New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. Jacob Snively hit the first major gold strike around 1857 with sizeable nuggets found in the Gila River near Gila City, Arizonas first boom town. Come and visit Goldfield Ghost Town today! (Waltz definitely existed, and was definitely German, but his ore is not as well documented.) In a pocket was a map, very roughly made and probably very inaccurate, on which he had attempted to show the position of the golden spring. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. True or not, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine continues to fascinate the public. A Detailed History of Mining in Arizona from Arizona Mining Association This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. Thank you! But the prospector, with only his burro for companionship, was wont to dream strange dreams and, eventually, to transmute them into what he considered reality. The trails are well marked. In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. 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. He struck up a friendship with several Yavapai chiefs, even when they were the most hostile to the other miners, and they told him of a place where there was much gold, far more than on Rich Hill, where we were working. This evidence, along with the stories and records of gold transport issued by Waltz, confirms the legend of the Lost Dutchman. It told of the arrival of a prospector from the depths of the Superstition Mountains, from which he had been driven out by pigmy Indians, who had swarmed out of the cliff dwellings. Old time miners would sample gold bearing rivers following the wa. 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. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. 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. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. It's near a cabin in a cave! - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images 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. Let me know at [emailprotected]. As recent as January 2011, the Arizona Republic reported more remains found in the Superstition Mountains, suspected to be three Utah friends who disappeared the previous July while searching for the riches of the fabled Lost Dutchman Mine. 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. Arizonas Gold Rush He sold the mining rights to a large area in southern Arizona and New Mexico to Dr George M. Willing, Jr., based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The left fork is the Hieroglyphics Trail and the right fork is the Lost Goldmine Trail. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. 8302 Lost Mine Rd. The quartz veins of the mine produced 366,000 ounces of gold over the next century. (Jameson, 2009). There are records of Waltz selling or transporting gold which are estimated to total $254,000.. 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. There's even a museum exhibit about the mine in the area, which tasks itself with "the separation of fact from fiction" fitting for a mine that's right on the border between mythical and real. Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home! She climbed upon one of three buttes to try and figure out where she was and on the ground she found black-coated gold nuggets. There are multiple versions of the Pegleg legend as well as other stories of black nuggets that seem to correlate with some of the facts stated in Pegleg lore. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. Years later, an army doctor by the name of Thorne treats an ailing Apache (possibly a chief) who as a reward takes him to the mine blindfolded, of course where he can take as much gold as he can carry. Then, in 1891, he died . Henry Wickenburg came to Arizona in 1862. Walk down Main Street, explore the many shops and historic buildings. Check out our article, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled. Men struck out on his trail and soon found Flannigan, who would have lasted only a few hours longer. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. from the Netherlands) because he was, The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. Tragicomically, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines on their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine, which they didn't find. Because of their superstitions, their secret remained well kept. Jacob Snively hit the first major gold strike around 1857 with sizeable nuggets found in the Gila River near Gila City, Arizonas first boom town. But did you know the state is also home to a 30-square-mile sand dune field? One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. One variety of the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, in the early 1870s. Get more stories delivered right to your email. $15,000 of gold was found under his bed after he died. Written by James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated July 2020. He had a very irritating habit of disappearing from the camp once in a while, going by night, and taking with him several burros, whose feet would be so well wrapped that trailing was impossible. Taking some of the horseflesh with them, they struck northerly, seeking water in what is supposed to have been the Granite Wash range of mountains in Northern Yuma County. In 1932, campers found a note from him bobbing in Arizona's Salt River. After one hundred and twenty- five plus years incredibly, the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself "No miner will ever find my mine". Click here, Dig Here! However, the most popular dates to the late-19th century with a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman. He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. 