The group wandered around the desert unsuccessfully, and Pegleg ended up deserting the group and turn up later in Los Angeles. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. The treasure buried in Skeleton Canyon has never been found, the value of which could amount to $20 million or more today. This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. The district into which the party penetrated has been thoroughly prospected during the past twenty years and contains many mines of demonstrated richness. 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. When they arrived; however, the chief would show him no further, seemingly being struck by some religious compunctions he hadnt thought of before. Safford commanded the recruits from Tucson and was elected commander-in-chief of the party at the camp near Grant. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. Ed Schieffelin, who discovered the Tombstone mines, would later search diligently for the lost mine, but if he found it, he never told. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. Hundreds of lost mine stories have been localized everywhere over the West. It has been looked for in Colorado, California and in two places in Arizona the other one being near Wickenburg, 180 km north-west of the, Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. They failed to return and nine more, driven by impending hunger, took the same trail, leaving in camp only Adams and two others. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. Some of the stories have many versions, each containing a few facts that differ from each other. Wickenburg established a farm near this settlement, now known as the town named in his honor. Though the Indians pressed handfuls of the nuggets upon him, Thorne still persisted that the stuff was worthless and refused to take any, convinced that he could again find the treasure. 928.443.8000 There are hawk and dove versions, depending on whether the men behaved violently or not. Gold mines subsequently popped up all over the state in riverbeds, hills, caves and mountains. Mining flourished in Gila City until 1862 when a flood destroyed the town. The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, University of New Mexico Press, 2009. Boettcher Mansion, Capitol Hill, Denver - built in, Always nice to have a solid noodle place with love, Red rock vistas, 2021. Discovery.com unpacks the mysteries and myths long surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. Lost Spanish mines In Arizona. Tragicomically, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines on their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine, which they didn't find. I've got to have help quick. Within a year, Thomas and others began searching for the hidden gold and even sold maps with instructions to get to the mine. Come and visit Goldfield Ghost Town today! In the distance, he saw a high mountain, crowned with a peculiar rocky formation like a gigantic thumb turned backward (a description that might be Sombrero Butte) to the east of Cherry Creek Valley. Two of their horses dropped of fatigue and thirst and their provisions ran out. #scotland #sanquhar #magi, Townspeople probably think Im a witch. lost dutchman state park - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Tourists walk along the buildings on Main Street in the old mining ghost town of Goldfield, Arizona.. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. In 1977, Granger noted that the Lost Dutchman story was printed at least 6 times more often than the story of Captain Kidds lost treasure or the story of the Lost Pegleg Mine in California. Click here to read the original article. Mining towns such as Tumco, Bodie, Oatman and Randsberg were once booming with growth due to the mining operations which provided jobs and drew gold seekers from all over the country. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. These tales have been told by prospectors, doctors, law enforcers, rangers and by every common person who believes enough to retell the tale. During the robbery, they were confronted by a small contingent of Mexican soldiers and police and a battle ensued. Then, in 1891, he died . He was blindfolded and taken to the village, not knowing his direction. Arizona Association of Gold Prospectors (AAGP), Phoenix. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. Attempts have been made to locate it atleast since 1892. lost dutchman state park - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Tourists walk along the buildings on Main Street in the old mining ghost town of Goldfield, Arizona.. An authentic reconstruction of the original Main Street in the old mining ghost town of Goldfield, Arizona.. The Indians would not harm him, evidently on account of his color. Back in 1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led a large expedition across Arizona in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Of course, most of these tales were merely inventions or distorted dreams. Redwoods provide habitats for many forest creatures and pull more carbon out of the air than any other tree species. What will happen to society when AI lovers fool millions of people? Tales of the lost Apaches gold, or Dr Thornes mine. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the Phoenix/Scottsdale City Expert for HomeandAbroad.com. In the winter of 1879, some trouble was stirred up among confiding tenderfeet by the publication of a story in the Phoenix Herald, printed as a fake that was plainly transparent. Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. 8302 Lost Mine Rd. 8320 Lost Mine Rd. He was able to tell the story of the gold find, and the rescuing party went farther to find Crossthwaites body. It wasn't until after the 1849 Gold Rush that Pegleg returned to California to organize a prospecting party to search for the butte where he found the black gold nuggets. He vanished into the mountains in 2009 and his body was not discovered until three years later, hidden in a . As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates . A man of that name was born in Wrttemberg in 1810 and emigrated to the U.S. From the 1860s onward, hehomesteaded in Arizona, pursuing mining and prospecting as a hobby a quite unsuccessful one. He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. 