Montana Hunters are in the hunt for lost treasures. There are many stories of lost mines, buried gold, silver ingots, and other Treasure State treasures.
The best-known treasure is the several gold and silver caches, made by Sherriff Henry Plummer and his gang. These bandits robbed stagecoaches and miners around Virginia City. When he was caught, he bragged that the treasures were around the Virginia City hills in caves. He was hung and the locations died with him. The stolen riches were in sacks, boxes, or ceramic jugs. None has ever been found.
Helena was first founded as a gold camp. The miners routinely buried their gold nuggets and dust. Some died or left without recovering their hard-earned wealth. Metal detectors find these stashes around Lake Helena and the NE area of the Helena Valley.
One interesting lost treasure is called the Thomas Flemmings Gold. Late in the 1800’s he buried $40,000 in gold and coins near his cabin along the Bell River. He died in a poker game before he could retrieve it. It can be found “10 paces north of the old oak stump, near the cabin”. There are few Oak trees in Montana. This treasure is valued at 40 million dollars today.
Ghost towns are often paired with lost treasures. The towns were full and crowded until the gold or silver ran out. Hunters often find lost artifacts and forgotten stashes of gold and silver.
The Crazy Mountains are full of lost treasure stories. The earliest story is about a group of Spanish soldiers that were evading local Indian tribes. While hiding from the Indians, in the mountains, they buried a fortune of their gold and silver. The story survived but most of the Spaniards that entered Montana were killed by local tribes.
The Dutch also mined the Crazy Mountains and there is a Lost Dutchman Mine somewhere in these mountains. A group of miners found a huge vein of gold and built a cabin nearby. A harsh Winter drove them out and none returned.
A Crazy Mountain Ghost Mine is hidden somewhere in the rough country. Miners located a gold deposit but were killed in a cave in. Their spirits protect the mine and will haunt all that approach.
A Sheepherders Mine is supposed to be near the Crazy Mountains. The herder left a pile of rocks to mark the find but never returned.
One of the largest Gold Strikes was in the Confederate Gulch near Canyon Ferry Lake. A wagon load of gold and silver was being hauled to Townsend when it was lost. The guards and wagon driver were found dead. No wagon was found. It was said that the bandits buried the wagon in a ditch and went to town to celebrate. They soon all died, and no evidence of the treasure was ever found.
It is suspected that there are 12 potential treasures to be found in the Treasure State. The ones that I have mentioned are included. These treasures are estimated to be worth $37,552,622 in today’s value. Other treasures that are hunted include dinosaur bones, fossils, crystals, gems, native and pioneer artifacts, and historical stuff. Many treasures seem to be located near rivers. It makes sense since waterways were the first roads that people traveled. A treasure stash along the Clark Fork River is buried in a ravine called the China Grade. It can be found between Drummond and Bearmouth. A Flint River Treasure of 50 lbs. of gold dust and nuggets is said to be located 2 miles from Phillipsburg, near the river.
Whenever a gold strike or silver mine opened, the real treasure was in the food and support that the miners needed. They were busy mining, so they needed to buy food, tools, and gear. The Dutch farmers and shrewd businesspeople, in the area made the real money. Potatoes, wheat, and produce were sold for top dollars. They made wealth with minimal risk. They own vast areas of farmland to this day.
It is also said that only a fraction of Montana’s Rocky Mountain gold, silver and other minerals have been found. New riches like Palladium, Antimony, and Rare Earth Metals are also being discovered.
Some of these treasures may still be found. Others may have been found and secretly spent. Mines may have been rediscovered and claimed. These lost treasures also make good stories. Many locations are simply lost in time waiting to be rediscovered.
Hunt hard, hunt harder!
Montana Grant
