Have you ever thought about the possibility of stumbling upon a hidden treasure in the state of Washington? From old gold mines to buried caches of riches, there are plenty of lost treasures scattered across the state, just waiting to be discovered.
All the stories surrounding these treasures are fascinating, and they could lead you to fortunes worth millions.
The excitement of possibly finding something extraordinary makes this quest even more thrilling. Who knows? One day you could be the one to uncover a fortune that’s been lost for centuries. So, why not start exploring?
The Incredible Treasures Of Washington That Are Waiting To Be Discovered
These treasures symbolize the thrill of discovery still waiting to happen:
The Klickitat Tribe’s Legendary Gold Mine – $41,000,000+
The Klickitat tribe had a gold mine along the Little Klickitat River in southern Washington. It was said to be the richest gold mine on the Pacific Coast.
In 1806, Lewis and Clark saw gold from the mine being prepared for shipment to England by a Hudson’s Bay factor. Later, traders from the Northwest Fur Company also bought gold from the Klickitat people. The gold came in different forms, including wire-like stringers, nuggets, and irregular slugs.
By 1875, only one elderly Klickitat man knew where the mine was. When some renegades failed to track him to the mine, they killed him in frustration.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If just 1,000 pounds of gold came from the Klickitat mine, its value could reach over $41 million.
The Railroad Paymaster’s Hidden Fortune – $12,000,000
A tale of buried gold near Port Townsend brought three Seattle businessmen to Discovery Bay. They were searching for $60,000 in English gold sovereigns, believed to have been hidden over a century earlier.
The gold was stolen by a railroad paymaster in British Columbia, who escaped across the Strait of Juan de Fuca. He landed on the Tukey homestead before riding to Port Townsend, where he boarded a ship.
Authorities arrested him, but he never revealed what happened to the treasure. Over the years, many have searched the area, hoping to uncover the missing coins.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The value of these gold coins has skyrocketed over time, reaching an estimated $12 million.
The Old Spaniard’s Lost Mine – $26,000,000+
In the Cascade Mountains, near the headwaters of the Lewis River, a mine was said to hold a great amount of gold. An old Spaniard worked the mine in the 1880s and made frequent trips to The Dalles to deposit the gold he was able to extract from the mine.
Prospectors tried to follow him, but he always managed to escape unnoticed. One day, he stopped visiting the bank, leaving local miners wondering what had happened. A year later, Yakama Indians appeared in stores with gold nuggets but never revealed where they found them.
Some believed they had discovered the old Spaniard’s mine. Years later, a skeleton of a man and a mule was found near Spirit Lake, adding another layer to the mystery.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If the mine yielded just 10,000 ounces of gold, its value would be over $26 million.
Lost Gold Near Old Fort Walla Walla – $10,500,000+
In the late 19th century, bandits robbed a train near Wallula and escaped with several gold bars. They planned to take a ferry to Portland but missed their chance and decided to bury the stolen gold near old Fort Walla Walla.
Before they could return, they were caught and shot without revealing where they had hidden the treasure. Over time, the fort disappeared, and the area became Fort Walla Walla Park.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The stolen gold from Walla Walla County could be worth around $10,500,000 at current market prices.
The Gold Rush Legends of Rogersburg – $40,000,000+
Rogersburg, a ghost town in southeastern Washington, once thrived during a gold rush. In the past, the only way to reach it was by boat or horseback, and a road from Asotin wasn’t built until 1938.
Near Shovel Creek, off the Snake River, lies the location of the lost Shovel Creek Mine. The area is also home to the Trio Lost Mine, another source of rumored gold.
A prospector is believed to have hidden a valuable cache nearby, adding to the town’s legends. Outlaw Charley Maguire buried stolen loot near Rogersburg after robbing a stagecoach. These stories have kept the town’s history alive long after the gold rush faded.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If even a single mine in the Rogersburg area held that much gold, it could be worth $40 million.
The Lumberman’s Secret Fortune – $25,600,000+
In the 1870s, a wealthy lumberman named Lars Hanson lived on Vashon Island in Puget Sound. He was known for his success in the lumber industry and the fortune he accumulated.
Hanson reportedly hid more than $200,000 in gold coins near Judd Creek, close to the town of Burton. The creek winds through the island, surrounded by forests and quiet landscapes.
How much the treasure would be worth today
This hidden treasure would now be valued at more than $25.6 million.
The Three Treasures of Victor Smith – $43,000,000+
Victor Smith arrived in Puget Sound in 1861 when President Lincoln appointed him as the Collector of Customs. He quickly pushed to move the Customs House from Port Townsend to Port Angeles, angering many locals.
When he returned from Washington D.C. after securing the move, he was accused of embezzlement, but an investigation cleared him. In 1863, a landslide swept away the Customs House in Port Angeles, along with a strongbox said to contain $1,500 in banknotes and $7,500 in gold coins.
Later, while transporting payroll funds to San Francisco, Smith’s ship wrecked near Panama, and the money mysteriously disappeared. He eventually made it back to San Francisco and boarded the Brother Jonathan with $200,000 in gold meant for troops and treaty payments.
