Oak Island Money Pit Treasure Skip to content Skip to primary sidebarSearchMysteries of CanadaCanada History and MysteriesMenuHome About Submit a Story History Mysteries Search by Province Submenu Canada British Columbia Alberta Saskatchewan Manitoba Ontario Quebec New Brunswick Nova Scotia Prince Edward Island Newfoundland and Labrador Yukon Northwest Territories Nunavut Contact Bookshop Submenu Legends of the Nahanni Valley The Oak Island Encyclopedia The Oak Island Encyclopedia: Volume II Mysteries of Canada: Volume I Mysteries of Canada: Volume II Mysteries of Canada: Volume III Indian Tales of the Canadian Prairies Classic French-Canadian Folktales Two Journals of Robert Campbell Search for:Search ButtonOak Island Money Pit Treasure Nova Scotia / October 30, 2014 by Bruce Ricketts / 89 Comments FacebookTwitterShareIf I told you that there was a buried treasure on Oak Island. An Island just off the coast of Nova Scotia. In a spot called The Money Pit, would you believe me? After all this area of North America was a favorite stomping ground for pirates in the 18th century. The treasure might be buried in a deep pit, nicknamed The Money Pit. That was to make sure no one but the pirates found it. But what if I told you that the Oak Island Money Pit was: Almost 200 feet deep. Protected by an elaborate set of booby traps and underground channels to an ocean beach, over 500 feet away. It has been the subject of countless excavations since 1795, costing millions of dollars. Six Money Pit Treasure Hunters have died looking for it. And all they have found so far is remnants of earlier searches. If you answer: “That’s the Oak Island Money Pit Treasure”, you are correct! If you are wondering where is Oak Island, read our article Where is Oak Island. Oak Island Money Pit Treasure The story of the Oak Island Money Pit Treasure is fascinating and complex. The History Channel now has a TV Series called The Curse of Oak Island Treasure. It is a story of mystery, greed, controversy and a little humor. The Oak Island Money Pit has been sought by many people and corporations for over 200 years. It has attracted all types of explorers. There were the three teenagers who first discovered the site. Franklin D. Roosevelt, a former US President, whose company Old Gold Salvage group searched in 1909. To the swash-buckling actor Errol Flynn, who wanted to search Oak Island in 1940. He was discouraged when he found the search rights belonged to a company owned by fellow actor John Wayne. The story of the Oak Island Money Pit Treasure has been written about in many books. To date the treasure has not been found, but tantalizing glimpses of the treasure have been reported. The following are some of the theories on who buried the treasure on Oak Island: The most popular theory is the early 18th century pirate Captain Kidd, who often visited the Oak Island region for rest and relaxation, and to repair his ships. He seemed to have a habit of burying part of the treasure he plundered far and wide. The most bizarre theory is the treasure is the original works of William Shakespeare, that Sir Francis Bacon buried on the site in the late 16th century. This theory is based on evidence from a piece of parchment paper brought up from the pit by one of the treasure hunters. Equally strange is the theory of the crown jewels of France, which went missing in 1791. The jewels were smuggled to Louisburg, (north of Oak Island in Cape Breton). Since Louisburg was often attacked by the British when the French owned it, the jewels were unsafe and transported to Oak Island. Oak Island Money Pit The theories go on but no one knows for sure the origin of the Oak Island Money Pit. Excavation of The Money Pit has never been successful because of the booby traps that protect it. In the 1860’s, while excavating at the 90 feet level, the treasure hunters encountered soggy ground. This was not too surprising because the Pit was only 500 feet from the coast line, and high tide of the ocean was about at the 32 foot level. At 93 feet the water was more pronounced. At 98 feet they struck an extra hard surface. They took the rest of day off and the next morning found that the shaft of the Pit filled with sea water to the 32 foot level. We now know that the miners had inadvertently opened a series of channels to the beach, which were a booby trap to protect the treasure. Many attempts have been made over the years to discover how the booby trap works. Coffer dams were built on the nearby beach, thought to be the source of the water flow, but to no avail. In over 200 years that adventurers have searched for the Treasure in the Oak Island Money Pit, they have met oak log platforms every ten feet, to the thirty foot level. From there, a drill probe used in 1849, encountered multiple layers of charcoal, putty, and coconut fiber. At 98 feet a spruce platform guarding two oak chests containing loose metal pieces (pieces of eight?) was discovered. But the