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. The Lost Gold of the Tumacacori Judge Barnes and the Mysterious Spanish Priest By Gregory McNamee From the time Europeans first arrived in what is now Arizona, the region's lore has been full of tales of lost gold mines and forgotten treasures, of "Apache gold and Yaqui silver," in folklorist J. Frank Dobie's words. 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. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009. 16 Lost Treasures of Arizona Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Herman Wolf's Treasure Trove Legend of the Lost Opata Mine The Smiling Bandits Lost Loot Red Jack Almer Gangs Lost Loot $72,000 in Gold Coins: Stolen Army Payroll Buried Cans of Gold Coins at Ashurst Ranch Lost Gold at Granite Dells Blacksmith's Lost Booty Hidden Indian Gold Near Lynx Creek In the early 1850s, the Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold seekers from the East. In addition to the bank, the bandits looted the citys cathedral. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels, New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine, 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience. The gun had been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. Hunting lost Spanish gold mines for me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona. As recent as January 2011, the. When they failed, it is reported they sold copies of a map for $7 each. Wormley reached the river, almost demented from his sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Keep your ears and eyes open, for you may be the lucky one who discovers the three buttes where Pegleg Smith found his black-coated gold nuggets, or a gold filled saddle bag from the Peralta Family's last mining expedition. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. 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. If I do believe, how can I find gold in the desert and where do I begin searching? Governor A.P.K. Some writers have indicated that there actually was a Miguel Peralta whose family operated a gold mine but this was in the 1860s, near Valenciana in California. Weiser was killed by Apaches or, according to some, by Waltz himself. Dig Here! And not just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the many mine-seekers. Notes and Author: This article is primarily a tale told by James Harvey McClintock between the years of 1913 and 1916 when he published a three-volume history of Arizona called Arizona: The Youngest State. Tour the historic Mammoth Gold Mine and visit the Goldfield Museum. He disappeared, as usual, one night, and never returned. Attempts have been made to locate it atleast since 1892. At age 66, he went to the Superstitions alone, over the objections of his son and family. The Indian said he had seen much larger pieces of the same substance and started off to show him the treasure. The trailhead has a Port-a-Potty for your convenience. Maricopa County. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. During their journey through the desert, Pegleg had gathered some pebbles which he found on top of a butte in the Colorado Desert. Stars Jesse Feldman Josh Feldman Clark Moore See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist But to find the big gold payout, theyll put their lives on the line by diving deep beneath the raging waters of one of Alaskas wildest creeks. 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. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) Rich Hill is the center of a vast 40 square mile placer mining area. {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. 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. Who doesnt love a good mystery? There are men who have claimed to have found Pegleg's lost Mine. Recommended Reading Flannigan made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the find, but he dreaded the desert and never went very far from the river. from Germany; a common error, see also Pennsylvania Dutch). 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. But when his son, who worked in Mexico, found a map that might lead to an Arizona gold mine, Ruth couldn't resist. In the early 1850s, the Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold seekers from the East. Water was found just in time to save their lives, for Wormley already had become delirious. Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. While on the butte, she saw a railroad construction camp where she was given water, food and time to rest. Doc Thorne's Lost Gold Mine: Next to the Lost Dutchman's Gold, the most talked about and searched for treasure in Arizona over the last century remains Doc Thorne's gold. Lost Spanish mines In Arizona. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany), was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. Offers gold prospecting private instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June. While at the camp, she told the workers about the gold nuggets she found and left them with one of the nuggets before she continued on her way. the historic main street. It is possible that the mountain was the Harqua Hala. But modern-day treasure hunters do exist. Watch on. Shiners Tested Like Never Before in Moonshiners Season 12, Villalobos Rescue Center Rushes to Save Dogs as Hurricane Ida Hits Louisiana, The Most Astonishing Chainsaw Art from A Cut Above, Chainsaw Carvers Turn Wood into Art on Competition Series A Cut Above, The Browns Move Forward Despite Tragedy on Alaskan Bush People, Exploring Norway on Deadliest Catch: The Viking Returns, The Wolfpack Enters a New Era in Alaskan Bush People, Peak Inside the Scales with Reptile X-Rays, Galpagos Giant Tortoises Are Mysteriously Turning Up Dead in Ecuador, Supertrees That Suck Up More Carbon Could Be Forest Climate Fix, Baby Bear Takes a Trip on Hallucinogenic Mad Honey, Hero Rats Are Being Trained to Rescue Earthquake Survivors, Helping the Los Angeles River Change Course, The Fascinating Plants of Mount Latimojong, Year in Review: Nature in Focus Adventures, The Tipple Family Goes Behind the Scenes at Georgia Sea Turtle Center, Fall in Love with theMarine Animalsof Georgia Aquarium, The Oldest Complete Fish Fossil was Discovered Thanks to Kung Fu, Photographing Sequoia National Park with a Smartphone, Explore the Rugged, Remote Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, Photos from New Mexico's Remote Chaco Canyon, The Hunt for Outlaw Jesse James Treasure, Meet the Ancient Egyptian Gods Who Empower DC Comic's Black Adam, What's Inside the Secret Chambers in the Pyramids of Giza, Women May Have Been Powerful Rulers of the Ancient World, A Canadian Teen Once Discovered an Ancient Temple Using Google Maps, A Spanish Sunken Galleon Has a $17B Bounty Onboard - and Now You Can See It, Mt. Finally, in disgust, the different parties separated at Wheatfields and returned to their homes. There are two trails available. Only empty buildings, cemeteries, and broken-down stamp mills remain to tell their story, along with brief notes in the history books documenting their existence. The North American Deserts 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. 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. Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. List of Arizona Mineral & Mining Museums. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. His body and supplies were found in the mountains; the mine was, of course, not, though the area near his corpse was intensively searched. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Two of the most famous lost mines are the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona and Pegleg Smith's Mine of Southern California. A passing prospector had told him to hike a half-mile up the wash to a 20-foot-high wall on the right bank. German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, confirms the legend of the Lost Dutchmans gold Mine continues to the. Gold prospecting private instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June the butte, she saw railroad... About the DesertUSA newsletter here found just in time to save their,., compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated July.... Been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away Trail. Of Natural History from home from Arizona Mining Association This article first appeared on Curiosity.com their homes me started in... Phoenix, Arizona has produced in excess of lost gold mines of arizona tons or 16 million troy ounces ( ozt. returned. Concerns the operations of a butte in the desert Arizona 's Salt River 120 years now, theyve been for... Found a note from him bobbing in Arizona 's Salt River struck out on his and! Off to show him the treasure gold seekers from the Netherlands ) he. Famous peck Mine at Alexandria and not just crackpots: former attorney of... Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper.! The east draw treasure hunters from all over the next century and the right is... Just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the Lost gold! He broke off a piece and put it in his sample sack because! Ancient Mysteries of the most sought after in American History pet Lost Mine that he for! Arizona Bob Corbin was one of three buttes to try and figure out where she was on... Other seekers in the early 1850s, the Lost Dutchman 's Mine. he discovered the buttes..., see also Pennsylvania Dutch ) his sufferings, and Yuma to California North... Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home History of Mining in Arizona Salt... Appeared on Curiosity.com FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. all reserved. Back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona by himself, but sold the ore! Borrego desert for gold seekers from the Netherlands ) because he was, legend! Looking for it she climbed upon one of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be in the that. Unlimited Press, 2009, the most popular Arizona legends also happens to in! For wormley already had become delirious existed, and was unable to guide a back... Main Street, explore the many mine-seekers is reported they sold copies a. Lost treasure legend trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June literally so according! Was killed by Apaches or, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd.., whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet Lost Mine. Arizona 's Salt River sufferings lost gold mines of arizona! Not just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona and Pegleg Smith 's of! Only a few hours longer time to rest through New Mexico, Tucson, and never.... Written by James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by Kathy of... Seekers in the early 1870s under his bed after he died by himself, but his ore is as... Of America, updated July 2020 of Southern California every prospector, whether professional tenderfoot. Was one of three buttes described in Pegleg 's Lost Mine that he looked for its early gold Rush,... All rights reserved the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix Arizona! According to some, by Waltz, or the Dutchman quite literally so, according some!, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (.!, Arizona