Wouldn’t it be great to come across a long-hidden or buried treasure? How easy would it be for a person to forget a treasure’s exact location, especially over a long period of time? Or what if something happened to them without anyone else knowing where they hid it? It’s easy to think that this could have happened many times in history. Here are some interesting places in Missouri that are said to contain a hidden fortune. Should we start digging for lost treasure in Missouri? Let us know!
- Spanish treasure near Noble Hill
Google Maps A Spanish treasure is supposedly buried somewhere on Highway 13 near Noble Hill, about 13 miles north of Springfield on the Polk-Greene County line. Is it still there? Maybe. Has anyone found it yet? Nope. Is there still a chance? Maybe. Plus, if you ever find yourself in Springfield, it doubles as one of our favorite small towns in Missouri, so at least there’s that.
- The Kaffer Treasure, Armstrong
Google Maps About forty miles northwest of Columbia, a cache of gold coins known as the Kaffer Treasure is buried near Armstrong. Well, supposedly. You never know.
- Independence jewelry heist loot
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures.html Sometime around 1927, a group of bandits stole $25,000 in gems and jewelry from an Independence jewelry store. It is said to be buried at the foot of an old oak tree between two large roots about six miles east of Independence. However, six miles east of Independence in 1927 would actually be somewhere in the Independence metropolitan area today, though difficult to discern exactly where. Interestingly enough, Independence just happens to be one of the most underrated towns in Missouri that’s worth a visit, treasure or not.
- Lost Copper Mine in the Ozark Hills
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures2.html In the mid-nineteenth century, a man named Joseph Slater is said to have known the location of a hidden copper mine a few miles northwest of Jacks Fork near the Current River. He made several trips to New Orleans during this time, unloading nearly $50,000 worth of copper over a three or four-year period. He had a mining claim, but in an effort to keep the mine secret, it was actually on a tract of land a couple of miles away from the mine.
When he discovered the mine was actually on another man’s property, instead of buying the land and thus revealing the mine’s location, he and his daughter sealed up the mine and moved east, planning to return at a later time and offer to purchase the land for farming. He never made it farther east than Missouri and eventually died, never to return to the Jacks Fork area. His daughter married and moved west, and no one in Shannon County ever saw them again. The legend of the mine, however, remains, still believed to be in the vicinity of the junction of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. Many have searched for the mine over the years, but it has never been found.
- Parson Keithly’s hidden gold
Google Maps Parson Keithly was an odd character from the mid-nineteenth century who roamed the Ozark countryside, preaching on Sundays and wandering the area with his dog and his gun the rest of the time, sometimes disappearing for days. During one of these disappearances, he apparently had gone to California to search for gold during the rush. He was gone for around three years, then suddenly reappeared and returned to Missouri to preach and wander as before.
Turns out, Keithly had found gold in California, come home, and hid it somewhere. His family never knew where, although there was a nearby cave he visited frequently. It was where he was eventually laid to rest upon his death. Many thought this cave might be where the treasure was hidden. Hints of the treasure over the years occurred when he would periodically pull a $10 gold piece from his pocket, hand it to his daughter and say, “See here what I’ve found.” The cave is located near Galena, Missouri in Stone County.
- Alf Bolin’s outlaw loot
Legends of America Alf Bolin was a Missouri outlaw from the mid-1800s. The story is that, many years ago, a man came to a farm on Highway JJ south of Kirbyville in Taney County looking for a treasure that Bolin had buried near a cave in the Fox Creek country containing gold and silver from his many robberies. The cave had been used as a marker for the nearby buried cache. There is definitely a good chance that Bolin had buried his loot in these hills.
“Murder Rock,” on Pine Mountain south of Kirbyville, is also known as “Alf Bolin Rock” due to it being the location where Bolin and his gang of outlaws often hid and then robbed and sometimes murdered unfortunate travelers. It was also the area in which Bolin was later trapped and killed by a Union soldier commissioned to capture the outlaw. At the time of his death in 1863, Bolin was only 21 years old. With so many raids in this area, he had amassed a considerable fortune, but because he couldn’t keep it in a bank, he likely buried it near the cave. Unfortunately, the exact location of the burial spot died with the outlaw himself and so the treasure is quite possibly still there.
- Sunken treasure in the Mississippi… lots of it
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures.html In the Mississippi River that runs along the banks of St. Louis, several steamships have sunk long ago and over many years. Some of these are said to contain treasures of gold coins.
- 49’er gold in Missouri
Flickr/ Jimmie Wewer Another Missouri man, long ago, is said to have struck it rich in the California gold rush. When he returned to his home near Waynesville in Pulaski County, it is believed that he buried $60,000 somewhere in the hills.
- Sinking Creek Mine
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures.html The Sinking Creek legend tells of a St. Louis doctor named Tyrell who, when treating a delirious, dying man, was told of a silver mine near Sinking Creek in Shannon County. The doctor must have felt there was some truth to the tale because he started buying land near the creek, moving there, and building himself a house. Both he and his son continued the search their entire lives, believing that the area contained sulphite or silver. However, the mine was never found.
