Looking for treasure in Virginia? As a kid, I can remember being fascinated by the idea of buried treasure. From fairy tales to pirate stories, the maps and cryptic clues were intriguing. What’s even more exciting, though, are the real-life treasures we hear about. Given the stories of war, rogues, and mystery so deeply enmeshed in Virginia’s history, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’ve got a few legends of treasure floating around ourselves. Here are a few of the gems and buried treasure in Virginia that we managed to dig up…

1. The Beale Treasure – The Myth of Millions in Bedford
Virginia Hill / flickr
Bedford County, VA, USA
rjcox / flickr
Perhaps the best-known tale of lost treasure in Virginia is the legend of Beale’s Treasure. As the story goes, Thomas Jefferson Beale and a team of 30 men unexpectedly discovered a mother lode of gold and silver in Colorado. Sometime between 1819 and 1821, Beale buried the treasure in Bedford County at what is now the site of Johnson’s Orchard and Peaks of Otter Winery. After burying the treasure, estimated to be worth millions, Beale and his party set out on another expedition. Knowing their trip would be dangerous, Beale left three coded messages in a locked box with Robert Morriss of Lynchburg.

Beale promised to mail Morriss a key that he could use to decipher the codes should 10 years pass with no word from Beale or his men. The first code contained the treasure’s exact location, a second code described the contents and the third named the members of Beale’s 30-man party along with their next of kin. Ten years came and went and neither Beale nor the key ever arrived. To date, only the second cipher has been broken and the treasure’s whereabouts remain a mystery. Learn more about The Beale Treasure.
2. Real-life Pirate Treasure in Fauquier County
Fauquier County, VA, USA
Stephen Little / flickr
Have you heard the story of these gold coins found in Virginia? William Kirk was a Scottish immigrant believed to have been a pirate before settling near New Baltimore in Fauquier County in the late 1700s. He led a secluded life on his farm, now known as Snow Hill Farm. However, before his death in 1780, he is said to have buried a stash of nearly $60,000 in gold and silver coins somewhere on the farm’s 386 acres. He went to his grave telling no one, not even his wife, of the treasure’s location.

About a hundred years after his death, a tenant farmer on the land found a crock of English guineas and Spanish pieces of eight and a few weeks later, bought his own farm for $8,000 in cash, despite claiming that there had only been a few coins in the crock. The remainder of the treasure remains hidden to this day. And this isn't the only treasure in the county. Check out the village of Paris.
3. Mosby’s Treasure, Fairfax County
Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
Culpeper, VA 22701, USA
LEWIS CRESSELL / flickr
Known as the "Gray Ghost" for his lightning-quick attacks and rapid disappearances, Colonel John S. Mosby led a troop of Confederate guerrilla fighters known as "Mosby’s Raiders" during the Civil War. On March 8, 1863, he led his men to Fairfax Courthouse where they captured Union General Edwin H. Stoughton. The raiders collected horses, about 60 prisoners, and a speculated $350,000 in gold, silver, and family heirlooms that Union troops had taken from Southern homes.

Unable to safely transport both the treasure and the prisoners, he stopped between the towns of Culpeper and Norman, close to present-day Route 522, and buried the treasure between two pine trees marked with an X. He later sent seven trusted men, including Sgt. James F. Ames who had helped him bury the treasure, to recover the valuables, only to have the men captured and hung by Union troops. Mosby himself never returned for the treasure, so by all accounts, he took the whereabouts of this buried treasure in Virginia with him to the grave. Get more reasons why you should give Culpeper a visit.
4. The Abraham Smith Treasure, Poor Valley
Saltville, VA, USA
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
If variety is the spice of life, then irony is the next best seasoning. Somewhere in Virginia’s Poor Valley, $60,000 in gold coins is said to be buried in an old salt mine. During the Civil War, wealthy plantation owner, Abraham Smith, could see the writing on the wall. Rather than have his fortune seized by Union troops, he is said to have buried his fortune in an old saltpeter mine somewhere between Allison’s Gap and Saltville. No reports of gold coins found in Virginia have ever surfaced. This isn't the only legend in this area. Read on about Bigfoot sightings in Saltville.
5. The McIntosh Farm Treasure, Forest
Lynchburg, VA, USA
karen / flickr
During the Civil War, just off of the present-day Route 11 near Lynchburg, a Confederate General is said to have buried more than four million in gold coins and bullion with the help of slaves at the site of the McIntosh Farm.

