Some have died on the search. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The search, nevertheless, still continues. Web. In most variants of the story, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta discovered the mine and began mining the gold there, only to be attacked or massacred by Apaches in about 1850 in the supposed Peralta massacre. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. Do some math. Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains - Just another WordPress site Indeed, there's yet another legend purporting to explain where the Dutchman might have acquired his gold. I personally spoke with Ron a few months back when he described his findings to me, which he is publishing in a forthcoming book. One of the most professional and serious-minded efforts was led by Oklahoma City private detective Glen Magill, who organized multiple expeditions in the late 1960s and early '70s, and claimed on at least two occasions to have identified the location of the mine, later to concede he was either mistaken or the locations were "played out," or bereft of gold. Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). If these conditions do not exist, gold will not exist. In the year 1870, with his consent, they blindfolded him and took him on a 20-mile trip to an unknown location piled with gold ore. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Cox was a contrarian to the accepted Waltz lore of the day and had his own theories about thePeraltasand Waltz. The easy 1.5 mile trail features some rocky, rough terrain but with little elevation gain. Not much silver was recovered in the 1979 time period and there was no mention of gold having been taken. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. The Lost Dutchmans Mine is featured in Season 1, Episode 21 of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. The episode first aired on April 12, 1989. Since Jacob Waltz's death, thousands of people have searched all throughout the Superstition Mountains for the location of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, to no avail, according to USA Today. Silver King Mine Superstition Mountains. Phoenix Ghosts - Superstition Mountains: Ghosts & More He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. Except perhaps not. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. Join us as we explore the Mysteries, Legends and stories of the Superstition Mountains. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. Of course, one obvious argument against this being the Dutchman is the fact that The Silver Chief was a silver mine, not a gold mine. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. I always heard about the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountain. It is about three and a half miles of rough trail, though, if youre observant, you will eventually come across some of the more infamous Dutchman clues. Silver prices plummeted around the turn of the century, causing most silver mines, including The Silver Chief, to shut down and be abandoned. 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. That, in and of itself, is a separate legend. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. (2004). When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. [4] Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King mine. Arcana Exploration. People have been seeking the Lost Dutchman's mine since at least 1892,[2] while according to one estimate, 9,000 people annually made some effort to locate the Lost Dutchman's mine. It is a ranger-guided hike focusing on the aesthetic . According to Legends of America, the Native Americans in the area believed the Thunder God of their religion lived in the Superstition Mountains, and thus they were required to protect it with lethal force, killing any who might set foot on the mountain and disturb their deity. Students 11-17 $4.00 And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. However, things can go wrong. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. Silver Member. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. Eventually, the conquistador ordered his men to flee and he never returned to the mountains, which they called Monte Supersticin, thus giving the mountains the name of Superstition.