- Tin whistle loot north of Milford
Google Maps In the 1930s, some men were running a bootlegging operation out of Frontenac in Kansas, and one evening, when delivering their illicit merchandise, they held up a farmhouse near Arcadia taking guns, jewelry, and gold. When they crossed the state line, they buried their ill-gotten gains just north of Milford. The location may have been chosen due to it being near another bootlegger who made moonshine for them and ran his operations out of Milford. According to the grandson of one of these men, his grandfather claimed the loot is still hidden in a small cavern near Horse Creek, with the names of the bootleggers carved in the walls. By the way, if you ever find yourself in the little town of Frontenac, be sure to check out the best restaurant in the entire area while you’re there. Finding it is kinda like finding a hidden treasure after all!
- Legend of Bone Hill Cemetery, Levesy
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures.html Before the Civil War, a farming family came to the area of Levesy with their slaves and settled on Bone Hill. They had their slaves build a stone fence that completely surrounded their acreage. When border warfare hit its peak in 1862, the farmer sold his acreage for gold and supposedly buried it somewhere along the stone wall. The family moved away and vowed to return in seven years, but they were never seen in the vicinity again. In the seventh year after they left, a mysterious light was seen hovering above Bone Hill near a stone wall. Legend says that the light continues to appear every seven years and many believe the light is the ghost of the farmer coming to claim his buried fortune.
What are some other buried treasures you have heard of? Do you believe these tales of buried treasure in Missouri could be true? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Google Maps
A Spanish treasure is supposedly buried somewhere on Highway 13 near Noble Hill, about 13 miles north of Springfield on the Polk-Greene County line. Is it still there? Maybe. Has anyone found it yet? Nope. Is there still a chance? Maybe. Plus, if you ever find yourself in Springfield, it doubles as one of our favorite small towns in Missouri, so at least there’s that.
About forty miles northwest of Columbia, a cache of gold coins known as the Kaffer Treasure is buried near Armstrong. Well, supposedly. You never know.
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures.html
Sometime around 1927, a group of bandits stole $25,000 in gems and jewelry from an Independence jewelry store. It is said to be buried at the foot of an old oak tree between two large roots about six miles east of Independence. However, six miles east of Independence in 1927 would actually be somewhere in the Independence metropolitan area today, though difficult to discern exactly where. Interestingly enough, Independence just happens to be one of the most underrated towns in Missouri that’s worth a visit, treasure or not.
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/mo-treasures2.html
In the mid-nineteenth century, a man named Joseph Slater is said to have known the location of a hidden copper mine a few miles northwest of Jacks Fork near the Current River. He made several trips to New Orleans during this time, unloading nearly $50,000 worth of copper over a three or four-year period. He had a mining claim, but in an effort to keep the mine secret, it was actually on a tract of land a couple of miles away from the mine.
When he discovered the mine was actually on another man’s property, instead of buying the land and thus revealing the mine’s location, he and his daughter sealed up the mine and moved east, planning to return at a later time and offer to purchase the land for farming. He never made it farther east than Missouri and eventually died, never to return to the Jacks Fork area. His daughter married and moved west, and no one in Shannon County ever saw them again. The legend of the mine, however, remains, still believed to be in the vicinity of the junction of the Jacks Fork and Current rivers. Many have searched for the mine over the years, but it has never been found.
Parson Keithly was an odd character from the mid-nineteenth century who roamed the Ozark countryside, preaching on Sundays and wandering the area with his dog and his gun the rest of the time, sometimes disappearing for days. During one of these disappearances, he apparently had gone to California to search for gold during the rush. He was gone for around three years, then suddenly reappeared and returned to Missouri to preach and wander as before.
Turns out, Keithly had found gold in California, come home, and hid it somewhere. His family never knew where, although there was a nearby cave he visited frequently. It was where he was eventually laid to rest upon his death. Many thought this cave might be where the treasure was hidden. Hints of the treasure over the years occurred when he would periodically pull a $10 gold piece from his pocket, hand it to his daughter and say, “See here what I’ve found.” The cave is located near Galena, Missouri in Stone County.
Legends of America
Alf Bolin was a Missouri outlaw from the mid-1800s. The story is that, many years ago, a man came to a farm on Highway JJ south of Kirbyville in Taney County looking for a treasure that Bolin had buried near a cave in the Fox Creek country containing gold and silver from his many robberies. The cave had been used as a marker for the nearby buried cache. There is definitely a good chance that Bolin had buried his loot in these hills.
“Murder Rock,” on Pine Mountain south of Kirbyville, is also known as “Alf Bolin Rock” due to it being the location where Bolin and his gang of outlaws often hid and then robbed and sometimes murdered unfortunate travelers. It was also the area in which Bolin was later trapped and killed by a Union soldier commissioned to capture the outlaw. At the time of his death in 1863, Bolin was only 21 years old. With so many raids in this area, he had amassed a considerable fortune, but because he couldn’t keep it in a bank, he likely buried it near the cave. Unfortunately, the exact location of the burial spot died with the outlaw himself and so the treasure is quite possibly still there.
In the Mississippi River that runs along the banks of St. Louis, several steamships have sunk long ago and over many years. Some of these are said to contain treasures of gold coins.