discoveries do not stop there. Continued drilling, in 1897, found there were, layers of wood and iron. Then a 30 foot layer of blue clay (a hand-worked watertight mixture of clay, sand and water). Then a seven-foot deep cement vault at 153 feet, and an iron barrier at 171 feet. Early in the hunt for the Oak Island Money Pit Treasure, an inscribed stone was found face-down in the Pit. There have been various interpretations made of the inscription. Below is a drawing of the inscription: Stone Inscription of Treasure on Oak Island The most commonly accepted translation is: Oak Island Treasure Stone Inscription Translation Today, The Oak Island Money Pit Parcel is owned by two individuals who still search for the Treasure of Oak Island. LEGENDS OF THE NAHANNI VALLEYTHE OAK ISLAND ENCYCLOPEDIAMYSTERIES OF CANADA: VOLUME IMysteries of Canada: Volume IIINDIAN TALES OF THE CANADIAN PRAIRIESClassic French-Canadian Folktales: Volume ITwo Journals of Robert Campbell FacebookTwitterShareReader InteractionsComments Gobber January 14, 2021 at 2:32 pm I whant to go find it know but then I read that 6 people died and that made me wanna go even more! Reply Amelia Pizarro March 30, 2020 at 1:52 pm This signalled the start of more than 100 years of excavations from a bunch of companies and treasure hunters. Dozens of shafts were created, ranging anywhere from 100 to 235 feet below the surface. The Money Pit claimed the lives of six men during this time, either from shafts collapsing or hydrogen sulfide poisoning. Yikes. The Money Pit has become such a popular site that the History Channel began running a series on it in 2014 that is now in its seventh season. The Curse of Oak Island follows the Lagina brothers as they search for treasure, with a tab running into millions of dollars. Heck, even Assassin s Creed has touched on it. Reply Randall Delarm August 10, 2019 at 9:09 pm Nonsense. Reply joshua March 22, 2019 at 2:32 pm joshua elliott well doing fining some treasrure hunt in port au chiox canda here the here in newfounland canda the be or are in land and sea Reply Craig mercer December 30, 2018 at 12:57 am The Queens jewels have been located and are being auctioned…..so that’s one theory gone. Reply Rich November 16, 2018 at 9:13 am Let’s not forget the engineering skills of the Egyptians Reply HEF September 15, 2018 at 3:09 pm Have they finally given up? Will this show be back for season 7? Treasure or not, I would like to know more!!! Reply erwin April 4, 2018 at 11:30 am wer an der falschen stelle sucht wird das finden was alle schatzsucher bisher fanden…. nichts. Ich weiß etwas mehr als andere ??? kenne aber die sprache nicht. Reply Randy Chamulak March 4, 2018 at 8:49 am There are more crosses like the one you found on the cove.I had one,identical to the one you found.I do not remember where,nor when I had it.I only remember now that I saw your’s.It was identical,right down to the square hole and one arm was shorter.I can’t remember where,however I lived in northern Ont.Central Sask. and Prince George B.C.If nothing else it tells you there are more of them somewhere,maybe ask people if they have seen one somewhere.I hope in some way,this can help you guys. Reply Bonita maclean February 12, 2018 at 7:11 pm I am very interested in this show.I am planning on driving down there this summer to see if they are doing tours of the island. I love watching Marty and Rick,I really hope they find the treasure. Reply your mom gay October 4, 2018 at 1:09 pm rick and morty Reply Alan January 26, 2018 at 5:54 am I think that perhaps the whole island was considered a “bank vault” by the Templars. They would come and go. Deposit and withdraw as needed. After all the Templars were tremendous bankers. They may have had vast amounts of “treasure” or “religous artifacts” at one time then moved them to another “bank vault” somewhere else. Perhaps enough clues were left behind on purpose for treasure hunters to spend time looking on Oak Island while they move everything to another “bank vault” somewhere else on Earth. Just a thought. Reply Alan January 27, 2018 at 2:12 am I also feel that the entrance to the Templars Oak Island Bank Vault is somewhere on the mainland. I feel that mining under Mahone Bay was done to reach an area suitable underneath (on) Oak Island. Reply Rathernotsay December 2, 2017 at 4:02 am I also am reading something on the tablet in regards to Nolan cross..20 feet below down a tunnel to a circular chamber, dead Centre you go and there you shall find a BOX. The word “vault “is also incorporated with box …I’m not sure if it’s vaulted room or box. But it’s there And there is also a symbol that sais what is in the centre *must be split in 2* Reply Rathernotsay December 2, 2017 at 3:30 am ITS A PIRATES CODE ? I’ll give you guys 1 more …. because I watch your show ! What’s the 1st thing you encounter after breaking ground. . OAK LOG PLATFORMS EVER 10 FEET FOR 30 FEET… What’s the1st symbol on the tablet (your platforms) What’s the second symbol (: .) Your 3 triangular dots ….hhmmmm? 