Explore Oklahoma Treasure Stories

Buried Gold at Dry Canyon

Cryptic Treasure Trail

Great Salt Plains Buried Gold

$100,000 in Gold Buried Near Artillery Mound and Boulanger

Lost Treasure of Kiowa County

Machine Gun Kelly's Ransom Loot

Oklahoma Treasure Tales

The Tin Box of Gold

Tres Piedras Legendary Gold

Welcome to Oklahoma, the Sooner State, known for oil fields, red soil, a diverse Native American culture, and being the "Buckle of the Tornado Belt."

Expansion didn't reach Oklahoma until the late 1800s land controversy.  There was talk of using Indian Territory for settlement by African-Americans emancipated from slavery.  However, the government relented to pressure coming primarily from a group know as the "Boomers," and instead the government decided to open the western area of the territory to settlers by holding a series of six land rushes between 1889 and 1895.  

Settlers came from across the nation and other countries such as Poland, Germany, and Ireland to stake their claims in a mad run on horseback and on foot as they hopped off of the trains.  Some towns were formed in a day, going from no residents to 10,000 or more.  

African-Americans, some who were former slaves of Indians, also took part in the runs.  In the years that followed, black pioneers founded and settled entire communities such as around Arcadia, Langston, and Taft, where African-Americans could vote, study, and move about with freedom.  

Before the land was opened up to settlers during the land rush, cougars often 8 feet or more in length -- the lions of America -- were very numerous in Oklahoma and a threat to cattle and humans, but their numbers dwindled quickly.  People also came from all parts of the world to seek their fortunes in Oklahoma's bountiful oil fields.