The ship sank in a storm off the California coast, and both Smith and the gold were lost at sea.
How much the treasure would be worth today
Altogether, these lost treasures could total over $43 million in value.
Roy Gardner’s Lost Train Robbery Treasure – $4,000,000
Roy Gardner was one of the most daring train robbers of the early 1920s. He stole thousands of dollars from mail trains, pulling off bold heists across the West. After being caught, he was sent to McNeil Island Federal Penitentiary near Tacoma, but he escaped multiple times.
His most famous breakout happened during a baseball game when he and two other inmates crawled through a hole in the fence. He was shot in the leg while running toward the woods but still managed to get away.
Newspapers called him the “Smiling Bandit” and the “King of the Escape Artists” as he continued his crime spree.
By the time he was finally captured for good, he had hidden an estimated $250,000 in stolen loot.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The missing gold and cash from Gardner’s heists could amount to around $4 million.
The Mystery of Captain Scarborough’s Gold – $2,500,000+
In 1843, Captain James Scarborough became the first white settler north of the Columbia River. He built a cabin in the area that is now Fort Columbia. Stories say that he buried a treasure somewhere near his home.
The land later became a military fort before turning into a state park. Over time, the story of Scarborough’s hidden wealth became part of local history.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If the buried treasure included rare coins and artifacts, its worth could exceed $2.5 million.
The Lost Doukhobor Ledge – $1,500,000+
In 1929, a wildfire spread through the Gold Creek Basin, forcing a crew of firefighters to flee for safety. Two Doukhobor firefighters got separated from the group and spent the night near a rock slide. At sunrise, they discovered a ledge of silver-rich galena, breaking off samples to take back with them.
When the ore was tested, it was found to contain over 1,000 ounces of silver per ton. Excited by the discovery, they returned with geologists to locate the ledge, but the landscape had changed after the fire.
Despite several trips back, they were unable to find the exact location of the silver deposit. After their search ended, other prospectors later tried to find the same ledge but were unsuccessful.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If only a small portion of the mine’s rich silver deposit were recovered, its worth could easily reach $1.5 million.
The Buried Riches of S. Buckley – $275,000+
Jeweler S. Buckley is believed to have hidden a cache of jewelry and cash in Hammond Orchard near Port Orchard in the mid-1800s. Around the same time, a saloon owner named Harry Sutton allegedly buried $11,000 in the same area.
No records indicate that either treasure was ever recovered. The orchard has changed significantly over the years, making a search more difficult.
Stories suggest that locals once tried searching for buried riches but came up empty-handed. If still there, these valuables could be hidden beneath old tree roots or long-forgotten land.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The estimated value of the hidden treasure, considering inflation and the rarity of old coins, would easily surpass $275,000.
The Forgotten Swauk Creek Gold Mine – $20,000,000+
Swauk Creek was once a hotspot for gold prospectors in the late 1800s. Legends tell of a hidden mine on the south side of Red Top Mountain, rich with untapped gold deposits. Some claim the mine was worked briefly before being abandoned and lost to time.
Attempts to relocate it have been unsuccessful, with shifting terrain adding to the difficulty. Old maps and records provide only vague clues about its possible location.
If the mine exists, it could still contain a fortune in unmined gold.
How much the treasure would be worth today
If significant gold deposits remain, their estimated value could be at least $20 million.
Chief Smithen’s Buried Gold – $400,000+
Chief Smithen was rumored to have buried $18,000 in gold coins near the St. Mary Indian Mission off Highway 97 in Omak in 1918. The gold was supposedly hidden as a safeguard, but he never retrieved it.
Over time, the exact location was forgotten, leaving treasure hunters with only vague descriptions. The land has since been developed, making a search even more challenging.
Some believe the gold was accidentally unearthed and spent without recognition. If still buried, it could be lying beneath private property or within the mission grounds.
How much the treasure would be worth today
It’s possible that the buried gold coins would now be valued at around $400,000.
The Hidden Wealth of Thomas Douglas – $1,500,000+
Thomas Douglas was a reclusive miner living near Old Blewett in the 1890s. He often carried a large stash of gold coins, which he once displayed during a card game. Fearing theft, he is said to have buried a wooden box filled with gold about 100 yards from his cabin.
After his death, locals tried searching for the treasure but never found it. If Douglas’s gold remains hidden, it could be beneath layers of forest growth or buried under a forgotten trail.
How much the treasure would be worth today
This treasure could be worth around $1.5 million or more.
Danville’s Lost Gold Ledge – $125,000,000+
The town of Danville is known for a legend about a lost gold deposit. A prospector reportedly stumbled upon a vein of gold in the nearby mountains. Before he could fully exploit it, he lost his way and never found it again.
Later attempts to rediscover the location have all failed. Some believe it was buried by landslides or hidden beneath thick vegetation.
How much the treasure would be worth today
The deposit’s potential worth could reach approximately $125 million.