Flickr/ Jimmie Wewer
Another Missouri man, long ago, is said to have struck it rich in the California gold rush. When he returned to his home near Waynesville in Pulaski County, it is believed that he buried $60,000 somewhere in the hills.
The Sinking Creek legend tells of a St. Louis doctor named Tyrell who, when treating a delirious, dying man, was told of a silver mine near Sinking Creek in Shannon County. The doctor must have felt there was some truth to the tale because he started buying land near the creek, moving there, and building himself a house. Both he and his son continued the search their entire lives, believing that the area contained sulphite or silver. However, the mine was never found.
In the 1930s, some men were running a bootlegging operation out of Frontenac in Kansas, and one evening, when delivering their illicit merchandise, they held up a farmhouse near Arcadia taking guns, jewelry, and gold. When they crossed the state line, they buried their ill-gotten gains just north of Milford. The location may have been chosen due to it being near another bootlegger who made moonshine for them and ran his operations out of Milford. According to the grandson of one of these men, his grandfather claimed the loot is still hidden in a small cavern near Horse Creek, with the names of the bootleggers carved in the walls. By the way, if you ever find yourself in the little town of Frontenac, be sure to check out the best restaurant in the entire area while you’re there. Finding it is kinda like finding a hidden treasure after all!
Before the Civil War, a farming family came to the area of Levesy with their slaves and settled on Bone Hill. They had their slaves build a stone fence that completely surrounded their acreage. When border warfare hit its peak in 1862, the farmer sold his acreage for gold and supposedly buried it somewhere along the stone wall. The family moved away and vowed to return in seven years, but they were never seen in the vicinity again. In the seventh year after they left, a mysterious light was seen hovering above Bone Hill near a stone wall. Legend says that the light continues to appear every seven years and many believe the light is the ghost of the farmer coming to claim his buried fortune.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Lost Treasure in Missouri December 22, 2022 Tori Jane
Is there any lost treasure in Missouri?
Interestingly, there are several tales of lost treasure in Missouri despite the fact that it isn’t a coastal state. Besides, who needs an ocean to have treasure, anyway? Some of the most interesting, compelling tales of hidden treasure in Missouri include:
The Kaffer Treasure said to be buried near Armstrong
The hidden (and subsequently lost) gold of Parson Keithly The numerous alleged sunken boats in the Mississippi
2. What are some interesting urban legends in Missouri? There are numerous urban legends in Missouri, all of which have been passed down an unknown number of years – they sure are fun, though! Some of our favorite urban legends in Missouri include:
The tale of Zombie Road
The Devil’s Chair in Kirksville The ghosts of Rock Hollow Trail
3. Where should I search for hidden treasure in Missouri? Sure, we may not know whether or not the tales of hidden treasure in Missouri are really true or not, but if you want to do some modern-day treasure hunting in MO, your best bet is to do some metal detecting. Some of the best locations for metal detecting in Missouri are:
Long Branch State Park
Cuivre River State Park
The OIYS Visitor Center
Lost Treasure in Missouri
December 22, 2022
Tori Jane
Is there any lost treasure in Missouri?
Interestingly, there are several tales of lost treasure in Missouri despite the fact that it isn’t a coastal state. Besides, who needs an ocean to have treasure, anyway? Some of the most interesting, compelling tales of hidden treasure in Missouri include:
The Kaffer Treasure said to be buried near Armstrong
The hidden (and subsequently lost) gold of Parson Keithly The numerous alleged sunken boats in the Mississippi
2. What are some interesting urban legends in Missouri? There are numerous urban legends in Missouri, all of which have been passed down an unknown number of years – they sure are fun, though! Some of our favorite urban legends in Missouri include:
The tale of Zombie Road
The Devil’s Chair in Kirksville The ghosts of Rock Hollow Trail
3. Where should I search for hidden treasure in Missouri? Sure, we may not know whether or not the tales of hidden treasure in Missouri are really true or not, but if you want to do some modern-day treasure hunting in MO, your best bet is to do some metal detecting. Some of the best locations for metal detecting in Missouri are:
Long Branch State Park
Cuivre River State Park
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
Interestingly, there are several tales of lost treasure in Missouri despite the fact that it isn’t a coastal state. Besides, who needs an ocean to have treasure, anyway? Some of the most interesting, compelling tales of hidden treasure in Missouri include:
The Kaffer Treasure said to be buried near Armstrong
The hidden (and subsequently lost) gold of Parson Keithly
The numerous alleged sunken boats in the Mississippi
- What are some interesting urban legends in Missouri?
There are numerous urban legends in Missouri, all of which have been passed down an unknown number of years – they sure are fun, though! Some of our favorite urban legends in Missouri include:
The tale of Zombie Road
The Devil’s Chair in Kirksville
The ghosts of Rock Hollow Trail
- Where should I search for hidden treasure in Missouri?
Sure, we may not know whether or not the tales of hidden treasure in Missouri are really true or not, but if you want to do some modern-day treasure hunting in MO, your best bet is to do some metal detecting. Some of the best locations for metal detecting in Missouri are:
Long Branch State Park
Cuivre River State Park