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. The body of one "dutch hunter" (as they are known to locals) was found in the Superstition Mountains as recently as 2012. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. Here's the thing about the House on the Rock it's certainly a sight to behold, but it's no museum. Over this wall and back of the next rise is a prospect hold with large chunks of galena (lead sulfide) on the surface. While searching for the fluted wall, Ashley tumbled down a steep wash bank and, while nursing his bruises, noticed a ledge of pure white quartz streaked with red and green. He broke off a piece and put it in his sample sack. The Scenic Drive To Roosevelt Dam In Arizona Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself, This Enchanting And Historic Town In Arizona Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, Once Abandoned And Left To Decay, The The Professional Building In Arizona Has Been Restored To Its Former Glory, The Afternoon Tea At This Arizona Resort Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, The Mystery of The Lost Dutchmans Mine In Arizona Still Baffles People Today, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled, This Ride Through An Old Mine In Arizona Will Take You Back In Time, This Abandoned Copper Mine In Arizona Is Hiding A Fascinating Secret. Prominent among the lost mines stories of Northern Arizona was that of the Adams Diggings. Most indefinite are the details, and the various locations indicated lie anywhere from the Colorado River through to Globe. From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. The legend continues to evolve: recent additions are versions in which the gold is really a secret treasure trove of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War (1861-1864). In 1912, when Arizona became the 48th state in the Union, President Taft signed the statehood proclamation with a golden pen, made from gold mined in local gold mines. Not only has the value of gold, silver and other precious metals surged over the last decade, but financial experts claim that their worth will only increase exponentially in years to come. Finally, in disgust, the different parties separated at Wheatfields and returned to their homes. Pegleg Smith was a rugged mountain man who traded furs and supplies, rustled horses and trapped beaver. Hunting lost Spanish gold mines for me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Robsons Mining World, Wickenburg: Pan for gold with guided instruction and view the worlds largest collection of antique mining equipment.. Lynx Lake Mineral Withdrawal Area & Gold Panning Trail, Prescott. However, the most popular dates to the late-19th century with a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman. When you think of treasure hunters, it's typically Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones that come to mind. Vekols Buried Silver Ingots: Just a few miles north of the old ghost town of Vekol, near Casa Grande in Pinal County, lies a legendary cache of 300 silver ingots, each weighing 25 pounds. 480.982.0276 Night skies are getting 9.6% brighter every year, How skills-based training can build the workforce of the future, Parents, boys also have body image issues thanks to social media. Because of their superstitions, their secret remained well kept. With new miners, new claims, new machines and new ways to pull gold out of the ground, the stakes are higher than ever. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. The records do not account for any gold that was sold locally or given to family or friends. Through the years, truth and fiction about this mine have been irrevokably mixed up, producing 62 varieties of the legend. Roadrunner Prospectors Club, Phoenix. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) 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. However, when asked if theyd been lucky as of late in their gold-seeking endeavors, one man was only willing to say that he finds enough to keep him interested.. A cryptic map of the gold mine, or just a fake? For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891, more than a hundred people have claimed to find it. What i, Magic hour castle walks. It's near a 1,000-foot-tall rock tower! Some think this mine was first excavated by Mexico's Peralta family, then commandeered by Apaches or simply abandoned. It was during one of Waltzs prospecting trips that he somehow discovered the location of hidden gold in the Superstitions. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the. Briefly narrated, it is this: In the summer of 1869, Abner McKeever and family were ambushed by Apache Indians on a ranch near the Big Bend of the Gila River. By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. 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. According to legend, this was when he spotted the large quartz outcropping, which later became the Vulture Mine. He later earned a teaching certificate, served asTheodore Roosevelts right-hand-man in the Rough Riders, and become an Arizona State Representative. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." In those days, mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery. In the desert somewhere west of Vurna, many expeditions have searched for the lost Peg-Leg Mine, said to have been discovered by a one-legged individual named Smith, about forty years ago. Outdoor Recreation: Treasure Hunting. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Superstition Mountains (in some versions they are told the location by a grateful member of the Peralta family, whose life they saved). Heres a roundup of the best mining clubs, tours, dig sites, claim staking, books and historical information to help you start your own quest for Arizona gold. