Last month I published an article about Buried Treasures In Oregon, and to keep the ball rolling I decided to feature 7 more amazing stories of Oregon's hidden treasures, collected by Legends of America. Whether you're a treasure hunter, a history lover, or you're simply interested in discovering some of Oregon's many mysteries, these stories are sure to spark your interest.
Here are 7 incredible tales of lost treasures, hidden right here in Oregon. All of the text quoted below is attributed to Legends of America; read about even more hidden treasures on their website.
1. Hood River County
"At Horse Thief Meadows near the Dalles, $25,000 from a stagecoach robbery is believed to be hidden."
2. Douglas County
"Over a dozen lost gold mines are said to be located in the Steamboat Mountains in the vicinity of Deadman and White Rock Butte, between the South Umpqua River and North Steamboat Creek."
3. Clackamas County
"In the area of Government Camp at base of Mount Hood, a cache of stolen treasure is said to be buried."
4. Jackson County
"In the 1860s, an old miner was said to have buried some $8,000 worth of gold dust near Jacksonville. He returned years later to get the gold, which at that time was said to have been in the vicinity of J.N.T. Miller's field. though, he dug up a large amount of the field, he could never find his buried cache."
5. Josephine County
"In 1878, a German prospector named Karl Meyer took shelter under a rock ledge during a storm along Miller Creek. While waiting out the rain, he spied a badger disappear into a large hole in the nearby rocks. When the rain stopped, he widened the hole and crawled through into a cave. There, he was excited to find a large vein of gold. Breaking off several pieces he soon had it assayed and found it would be worth $415,000 per ton. He then returned to his camp on Miller Creek but was unable to find the cave. He continued to search for the elusive cavern for the next six months, without success. He later died of tuberculosis, having never found the cave."
6. Lake County
"An unusual stand of ancient ponderosa pine forest growing out of the sand is the outstanding feature of the Lost Forest Research Natural Area, which is located in the northeast portion of the Christmas Valley Sand Dunes Area of Critical Environmental Concern. A remnant of a forest that existed in a cooler and wetter age, these pines survive on half the typical annual precipitation for this tree species due to unique soil and hydrologic properties of the area. The nearest forest is 40 miles to the northwest, yet the pines continue to reproduce and thrive in this environment. Old growth juniper groves also exist in the Lost Forest. Motorized vehicles are allowed in the Lost Forest on routes posted "open." No cross country use is allowed. Camping is permissible in designated sites only."
7. Tillamook County
"Legend has it that a Spanish ship carrying a large amount of gold disappeared in a storm in 1679. Through the years, an number of artifacts have been found on the sandy shores at Nehalem Beach, leading historians to believe this is where the wreck washed up."
Thanks again to Legends of America for researching and writing these excerpts.
Have you ever gone on a treasure hunt? Do you know any other stories of hidden treasures in Oregon? Share your thoughts and stories in the comments.
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