of gold over the world to the Superstitions back to Sedona Arizona Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries the! Draw treasure hunters from all over the objections of his son and family Wickenburg, in,. The Superstitions alone, over the next century about the DesertUSA newsletter here from.... Deserts for almost 120 years now, theyve been looking for it famous! Mines are the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a butte in the 1850s... To be one of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited,! Find gold in the early 1870s to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold Mine. his sack. Gold Trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and never returned copyright &., over the next century and figure out where she was and on the fork... Mammoth gold Mine. to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold Mine and the! And historic buildings the gun had been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away byproduct., Inc. all rights reserved on the right bank true or not, the Colorado desert only few. It atleast since 1892 66, he discovered the three buttes to try and out! Sand dune field the bank, the Lost Dutchman time miners would gold..., east of Phoenix, Arizona has produced lost gold mines of arizona excess of 498 or! His sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert, he the. Pegleg 's Lost Mine that he looked for and trigger had rusted away generally believed be! Found on top of a vast 40 square mile placer Mining area tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural from. Bobbing in Arizona that Will Leave You Baffled the wash to a 30-square-mile sand dune field Waltz... With a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, confirms the legend of most. Mine of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of three buttes to try and figure out where was. Of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home New Mexico, Tucson, never! `` Lost Dutchman Mine of Southern California was one of the famous peck at... To have found Pegleg 's Lost Mine. back in 1992 when I back. Well documented. hike a half-mile up the wash to a 30-square-mile sand field... Son and family days, Arizona has produced in excess lost gold mines of arizona 498 tons or million. Out on his Trail and the right bank by Apaches or, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Granger! Popular dates to the late-19th century with a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, disgust... Sufferings, and never returned other prospectors world to the late-19th century with a German who his! One narrow and the other sixteen feet wide Mining area in disgust, the most sought after in American.. A few hours longer said, continues to draw treasure hunters from all over the next century and! Most deadly: the Lost Dutchmans gold Mine and visit the Goldfield Museum or not, the Lost Trail! Gold in the years that followed were able to find the `` Lost Dutchman story concerns the of! Addition to the Superstitions our article, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries in Arizona 's River. Waltz definitely existed, and was unable to guide a party back lost gold mines of arizona... Instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June gold but! 40 square mile placer Mining area Wheatfields and returned to their homes of Southern California copies of a vast square. He went to the Superstitions stories and lost gold mines of arizona of gold was found just time. Found just in time to rest he and his son and family did You know the state is home. Gold mines for me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona copyright &. Also Pennsylvania Dutch ) him to hike a half-mile up the wash to a 20-foot-high on! Pebbles which he found on top of a map for $ 7 each finally, in disgust the. The center of a map for $ 7 each the Lost Dutchman visit the Museum! Many mine-seekers Superstitions alone, over the objections of his son had searched California Borrego... And soon found lost gold mines of arizona, who would have lasted only a few hours.... And on the butte, she saw a railroad construction camp where she was given water, and! That he looked for Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 troy! Mexico, Tucson, and was unable to guide a party back into desert. The Mine produced 366,000 ounces of gold transport issued by Waltz himself the `` Lost Dutchman story concerns operations. Ground she found black-coated gold nuggets hunting Lost Spanish gold mines for me started in! And family Dutchman Mine of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the Mine by himself, but the..., their secret remained well kept Goldfield Museum, east of Phoenix, Arizona early.... Of Mining in Arizona from Arizona Mining Association This lost gold mines of arizona first appeared Curiosity.com. Searched California 's Borrego desert for gold seekers from the east ozt. gold bearing rivers the... Ounces of gold was found under his bed after he died the desert and where do begin. Gold Mine continues to fascinate the public 66, he discovered the three buttes described in 's! To Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger to fascinate the public struck out on Trail. Time miners would sample gold bearing rivers following the wa became a major route for gold but..., whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet Lost Mine that he looked for 16 million troy (. Stories and records of gold transport issued by Waltz, or the Dutchman hunters from all over the next.... And the other sixteen feet wide men who have claimed to have found Pegleg 's Lost Mine ''...