The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. Learn how and when to remove this template message, "The St. Johns herald. Thorne sold the ore for some $6,000, making him a wealthy man. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. The Lost Dutchman is Americas most famous lost mine, and many people have risked their lives searching for it. The Superstition Mountains west of Phoenix, Arizona by Carol Highsmith. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. The Superstitions are now a federal wilderness area and Arizona State Park, so even if the gold were found it would have to be surrendered to the government. December 09, 2019 Led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the conquistadors cared little about the Apache customs or beliefs, wanting only to find the legendary Seven Golden Cities of Cibola., Learning from the Apache, that the range did, in fact, hold gold, the Spaniards were intent upon exploring the area. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. Temperatures during the day can easily climb to more than 100 degrees and at higher elevations can drop into the freezing temperatures at night. Ruth was searching for lost Peralta Mines, especially that of the Lost Dutchman. Two more men who were hiking in the Superstitions that year became involved in some kind of dispute. In January 1961, a family picnicking near the edge of the mountain discovered the body of Hilmer Charles Bohen buried beneath the sand. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. The mine is said to have been mined by a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, who died before he could reveal its location. Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). Be well prepared if you plan to join the thousands of others who have searched for the lost mine, as conditions can be harsh in this rugged terrain. He is blindfolded and taken there by a circuitous route, and is allowed to take as much gold ore as he can carry before again being escorted blindfolded from the site by the Apaches. The player was free to roam around the desert and town at will constrained only by the need to make sure they had enough food to eat and a safe place to sleep. The coroner could tell that the womans death was recent, but the gold was never explained. December 09, 2019 In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. Scientists say that the Superstition Mountains dont contain the type of mineral deposits that produce gold. Later, Waltz was suspected of high-grading ore from the Vulture Mine and was dismissed. While there, he met an Apache girl named Ken-tee, who despite the fact that Waltz was almost 60 years old, became his mistress. That same year, an elderly couple was found murdered in an automobile. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains By: Mae Rice 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. His skull with two holes in it identified as bullet holes was recovered about six months after he vanished, and the story made national news, thus sparking widespread interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine.[22]. When nothing had been heard of Ruth for six days, the cowboys boss, a man named Tex Barkley, went looking for the treasure hunter. A century and a half later, having heard of the rich gold to be found in the Superstitions, Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino, whose objective was to establish missions and Christianize the Indians, was lured by the tales. WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. WebLost Dutchman State Park About Lost Dutchman State Park Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. Many believe it's hidden in the Superstition Mountains, and it's rumored a curse falls upon all those who try to find it. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially In October 1960, a group of hikers found a headless skeleton near the foot of a cliff on Superstition Mountain. For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has been told over and over, growing in proportions to such an extent that some claim the entire legend is nothing but a myth. The player was free to roam around the desert and town at will constrained only by the need to make sure they had enough food to eat and a safe place to sleep. It is thought that Apaches stole the gold and hid it in the mountains. $89+ per night for cabins. For over a century, treasure hunters have sought the treasures supposedly lost in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, but what do we really know about the events surrounding this tale? The story of the missing mine started when the Peralta family moved to the area in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining. The lost Dutchmans gold mine location Ramiro valdez Oct 28, 2021 2 Replies 38 Views 8K Sunday at 7:31 PM EDN E Peter's Canyon, The Jeauits, and the Lost Dutchman LDWhitneyAuthor Jan 22, 2023 2 3 Replies 55 Views 3K Feb 16, 2023 LDWhitneyAuthor Clue 4 Peaks Lined up as 1 ConceptualizedNetherlandr Apr 19, 2014 8 9 10 Replies 181 Views 23K WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. For more details, call the Museum at 445-3122 or visit the sponsors websites at www.sharlothallmuseum.org and www.prescottcorral.org. They were discovered by the Apache, who killed them before they could escape with the gold. Later that year, two easterners went looking for the lost mine. The story of the Lost Dutchman Mine might have become just another obscure legend had it not been for an easterner named Dr. Adolph Ruth, an amateur treasure-seeker who ambled into the Superstitions in the summer of 1931. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially The legend continued to grow and soon the lost mine was referred to as the Lost Dutchman, as many at the time confused the Germans with the Dutch. It would be his last. WebLost Dutchman State Park About Lost Dutchman State Park Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. When the Spanish arrived in 1540, the region was inhabited by the Apache Indians, who considered Superstition Mountain to be sacred ground, as it was home to their Thunder God. The lost mine is thought to be located somewhere near Weavers Needle, the main landmark of the Superstition Mountains, even though the area has been diligently searched by hundreds of people. Jacob Waltz said the mine was a large funnel-shaped pit. His skeleton was discovered near Weavers Needle two years later. Julia Thomas, having invested everything she owned into the venture to find the mine, never attempted to find it again. If these many tales of intrigue are not enough, yet other reports suggest that the area is haunted, most likely by the many who have died there of mysterious deaths. It does not. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". But the Spaniards were determined and began to explore. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. Fees: $25-$35 per campsite. He died in 1891 and, on his deathbed, he confessed to his neighbor, Julia Thomas, who was caring for him, where to locate the mine. Five days later, another skeleton was found, which was later identified as William Richard Harvey, a painter from San Francisco. That same year, Robert St. Marie, who was attempting to drill a hole all the way through Weavers Needle, was killed by prospector Edward Piper. Apparently, he The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. [4], Robert Blair wrote "[t]here have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz". The Peralta family refrained even more from working the mines for the next 16 years. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. There are literally dozens of different variations of the lost mine tale, and almost as many reports of people actually having found the mine, leading to it being the most found and lost again mine ever. The coroners jury ruled that there was no evidence of foul play.. Shrouded in mystery, the mine is not only allegedly rich in gold but is also said to have a curse upon it, leading to a number of strange deaths, as well as people who mysteriously go missing when they attempt to locate the old mine. Thomas Glover is the author of three books on Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine. "Dutchman" was a common American term for a German ("Dutch" being the English cognate to the German demonym "Deutsch", and not a reference to the Dutch people). People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. For years afterward, prospectors flocked to the area not only in search of the mine but also in search of Mexican gold spilled during the massacre. WebLost Dutchman Mine is a non-linear adventure game which puts the player in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. While this theory did not ignore the two holes in the skull, it did fail to explain how Ruth had managed to remove and bury the empty shell, then reload his gun, after shooting himself through the head". The legend of the lost mine, as well as the tales of its curse, continued to grow over the years as more and more stories were told, relating mysterious deaths, disappearances, and small gold finds. After a thorough search, the hunt was called off. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. [5] One Lost Dutchman's mine is said to be in Colorado, another in California; two are said to be located in Arizona. However, in 1864, Enrico Peralta, leading some 400 men, ventured back into the range. Some carved stones in the area are referred to as "Peralta Stones" and Spanish text and crude maps on them are considered by some to be clues to the location of a Peralta family gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, although others believe the stones to be modern fakes. Lost Dutchman Mine is a simulation game that casts the player in the role of a gold miner in the 1860's. Two months later, Piper was found dead. WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. The player can freely explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist's necessity to eat and rest. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. The Mojave County Miner reported in its 1901 October 12 issue: The Lost Dutchman mine has again been found. In the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction east of Phoenix, Arizona, a legendary gold mine is supposedly located. The cause of death was undetermined. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. He died on October 25, 1891, after having been nursed by an acquaintance named Julia Thomas (she was usually described as a quadroon). There are several paths that go through the brush and cacti. At todays gold price, $1,270/ounce, his gold would be worth over $360,000. Lavern Rowlee was shot by Ralph Thomas, who reported that he had been attacked by Rowlee and shot the other man in self-defense. When they showed a bag of gold ore to the Silver King Manager, Aaron Mason, the manager was stunned to see how rich the ore was and immediately began to ask where they had found it. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. In his pack was gold ore, later discovered to be identical to that of the rich ore Jacob Waltz had found earlier. The game was the biggest success for its publisher, Magnetic Images. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. The Symposium is co-sponsored by the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral and is open to the public free of charge. In the meantime, the Apache were angry at the intrusion upon their sacred grounds. The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org. [21], Were it not for the death of amateur explorer and treasure hunter Adolph Ruth, the story of the Lost Dutchman's mine would probably have been little more than a footnote in Arizona history as one of hundreds of "lost mines" rumored to be in the American West. The player can freely explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist's necessity to eat and rest. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. In the summer of 1880, two recently discharged soldiers from Fort McDowell, showed up in Pinal, Arizona looking for work at the Silver King Mine. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of Arcadia Publishing. In this story (actually two interconnected stories), members of the Apache tribe are said to have a very rich gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. , The Waterbury Democrat. Does the Lost Dutchman Mine really even exist, or is it nothing more than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years? 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. WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Camping: 135 sites (68 with electric/water) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona State Parks. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. Another tale describes an eccentric prospector named Elisha Marcus Reavis, who was better known in the area as the Madman of the Superstitions or the Old Hermit. One of Arizonas most interesting characters, Reavis was actually college-educated and taught school before he began to prospect during the California Gold Rush. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz locates a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). East of Phoenix, Arizona is the Superstition Mountain range, more commonly referred to by locals, as the Superstitions. Standing majestically at the forefront of this rough terrain is Superstition Mountain, a 3,000-foot high monolith, which seemingly stands guard over the rest of its territory. The cause of death was unknown. Though he preferred his own company and his large library of books to being with others, he never turned away a visitor to his retreat and often traveled to the area mining camps to sell his vegetables. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. They were attacked by the Apache. The Lost Dutchman is Americas most famous lost mine, and many people have risked their lives searching for it. Suggest edits to improve what we show. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. Separately, however, they both spent much of the rest of their lives looking for the lost mine. Sure that he was mad, even the Apache left him alone. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. It does not. In the first decade of the 1700s, he began to explore the region, finding several sources of gold. The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180km (110mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. However, before he could return to the spot, he had a heart attack. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. In the 1850s, two prospectors are said to have come upon three dead burros with intact pack saddles that contained some $37,000 worth of gold. People have been seeking the Lost Dutchman's mine since at least 1892,[2] while according to one estimate, 9,000 people annually made some effort to locate the Lost Dutchman's mine. In 1955, Charles Massey, who was hunting with a 22, was found shot between the eyes by a heavy-caliber rifle bullet. With the gold Needle two years later really even exist, or is it nothing more than degrees. 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