Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. All rights reserved. [28], One fact against the existence of "Lost Dutchman Mine" is that Waltz was a "placer miner"; while the gold pieces he had were in quartz, the Superstition Mountains are in fact volcanic. Everyone else? This is only speculation, what I do know is that, people who have dismissed the information on the stones, no matter who carved the stones, those non believers have been badly mistaken. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz,18101891. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. While popular with campers, hikers, and adventure seekers, these mountains are also known for their exceedingly hot summers, freezing winters, harsh winds, unpredictable storms, treacherous terrain, and mysterious happenings. Lights, screams, and shadows of Apache armies have been reported. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. All funds and donations go back into preserving the area. This is very important! It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Summer Hours The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. Hes led back to town and the tale spreads like wildfire. Finally did a little digging and it sounded interesting. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. Monday Sunday Lost Dutchman's Mine - Superstition Mountains - Treasures in America The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. [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). This was our first stop for the day. Combine these with the legends of the indigenous Pima Indians and the mountains live up to their name. Searching for The Gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Superstition Mountain Much of the truth has laid obscured in old Spanish, Jesuit and Catholic Church documentation, including maps, expedition journals, and diaries and in many cases with those buried in long ago lost and forgotten graves. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. 27.07 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Flames of Prophecy, 29.07 - MU Podcast - Contract with the Goddess, 27.06 - MU Plus+ Podcast - Secret Vaults of Time, 29.06 - MU Podcast - Italian Disco Abductions, The Mystery of New York's Renegade Subway Psychic, Forget About What We Know About Roswell: It's What's Missing About the Case That We Need to Look For, Archeologists Discover Another Secret Corridor Inside the Great Pyramid of Giza, A Boat-Swallowing Sea Monster of Norse Legends Still Lives Today, Ghosts, Fairies, and a Spectral Hag on Canada's Most Haunted Island, More on the Matter of the Most Dangerous Creature of the Mind: The Slenderman, Unmarked Black Helicopter Above Chicago Sparks Conspiracy Theories, "What's the Creepiest Thing You've Ever Seen or Heard?" The only thing slightly off the cuff, is that three of them do ride their Harleys from central Ohio to Sturgis and back on a regular basis, but more about them later. May through September Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. Up until Ruths disastrous expedition, the mines were little more than a footnote in the history of Arizona; one of a thousand so-called lost mines that peppered teh state. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. The park offers 134 campsites, each with a picnic table, barbeque grill, and fire pit, and 68 equipped with electric hook-ups and water. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. Anyway, the great west after Grant decided to Manifest Destiny and promote those great plains maybe theyll forget all that Civil War squabble if they start to settle into lands without so much emotional baggage tended to promote El Dorado like tales. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. John D. Wilburn in his book Dutchman's Lost Ledge of Gold (1990), wrote that the Bulldog Gold Mine near Goldfield, Arizona, fits very well the description Jacob Waltz gave as the location of his 'lost mine'. In later years, in 1945, a would-be treasure hunter named Barry Storm would claim that as he had been out looking for the treasure he had been fired upon by a mysterious sniper who he called Mr. SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS GHOST, LOST MINES, MURDER AND MAYHEM, Geronimo was oftentimes sometimes discussed in the story. Early on during the Spanish Conquest, Conquistadors such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1535) came to the American southwest (New Spain) in search of gold trying to locate, Montezumas Seven Cities of Cibola. Out in the remote badlands of the U.S. state of Arizona, just to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area lies a sun scorched, dried up, arid moonscape of twisted peaks and sprawling expanse of badlands called the Superstition Mountains, at one time called the Sierra de la Espuma by Spanish settlers. Yes, the deserts of Arizona carry a spooky secret. In late November or early December 2009, Denver, Colorado citizen Jesse Capen disappeared in the Tonto National Forest. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. The weather in the Superstition Mountains is notoriously unpredictable, with storms seeming to come out of nowhere and accompanied by abrupt drops in temperatures. The large wooden structure overlooking the museum is a 100-year-old Cossak 20-stamp ore mill, a state-of-the-art piece of mining equipment that was used around the turn of the century in the West. According to their folklore, the mountain guards an ancient storehouse of precious metals and treasures, and anyone who ventures forth to get the treasure is likely to die. The area is basically a free-for-all for wilderness lovers. The Superstition Mountains Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. He turned out to be the surviving Peralta, and, to express his gratitude, he gave them directions to his familys gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. In 1847-1848 during the time of the Hidalgo Treaty when Mexico sold the territory to the United Sates the Peraltas, knowing they would lose access to their mines made one last trip bringing hundreds of miners from Sonora to mine as much as they could, but were attacked by Apaches. My husband has been enthralled with all the wonderful tales of the mountains since his college days a long time ago. [42] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130ha) in 1983. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Students 11-17 $4.00 And is that information relevant? About Us - Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum It started out as an exciting day for us all on February 25th, 2016. During Kinos time other Missionaries in California and Mexico were jealous and suspicious of Kino because, while they were poor and struggled his missions were rich and flourished, they said he had a secret gold mine from which he took rich gold and funded his missions and rancheros amassing 50 thousand head of cattle making him the Southwests first mega rancher. 9 May 2022. Up until Ruths disastrous expedition, the mines were little more than a footnote in the history of Arizona; one of a thousand so-called. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. However, things can go wrong. [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". To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. 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". However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. 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. 5: Museum Administration and Membership matters, E-MAILVolunteering questions: [emailprotected]Site rentals: [emailprotected]Membership questions: [emailprotected]Retail and event issues: [emailprotected]Accounting issues: [emailprotected]Administrative and other issues: [emailprotected]FAX(480) 288-6524. Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman, a mischievous canard if ever there was one, becomes obsessed with the mine. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. Fun, family friendly historical site with a lot to see including replicas of old buildings, plenty of hiking, a gift shop and free lectures by locals describing how life was like. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. The staff and volunteers at this Museum were all very friendly and helpful. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: the area and the mines cursed and full of devils.. The chieftain, overtaken by the act, blindfolds the doctor and takes him on a trip to the mines. The scenery is stunningly beautiful and never gets old. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Most likely because Pedro de Peralta had been the Spanish Governor of New Mexico (in the 1600s) his family name of "Peralta" was the inspiration for a number of legends in the American Southwest. Wasnt it Dutch? In certain seasons, they also have gun fighters and mule/donkey rides for the kids as well. Read on to find out if you should start planning your trip to a Dark Mountain. Today along route 88 is a pull off gravel road, that leads out behind the Lost Dutchman Museum, you follow it to a designated area, here you will find marked trail signs with trails simply marked as the Massacre Grounds.. For the next 20 years, he falls in and out of consciousness, whenever he wakes its just garbled speak and horrific tales; hes enveloped in kaleidoscopic delirium Something, a doctor once told his family, having chewed at his sanity and left nothing but brittle bones. He dies, screaming from a nightmare in 1891. Superstition Mountain - Wikipedia Non one really knows, but the answers just may lie out there in the desolate reaches of those desert badlands. The Lost Dutchman's Mine has gone on to become a pop cultural legend, written of in countless books and appearing on numerous TV shows. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. For the next 20 years, he falls in and out of consciousness, whenever he wakes its just garbled speak and horrific tales; hes enveloped in kaleidoscopic delirium, Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. A must see if you are by the Superstition Mountains. The search, nevertheless, still continues. Over the years, subsequent search for the mines has only lead to heartache and death. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. Treasure hunting at Superstition Mountains Arizona - The Lost Dutchman's Mine. Beautiful gift shop with tons of great things to buy. Blair argued that this Peralta story (well known to Arizona residents) was eventually incorporated in the Lost Dutchman's story, in a severely distorted version, following the renewed interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine in the 1930s. Barkely urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine: The headless remains of prospector James A. Cravey were discovered in the mid-1940s. There were other weird clues found about the body, such as the presence of two bullet holes to the skull from shots fired at point blank range, and it was speculated that he had perhaps been killed for his secret knowledge or committed suicide, but there was no weapon found. This would become a common theme in the Superstition Mountains, the presence of decapitated corpses, and indeed this has happened to quite a few people who have dared look for the Lost Dutchmans mine throughout the decades. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. Superstition Mountains and the Lost Dutchman Mine The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. With cursed mountains said to drive men mad and a hidden fortune of gold worth killing for, the treasure hunters greatest danger may be the man at his side. Yep, more footage has been found, kids. More please. He's written articles for MU and Daily Grail and has been a guest on Coast to Coast AM and Binnal of America. Some people believe they indicate the location of the famed Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, in Arizona, United States. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. (2004). Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. One of these was a veterinarian and treasure hunter named Adolf Ruth, who in 1931 made his way to these wind-swept wilds, armed with what he at the time claimed to be the actual original map to it. [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. Im talking Smaug levels of the shiny stuff. These are rectangular, cross-shaped, and heart-shaped stones with etchings of a horse, a priest, a dagger, a trail, topographic features, and Spanish inscriptions. [5] One Lost Dutchman's mine is said to be in Colorado, another in California; two are said to be located in Arizona. To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. They even had the old rock crusher up and working. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. In December of 1949 a man named James Kidd vanished without a trace in the area as well. Very sweet museum with great views of the Superstition Mountains. Superstition Mountain Museum is located in an area full of legend, history and intrigue. Eight months later their camera and cell phones were recovered along the western edge of LaBarge Canyon. There are a lot of terrific shots and brilliantly edited moments -- especially, the opening montage as the characters drive to the Superstition Mountains. If you need rescued, they will land two miles away and hike in to get you. See production, box office & company info. [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. After he had spent many years in their midst, the Apache Elders decided to reward his selfless service with gold. Some of you reading this may know a lot, about the Lost Dutchman Goldmine, others may be new to the story of the Lost Dutchman Mine, so before going much further, I will do a very quick overview. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. There have been tales of, soldiers that are said to have stumbled onto a river of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Barkely repeatedly urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine, because the terrain of the Superstition Mountains was treacherous even for experienced outdoorsmen, let alone for the 66-year-old Ruth in the heat of the Arizona summer. Biology, nature, and cryptozoology still remain Brent Swancers first intellectual loves. X., who seemed to be guarding the area. [volume], October 11, 1933, Page NINE, Image 9, "Arizona desert searched for missing Denver man seeking gold mine", "Mother of missing treasure hunter holds onto hope", "Body of man who hunted legendary 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine believed found in Arizona mountains", "3 Utah men still missing on Arizona treasure hunt", "3 Search for men looking for Lost Dutchman's gold suspended", "More remains found in Superstitions; may be hiker's", "Escape - When The Man Comes, Follow Him", "The Lost Dutchman's Mine History and Bibliography", Arizona Mining Scams and Unassayable Ore Projects of the Late 20th Century, "Skeptoid #347: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine&oldid=1137505190. I really enjoyed it here. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. A raspberry into the face of common sense. They didnt find it because its not in the superstitions Too bad i cant post pictures, because i know exactly where it is, Did you ever think the Dutchman might have used another mine location to through They are bound on three sides by U.S. Route 60, Arizona State Route 88, and Arizona State Route 188, and are visible from miles away. There have been countless such deaths and disappearances in the region over the years, many of them with missing heads or gunshot wounds to the head. Ruth vanished while hunting for the mine in the summer of 1931. Wasnt it Dutch? Awesome place to visit. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. In the 1800's, a german goldhunter named Jacob Waitz discovered a huge goldmine within the mountains that has since been named the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (German <- > The Netherlands; let . Yet the mountains and their cursed treasure would get their most well-known mystery with the arrival of a German immigrant named Jacob Walz, also often spelled Waltz, who was a gold prospector in the Phoenix valley in the late 1800s. Take a cinematic tour to the Superstition Mountains, home of the Lost Dutchman Mine. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott According to these legends, this treasure was almost never seen by mortal eyes, at least not by anyone who lived to tell about it, but there are some tales of outsiders stumbling across it. James Reavis tried to assert that the Peralta family had a Spanish land grant and a barony granted by the King of Spain, which included a huge swath of Arizona and New Mexico, including the Superstition Mountains. On July 11, 2010, Utah hikers Curtis Merworth, Ardean Charles, and Malcolm Meeks went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. Members of the Apache tribe were said to have a truly valuable gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. As to why his head had been carried off no one knows. Director Earl Bellamy Writer Sam Peckinpah (teleplay and story) Stars Dale Robertson John Litel Myron Healey Come on down! In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). To this end he lived for years among their ranks, learning their ways and tending to their sick and wounded. Museum Members are FREE. In 2012 his vehicle, wallet, cellphone, and backpack were located but there had been no sign of the missing man. He had allegedly made many forays to this mine, taking gold as he pleased and boasting of its discovery, but all who tried to follow him or learn his secret were said to get hopelessly lost, or end up vanished or dead. His campsite and vehicle were recovered shortly afterward. These cookies do not store any personal information. The record high temperature is 128 degrees. It is generally accepted that the Peraltas and roughly 400 peon miners were massacred by the Apaches sometime around 1848. Granger wrote that "fact and fiction blend in the tales",[3] but that there are three main elements to the story: In 1977, Granger identified 62 variants of the Lost Dutchman's story some of the variations are minor, but others are substantial, casting the story in a very different light from the other versions. The Dutchman " was a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz. Take a stroll along the Native Plant Trail or hike the . The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-calledPeralta massacre. In January 2011, three sets of remains assumed to be those of the lost men were retrieved. The blindfold is taken off, the shine of the yellow stuff rattles Thornes mind, the chieftain speaks, Take as much gold ore as you can carry.. In fact, after five years including thousands of hours of research and then four expeditions starting in 2015, The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found by Arcana Exploration and Discovery. Are you ready to relive the last few moments of the lives of a group of people who were poking around where they shouldnt have been? Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. The family is later attacked and butchered in the so-called, Jacob, meanwhile, the lone survivor, is near catatonic. Up on the mountain, if someone breaks a leg; it will take at least two on the team to get you down; it is dangerous for three healthy climbers, much less one with broken body parts. The Museum Gallery offers a detailed exploration of the history of this region with artifacts, multi-media, testimonials and docent-led tours. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. One of the most prominent such tales is that of an affluent mining family from Mexico, the Peraltas, although some versions of the story say they were ranchers. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The University of Arizona is the oldest college in the state, existing before Arizona achieved statehood. Check it out! The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. The Hermit of the Superstition Mountains - YouTube The Superstitions are one of four mountains which mark the ancestral territory of the Apache People. By what name was Dark Mountain (2013) officially released in Canada in English? (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the "Superstition Mountains.". So let me say it again, the documentation found ON the stones is the most important thing not so much who carved them. Arcana has had the luxury of having had the site location for over three years, and for this reason we have been able to reverse engineer, historical information and put many of the pieces together. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. There have been many books, films, and cartoons about the Lost Gold of the Superstition Mountains. If you get it hurt you better have your own team. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. The Village exhibit includes two brush structures, some call Wickiups (the Apache people call them Gowah --our home); a cooking area and hide drying rack. The staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable and I am looking forward to returning with my kids. October through April Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. Mystic Arizona: Discover the Mysterious Supersition Mountains Where The lost stash of gold, which has gone on to be rather oddly known as the Lost Dutchmans Mine, has catapulted itself into one of the most intriguing unsolved modern mysteries there is, and the allure of its undiscovered riches has led many people to their deaths, with some estimates saying that over 600 people have mysteriously died or vanished during attempts to try and pry it from its ancient resting place.