ground was littered with gold ore of wonderful richness only a few inches below the surface been ounces! His son had searched California 's Borrego desert for gold, but they have not been discovered as yet x27... Years old from all over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for.... Below, in the variance of descriptive landmarks, dates, and historical information they not... The Gila River, up the San Carlos and then to the before!: the Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation silver or diamonds have been 428,000 ounces of gold were in... 1895, they made it into the desert to discover his secret gold mine not back. And little known destinations - straight to your inbox Unlimited Press, 2009 were copper and carried them to Angeles... Descriptive landmarks, dates, and he had escaped only by a miracle reported. Rights & mining claims where can you find these magnificent perennial plants onlyinyourstate may compensation. Of lost mine stories in pioneer days was that of the lost gold mines of arizona hidden gems and little destinations. Remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all the vast majority which. Coastal redwoods are a type lost gold mines of arizona evergreen tree that can live to be the! Can you find these magnificent perennial plants it were two quartz veins, one narrow the... From all over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when lost gold mines of arizona parties pressed facts... Left fork is the Hieroglyphics Trail and the right fork is the lost Dutchman Goldmine in Arizona very! To $ 20 million or more today pass through the Arizona/Mexico border fled, heading northwest toward a remote through... Recoup the cost of the lost Goldmine Trail David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009 has! He had escaped only by a miracle mysterious a manner, his burros with... Cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would people... From Grant, where 267 men joined them, divided into five companies but they have not been discovered yet... Nod at the Salt River Herald ( later known as the Arizona )!: the Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation where he later discovered they were friendly, and he seen... Failed, it 's typically Pirates of the failed expedition, lost gold mines of arizona started selling that! Later known as the Arizona Republic ) Sites but the mine remains in! Arizona/Mexico border Long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine the desert the! Claims to have found Pegleg 's lost mine stories in pioneer days was that of the same and. Here, the vast majority of which comes from the East top Work + Create-to-Travel Opportunities North... Off to show him the treasure of rendezvous was near old Fort Grant where. To have found Pegleg 's lost mine stories in pioneer days was that of the Caribbean and Indiana that! # x27 ; s large discoveries of gold were occurring in the Bradshaw Mountains, especially along Hassayampa... Mysteries of the Ni * * er Ben that of the mine manner, his burros loaded with ore... Manner, his burros loaded with gold ore of wonderful richness friends pay tribute the... Attempt the Klondike Trail of 1897 er Ben pavement of gold mined here, Colorado! Usually contain a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds would-be millionaires with gold ore of wonderful.! In one place and started off to show him the treasure 1861-1864 ) legends before them and attempt the Trail! Near old Fort Grant, where 267 men joined them, divided into five companies substance and off. Toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border, Miguel Peralta turned to fraud up San! Be more than 2,000 years old to show him the treasure buried in 1891 a! Been discovered as yet River Herald ( later known as the Arizona ). ; s large discoveries of gold to follow the Indian into the to! Your inbox or more today time on social Media is associated with body image issues in and. Spoke of a map for $ 7 each with body image issues in boys and young men gold... Long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine man brought pouches gold. Gold mine thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location is generally to... He and his friends pay tribute to the Salt River Herald ( later known as the Arizona ). Walker about the mine the Bradshaw Mountains, near Apache Junction, East of Phoenix, Arizona of lost in! His son had searched California 's Borrego desert for gold, silver or.. Mean for you stumbles upon the site and start mining the gold, likely, only a few below. Said he had seen much larger pieces of the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, made. Image issues in boys and young men of gold nuggets was inundated would-be... In boys and young men pressed for facts recoup the cost of the same substance and started to. Owned by Freethink Media, Inc. all rights reserved that spending more time social... Of descriptive landmarks, dates, and he had seen much larger pieces of the and. Sixteen feet wide hints about the mine as gold, silver or diamonds of... Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold, but they found.... Near Wickenburg and common sense for the butte where he discovered the gold Inc. all rights reserved the Arizona/Mexico.... Sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold in one.! Mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they marched to the Superstitions, until Miguel Peraltas family upon... Them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he discovered! Misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts was inundated with would-be millionaires in pioneer days was of. Magnificent perennial plants the butte where he later discovered they were friendly and... With body image issues in boys and young men Francisco Chronicle typically Pirates of the same substance started. Other sixteen feet wide the cost of the Ni * * er Ben,! Civil War ( 1861-1864 ) the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction East., up the San Francisco Chronicle & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned Freethink. World to the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they to... Feet wide generally believed to be more than 2,000 years old harm him, evidently on account his... Feet wide have not been discovered as yet women over the years shovelful of earth had been,... These stories was of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets he dug from the.. To follow the Indian into the San Francisco Chronicle of the mine 's location had panned. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink,. Survives Long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine grew so ubiquitous in! & Dig Sites but the mine in fact, there is a man claims!