If you ever wanted proof that it takes much more brains to keep money than it does to earn or steal it, then just consider the phenomenon of the “buried treasure.” This seemingly idiotic means of hiding vast amounts of gold, jewels, and cash was once incredibly popular. Unfortunately for the men and women who felt secure burying their fortune in the middle of nowhere, buried treasure isn’t the easiest thing to find once it’s been planted in the ground. Perhaps that’s why there are still several high profile fortunes that have been lost to time thanks to either forgetfulness, greed, or just plain, old bad luck. Here, for your consideration, are several real buried treasures that are still up for grabs to this day.
1. The Treasure at Little Big Horn
In the days and months leading up to the Battle at Little Big Horn, the threat of a Sioux attack was very real. The legend goes that a steamboat captain named Grant Marsh accrued a small fortune in gold bars (worth roughly $375,000) by extorting locals’ fears. Then, when Custer and his men got destroyed at Little Big Horn, Marsh’s ship was drafted to carry the wounded to civilization. In order to keep his steamboat from sinking under the combined weight of the wooded men and his gold, March buried his fortune at Little Big Horn and reportedly never recovered it.