3 platforms/30 feet What comes next ? 100 feet later 2 oak chests at thus depth…and the symbol for this ìs ( 2 identical symbols) meaning 2 items and double digit identical numbers. What was in the chests (peices of 8)….. is it a coincidence that the symbol directly above the first chest is a downward triangle with 2 lines inside and 3 lines on the outside (TOTALING 8) I’m sorry guys but I think the translation you have is WWAAAYYYY OFFFF….open your mind it’s these little details that will help solve the mystery..ITS A PIRATES CODE Reply Rathernotsay December 2, 2017 at 3:06 am How can u have the same symbol in 3 different words ? WOULD PIRATES THATS ARE BREAD IN BEING DECEPTIVE AND TREASURE BEARING WRITE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT.. THE STONE IS YOUR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ENTRY THE MONEY PIT. ITS ACTUALLY VERY SIMPLY TO DECODE. AND IN IT I SEE THAT AT ONE POINT OF GOING DOWN ….AT A CERTAIN DEPTH YOU MUST MOVE FOR WARD … For example: signs like this ( t ) mean land above passage down This ( X ) means STOP The upper row is your directions above groundI The lower row are directions below ground Reply Laurel H November 28, 2017 at 5:49 pm “it has been suggested that this singular structure on an island just off Nova Scotia was designed and built by the Templars to hide their treasure. In spite of repeated efforts over the years, it has never been successfully excavated. This theory is just possible because there is strong evidence to suggest that the Templars were on America soil long before Columbus, (who also had Templar connections). ” http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/merovingians/merovingios_02b.htm Reply Smmity Smith November 11, 2017 at 6:52 pm I can’t imagine the amt of engineering skills that were needed for this esp after what all is needed just to look & wonder how long it took by how many ppl would do it but who wants to lug that much Gold,gems to a place prob harder to get when you needed it that makes No sense but guess if ? wanted to take back what prob was stolen good luck getting it back more sense would be putting in a place you could get to when needed & all these years latter there still having trouble getting to it or ? might be there Cripe they can’t find the rock Slab either which prob is Heavy too maybe a reward can find that but I’d like more info on Samuel Bell the colored man who seemed to make quite a bit being a cabbage farmer on 100 acres on Oak Island even today cabbage doesn’t cost very much & how much of the Island could be planted On & if he grew that much cabbage I’d think you’d need help picking it so who spent time there with him because that alone wouldn’t make much sense be nice to read a book about Mr.Bell & if he got his money he found on his property & lived a good life after being a slave that’s great but why risk other ppls life who keep looking for it maybe he was trying to avoid the Tax Man lol on that one & I see into the Future there gonna find a Huge Box of Buttons all gold plated & a Note say’s Thanks for Looking & Follow you Dreams… Reply Batman and Robin October 7, 2017 at 8:43 pm I hate to speculate on such matters. But is it possible the money pit was dug, in anticipation of hiding treasure there. But for some set of unknown circumstances the treasure was lost at sea, or stolen, before they could bury it there? Otherwise, I would assume it was deliberately set up as a decoy, to waste peoples time, deterring anyone from looking somewhere else. Reply Smmity Smith November 11, 2017 at 7:12 pm why put anything in a place that hard to get out or maybe they’ll hit the right thing & like the Goonies Movie a old wrecked ship will float out back into the sea that’s It they need the Goonies Kids to figure it out if he figured out 1 eyed Willy w his young friends while chased by killers he can figure this out… 🙂 Reply earl January 20, 2017 at 3:35 am What was presented in the article as fact about the so-called money pit is all legend, and nothing can be substantiated. Reply joseph December 22, 2016 at 6:42 am hello there.if anyone is interested i have discovered a new way of looking a the d,m code from nicollas poussin,s painting the shepards of arcadia.it leads directly to the money pit and the clues are from the bible,just like poussin intended. i beleave the money pit hides the ark of the covenant.The ark of the covenant was once held in the temple of david in the holy of holy’the last part of the temple. the ark also spent time on ELEPHANTINE island on the nile river Elephantine island was named so because it looks like an elephant,s tusk and the land around the island once looked like an elephant. oak island looks exactly like an elephant doe it not? have a look on google earth it is by mahone bay in nova scotia,i was on the island many times. what clues i discovered will make you go (WOW) I NEVER SAW