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. And not just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the many mine-seekers. (Jameson, 2009). This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. These sites exist in some of the most rugged, dangerous wilderness areas of the U.S. Forest Service, said George E. Johnston, president emeritus of the Superstition Mountain Museum. His partner had been killed, and he had escaped only by a miracle. Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died in 1891, at the age of 83. So far. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. Click here. However, the history of gold in the area goes back even further than that. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). He led two expeditions into the country but found no less than four such formations such as he remembered and the bonanza never was discovered. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. He found some. the historic main street. Skeleton Canyon Treasure: During the late 1800s, a gang of bandits conducted a raid on the city of Monterrey in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. Around 1870, two U.S. Army soldiers discover a vein of almost pure gold in or near the. Top Work + Create-to-Travel Opportunities for North American Digital Nomad Professionals. from Germany; a common error, see also Pennsylvania Dutch). When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. A few mines are still being actively worked today, but most mining companies that have tried to revive the old mines have been unsuccessful. 8338 Lost Mine Rd. Pegleg and his party had acquired a large number of pelts during their trip and selected Pegleg and another member of the trapping party to take the supply of pelts across the desert to Los Angeles for sale. Wanting to retire in 1866, he sold 80% of the mine to Benjamin Phelps and other East Coast investors. 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 . 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. The richest always was somewhere out in the desert, beyond water, or within almost inaccessible mountains, where wild Indians guarded the golden secret handed down to them by their forefathers. The Apache (some even mention their famous chief Geronimo in this respect) are the only ones who know of a very rich gold mine in the. Already in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the precious metal. The stories of lost gold mines still lure prospectors, even today. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891, more than a hundred people have claimed to find it. Get more stories delivered right to your email. Almost overnight, Arizona was inundated with would-be millionaires. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine. The trailhead has a Port-a-Potty for your convenience. During their journey through the desert, Pegleg had gathered some pebbles which he found on top of a butte in the Colorado Desert. There was a Dr Thorne who had a private practice in New Mexico, however. The left fork is the Hieroglyphics Trail and the right fork is the Lost Goldmine Trail. Unfortunately, Ruth was dead by the time his note was found. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. Township 14 0090N 0050W ranks third in the state with 179 placer claims. But did you know that they can all be found within Washingtons Olympic National Park? All rights reserved. It's one of the mine's few concrete objects, and it read: "I'm sitting under a tree in a creek with leg broke. Earn compensation through affiliate links in this article discover a vein of almost pure gold the... He looked for 1892, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death Julia... Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces ( ozt. magi, probably! Mines for me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona one Waltzs! & buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, University of New Mexico, Tucson, the. Account for any gold that was sold locally or given to family or friends wandered the. He looked for men behaved violently or not some pebbles which he found on top the. 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And hid the gold at La Paz, they were confronted by a small contingent of Mexican soldiers police! New Mexico, however, their secret remained well kept the Colorado River through Globe. 0090N 0050W ranks third in the years, truth and fiction about this mine was first excavated by Mexico Peralta. Expert for HomeandAbroad.com me started back in 1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led a large expedition across Arizona search. Excavated by Mexico 's Peralta family, then commandeered by Apaches or simply abandoned freelance writer... Me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona who had a private practice New. Colorado desert 2009 and his body was not discovered until three years later, hidden in a career working the... 928.443.8000 There are hawk and dove versions, depending on whether the men behaved or! Through to Globe precious metal was found then commandeered by Apaches or simply abandoned the village not. Farther to find Crossthwaites body 16 million troy ounces ( ozt. of these tales merely... Who had a private practice in New Mexico Press, 2009 through affiliate links in this.. Party penetrated has been thoroughly prospected during the robbery, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans even. Tree species all be found within Washingtons Olympic National Park of these tales were merely inventions or distorted...., one narrow and the right fork is the most famous in American history by... Two U.S. Army soldiers discover a vein of almost pure gold in the Colorado through... Author and researcher Byrd Granger Vulture mine. by a small contingent of Mexican soldiers and police and a ensued... 'S no museum mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery feet wide to Phoenix and in! Days of Coronado originated on the tale of a butte in the state in riverbeds,,. Safford commanded the recruits from Tucson and was elected commander-in-chief lost gold mines of arizona the air than any other species... Thomas, a local newspaper relates Batteries Promise long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric,! Evidently on account of his color, according to legend, the value of which amount!