Two stories have circulated about this treasure in Virginia. One claims that the treasure was thrown into a well. The other story asserts that the fortune lies near a barn, buried beneath the bodies of the slaves who were killed in order to keep the treasure's location a secret. Here's a much less mysterious story out of the city. Did you know that Chapstick was invented in Lynchburg?

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6. Richmond Treasure on the James
Richmond, VA, USA
Taber Andrew Bain / flickr
Again, during the Civil War, it is said that over three million in gold, silver plate, jewelry, and other valuable articles, were stolen from the Confederate Treasury in Richmond. The thieves fled with the valuables but only made it as far as the banks of the James River where they are believed to have buried the loot. Confederate troops followed the thieves, and all 12 were killed in pursuit before revealing the location of the buried treasure om Virginia. Check out this Richmond vampire legend.
7. The “Talking Tree” at Danville National Cemetery
Danville National Cemetery, 721 Lee St, Danville, VA 24541, USA
National Cemetery Administration
For more than 150 years now, rumors of the "Lost Confederate Gold" have circulated through both academic and public circles. Countless historians and treasure hunters have dug through records looking for clues as to where the South’s lost treasure of gold and silver coins might be buried.

A report by the Danville News Advance recites that two men, Albert Atwell of Ridgeway and Ed "Bubba" Powers from Louisburg, N.C., claim that a large tree in the Danville National Cemetery is, in fact, a "talking tree," one of dozens of trees around the south that contain seemingly indecipherable numbers and lettering carved by Confederate soldiers. The marks are believed to be clues pointing to more than 58 maps that would reveal the sites where the lost treasure in Virginia, valued in the millions today, are buried. Learn more about what makes Danville unique.
8. Treasure on Mount Rogers
Mount Rogers, Mt Rogers, Virginia 24363, USA
Ryan Somma / flickr
Mount Rogers, on the Smyth-Grayson County line, is well known as the highest mountain in the state. With that claim to fame, it seems like it might be as good a hiding place as any for treasure. Legends claim that during the Mexican War, a large cache of Spanish gold and silver was sent to America and subsequently buried atop Mount Rogers. Legends aren’t always true, of course, but there’s no doubt that they will make you wonder about some lost treasure in Virginia. Take a look at a few more reasons to hike Mount Rogers.
9. A Secret Crypt in Williamsburg
Williamsburg, VA, USA
Michael Kotrady [CC BY-SA 3.0] / Wikimedia Commons
Rumors have long persisted that Sir Francis Bacon, a British Elizabethan philosopher, scholar, and patron of the arts, assembled a secret vault containing nothing short of the blueprints for a new world order and a few other "minor" odds and ends, such as several of Shakespeare’s original manuscripts (which Bacon followers claim were written by Bacon himself), an original translation of the King James Bible, and a map of Rosicrucian vaults buried throughout Europe.

Bacon’s followers claim that Nathaniel Bacon, the colonial revolutionary and leader of Bacon’s Rebellion, buried the vault in 1676 near Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg. Despite beliefs that the two were related, genealogical records do not support the claim. Many believed that the whereabouts of this mysterious treasure were marked by secret messages, anagrams, and codes found in Sir Francis Bacon’s writings. But despite active searching in 1938 and additional research by "Baconists" in 2006, nothing has been uncovered. For now, the secrets of Bacon’s Crypt and treasure in Virginia seem fated to fall into the abyss of historical myth and legend. Find out more about Colonial Williamsburg.
10. Zebulon Miller’s Millions in Lynchburg
Lynchburg, VA, USA
Jeremy Schultz / flickr
Some people just like to be right. In 1885, Zebulon Miller of Lynchburg made his point that you CAN take it with you. Five years before he died, Miller built a concrete mausoleum with three-foot-thick walls. He then hired a Swiss agent to make sure that his fortune of $2.3 million in gold and silver coins were safely installed along with his body. A one million dollar trust was also left to ensure upkeep – and armed guards – for the tomb. The guards were dismissed when a high-tech security system was installed – and so, the treasure remains intact to this day. If, in fact, there even is a lost treasure in Virginia here. Learn more about Zebulon Miller and other strange occurrences in Virginia.
11. Boswell’s Tavern Treasure in Gordonsville
Boswell's Tavern, 11193 Louisa Rd, Gordonsville, VA 22942, USA
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, va13 via Jack Boucher / Wikimedia Commons
Built in the mid-18th century, Boswell’s Tavern was a popular meeting place for many significant Virginians such as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Patrick Henry during the Revolutionary War. In 1781, the site was briefly home to a French encampment under the Marquis de Lafayette, as well as the site where a handful of colonial soldiers were captured by British troops attempting to abduct Jefferson and end meetings on the Virginia legislature.