IT THIS WAY. SOME CLUES ARE QUITE SPECIFICALLY FOR OAK ISLAND.SOME ARE WARNINGS. let me know if i have peaked your interest. [email protected]. the decoder Reply Carmen Hutsul December 6, 2016 at 7:54 pm Henry Sinclair born in 1345 and raised at Rosslyn Castle in Scotland. he was also a Knights Templar. Is this where the Templars fleet ended up after it set sail and was never heard from again?Sinclair sailed with two navigators, Nicole and Antonio Zeno.Two brothers from Italy that sailed with Sinclair from 1390-1404.They had a most accurate map, in which they sailed to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.Two small villages on Nova Scotia was located on their map.In 1398, with about 600 men and 12 ships loaded with Knights Templars and farming monks headed for Nova Scotia. Eventually they arrived but lost 5 ships.Local natives ( Micmacs ) called Sinclair ” Glooscap”. According to them Sinclair wintered in Nova Scotia.Interesting as it seems, a place called ” Castle at the Cross” which is now in ruins can be found on top of a hill about 17 miles from Chester, NOVA SCOTIA. A little known fact, Oak Island is one of two islands where oak trees grow in a group of 350 islands. Oak island is believed to have been a navigational aid to locate ” Castle of the Cross”.Did Sinclair winter there? Treasures of the Knights Templar may still be found on Oak Island. But which Oak Island? This all took place before Columbus bumped into the shores of the New World. Great link to follow, http://www.themasonictrowel.com Reply tim mcachran December 5, 2016 at 11:06 pm i have a idea you can pass on and it is simple not so big something a person of that sort would have back then how to find a place that no one can see its right in front of there eyes i would like to tell but there is so much dont know who to send it to please reply Reply PACBC December 3, 2016 at 11:34 am We build bridges that span oceans, build cities below sea level, extend a city out into a great lake and cut channels in rocks to create passages for gigantic ships to sail through cutting tremendous amounts of time off voyages which otherwise would take much longer, but these guys can’t overcome the machinations of a group of 14th century guys who had only shovels and other hand made tools? Sounds to me like the Templars and Masons have a better understanding of Physics. Really. Reply Ryan Sea November 26, 2016 at 11:28 pm Not sure what regulations allow, but why not dry dock the entire island 100-200 feet out. Side scan the island. Amongst the data gathered, you could get a full scan of the island ‘if’ there are flood inlets. ‘Dry docking’ the entire island would drain the flood tunnels if in fact there are man made passages in the area. Reply Whammo November 23, 2016 at 10:16 pm With a little forward-thinking, the money pit could be excavated. I would surmise that the money pit was dug first, then back filled, with the various layers and “discoveries” left to be found. Next, I would think that the booby-traps would be made. So in my thinking, the booby-traps would have to be disabled, THEN do the excavation of the money pit. However, I think the money pit is just a cleverly-built distraction, made to keep people busy for a long time. I think the REAL treasure, if it is still there, is/was buried nearby (nearby meaning within a reasonable amount of miles). I think, someday, people will finally figure out how to excavate the pit properly, only to find that nothing is actually there. The best magicians keep your eyes focused on one thing, while the ‘magic’ is cleverly disguised but still right in front of your face. I think that’s what the money pit is… just something to keep your eyes focused off of the real prize… Reply Jay November 15, 2016 at 12:04 pm Sounds to me like a similar story involving a “Lock Nest monster” to attract tourism to otherwise just an exit off a highway… Reply Harry October 26, 2016 at 8:33 pm sick asf broooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!! Im going there Reply Kat September 29, 2016 at 4:54 am Some Atlanteans buried a treasure there before the islands sank. It will be found. Reply DUNCAN MCLEAN July 21, 2016 at 6:48 pm Back in the 60’s I read the same Reader’s Digest as you two did In it was the story of Oak Island and the Money Pit. It all seemed so simple…Just dig down and retrieve the Treasure…Not quite so ! One night near the end of August Not sure of the date…in the late 60’s I was over at the PNE here in Vancouver and actually met The Restall Family. They were just finishing up their run here with an act called “The Ride Of Death” Not sure of the name. They told me they were going back to Nova Scotia to the Oak Island Treasure and find it..How about that! My opinion is this. There is no treasure in the Money Pit. There never was. It was all just a clever ruse. a misguiding as it were or misdirection so you would look in the wrong place… truncated (25,775 more characters in archive)