It is said that during this tumultuous time, treasure was buried somewhere on the property. While no evidence - or treasure - has been found to support this claim, a place with such an illustrious history seems perfectly suited to tales of intrigue and buried treasure. Today, the tavern is on the National Register of Historic Places and serves as a private residence. So no treasure hunting here, folks! You’ll just have to let the mystery of this buried treasure in Virginia lie. Gordonsville is full of history to explore! Visit the Exchange Hotel Civil War Medical Museum.
12. Carter’s Grove Plantation, James City County
Melissa Wilkins [CC BY-SA 2.0] / Wikimedia Commons
Carter’s Grove Plantation was built in 1755 and today, the historic home serves as one of the best examples of Georgian architecture left in the nation. The manor home is set on a tract of land that had been settled by colonists in 1620 and was known as Martin’s Hundred. In the 1970s, Carter's Grove was the site of archaeological digs that led to the discovery of Wolstenholme Towne, a small settlement near Jamestown whose residents were murdered during the Indian Massacre of 1622.

Over the years, rumors have swirled around the property, asserting that during Civil War treasure was buried on the property. Given the plantation’s setting and the significance of the historical events that surround it, it’s easy to wonder if maybe the rumors are true. Take a look at some more stories about Williamsburg.

Now, of course, legends are a messy mix-up of fact and fiction. They build on events or ideas that may be real, then they grow into a life of their own. So, tell us what you think. Have you heard of any of this lost treasure in Virginia? Do you know of any others that should be added to the list? Please let us know in the comments below!

Now that you’ve learned about some legends in Virginia, how about facts about Virginia?

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More to Explore

Treasures of Virginia

Rachel Raimondi | December 28, 2022

What are the most unique towns in Virginia? 

Out of its over 800 towns and cities, there are quite a few unique towns in Virginia. Check out some of these treasures in Virginia:

Bedford: Located in the southwest part of the state, here, you can have the best of a few different worlds. Take in the outdoors at Falling Creek Park, shop for antiques at several stores, or get a history lesson from places like the National D-Day Memorial.

Culpeper: Among this Culpeper County town's 7.31 square miles, there is a lot of history to see, such as the Cedar Mountain Battlefield, where an 1862 Civil War battle was fought. There is also plenty of shopping, dining, and even wineries to take in.

Luray: Not only do you have fun at Shenandoah National Park and the river close by, but Luray is also home to Luray Caverns, the biggest cavern on the East Coast.

What are the most beautiful lakes in Virginia?

There are several beautiful lakes in Virginia. Check out some of the very best:

Lake Anna: This 13,000-acre lake spans Orange, Louis, and Spotsylvania Counties. Enjoy boating and swimming within the lake and a variety of activities that surround it, like hiking. There is both a public and private side of the lake.

Claytor Lake: This lake in Pulaski County is over 4,400 acres. You can access it from Claytor Lake State Park and boat, fish, and even scuba dive here among the gorgeous shale rock.

What is Virginia known for? 

Settled in 1607, there are quite a few things Virginia is known for:

America’s Historic Triangle: If you are looking to learn about (and even participate in) some American history, Virginia has a great deal of it, all located near to each other in Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

Dirty Dancing: While the movie takes place in the Catskill Mountain region of New York, it was actually shot at Mountain Lake Lodge in Pembroke. Today, you can stay overnight here or even sign up for the Dirty Dancing Themed Weekend package.

Arlington National Cemetery: This 639-acre military cemetery is home to fallen soldiers from various wars, including the Civil War and World War II. Thirty-fifth president John F. Kennedy is also here. It is the most visited cemetery in the nation.

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