Rick Lagina: “The Oak Island Treasure is finally ours!”

We were ecstatic when this came out of the ground.
We thought, wow, this is really something!
I mean, Lar, what do you think it is?
When I first saw it, I knew it was lead.
Mhm, right? So I discounted it as a coin.
My best guess was that it was a bag seal.

Whether it is through tales of sunken ships laden with gold coins and precious artifacts on the ocean floor,
or the clever leprechauns guarding pots of gold at the end of rainbows,
we have always been fascinated by the very thought of hidden treasures.
And one such location that has captivated the imaginations of adventurers and seekers alike is Oak Island,
which is tucked away in the serene waters off the southern shore of Nova Scotia, Canada.

The ongoing hunt for what might be hidden below Oak Island has intrigued people for over 200 years.
But what exactly are they searching for, and why do they believe it’s there?
And why hasn’t anyone been able to find it yet?
Could there be a curse guarding the treasure? Let’s find out.

Situated in Nova Scotia, Oak Island is a privately owned island which is part of Mahone Bay.
The island’s claim to fame stems from theories about buried treasure or historical artifacts,
sparking numerous attempts to uncover its secrets.
Oak Island’s aura of mystery dates back to its initial discovery.
Although the island is relatively small in size, spanning roughly 140 acres,
it held a prominent place in the eyes of early European settlers to Nova Scotia, who arrived in the 1750s.

By that time, there were a number of legends regarding the island,
including tales of a dying pirate who was allegedly a part of Captain Kidd’s infamous crew.
He had apparently confessed on his deathbed to burying approximately 2 million pounds worth of treasure on Oak Island,
out of fear of exposing his real identity as a pirate.
However, that story might have been more of a fable.

Until 1795, that fateful year, Daniel McGinnis, a 16-year-old, stumbled upon something peculiar
while going about his daily routine.
The remnant of a pulley or tackle block hanging from a nearby tree caught his attention,
and his curiosity was only further piqued by the odd shallow depression in the ground.
His mind immediately leaped to the tempting possibility of buried pirate treasure,
and with the help of two friends, he set out on a quest to dig out the bounty.

After digging a few feet below the surface, they encountered sturdy flagstones
and they kept digging until they found something remarkable.
At the depth of 10 ft, there was a layer of oak logs.
This was a sure shot proof of something man-made,
and fueled by this, they continued, only to encounter yet another layer of logs.

After the next 10 ft, this pattern continued with layers of logs found at intervals of 10 ft.
But that wasn’t all—they stumbled upon a large rock marked with cryptic inscriptions.
Although the trio was unable to decipher the markings,
an expert later determined that the inscription translated to “40 ft below, 2 million pounds are buried.”

Driven by the promise of hidden riches, McGinnis and his comrades enlisted the help of the Onslow Company,
and their excavations reached a depth of 100 ft within what became known as The Money Pit.
The anticipation grew when the Onslow Company encountered a solid obstruction, possibly a treasure chest.
That felt like a good stopping point for the day, but this turned out to be a foolish decision.

The next morning, they returned with enthusiasm, only to find that the pit had been flooded by 60 ft of water,
quashing their hopes in an instant.
There were some attempts to get around the flooding through a secondary tunnel,
but it proved equally pointless because it also kept flooding,
and reluctantly enough, the project was once again put on hold.

Since then, numerous expeditions have flocked to Oak Island,
each driven by the idea of uncovering the hidden treasure,
tirelessly excavating around The Money Pit.
Some 40 years later, in 1849, the Churo Company was eager to stake their claim in this treasure hunt.
Faced with the recurring obstacle of flooding within the main tunnel,
the Churo Company expanded their search to explore other corners of the island,
leading them to find further underground tunnel systems under Smith’s Cove.

Despite their efforts to tackle the flooding by digging another shaft,
the base of the original Money Pit caved in,
and along with it, the treasure plunged even deeper into the depths.
In spite of their initial findings, including a few artifacts like gold chain links and wire,
the Churo Company ultimately admitted defeat in 1851 due to dwindling finances.

The Oak Island Association stepped in next, equipped with pumps in an attempt
to overcome the flooding of the tunnels.
However, just like those before them, they too faced overwhelming challenges,
as the water continued to come back, leading to tragedy when a pump explosion claimed the life of one worker in 1861.
With funds depleted once more, the search was abandoned again.

Treasure hunters continued to come to the island throughout the rest of the 19th century,
deepening The Money Pit to nearly 160 ft.
Tragically, Oak Island claimed its second victim in 1897 when a man fell to his death down one of the shafts.
With the arrival of the 20th century, the temptation of Oak Island’s hidden treasure remained as intense as ever.

In 1909, even future President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt joined a group in further exploration of The Money Pit,
however, their efforts yielded nothing of significance.
Following a string of failed efforts, Robert Ral ventured to Oak Island in 1959 with a small team hoping to strike gold,
but their efforts turned fatal in 1965 when Ral lost his life during a rescue attempt.
His death was attributed to inhaling hydrogen sulfide fumes while excavating in Smith’s Cove.
Three others, including his son, succumbed to the fumes,
bringing the island’s tally of treasure hunting victims to six.

Still, those who were determined to find the treasure were not deterred by the rising death toll.
In 1969, the majority of Oak Island was acquired by the Triton Alliance,
which embarked on a bold new venture by digging a new shaft going to an impressive depth of 235 ft.
Cameras lowered into the shaft captured chilling images of human skulls, tools, and treasure chests,
however, their hopes were dashed when the shaft collapsed on itself before further exploration could be conducted.

Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, legal disputes over ownership and financial issues brought much of the treasure hunting activity to a standstill.
However, in 2007, a new group emerged—Oak Island Tours, led by Dave Blankenship,
the original founder of the Triton Alliance, along with Michigan brothers Rick and Marty Lagina.
Their explorations are documented through a television show on the History Channel titled The Curse of Oak Island.

Sure enough, the title refers to a legend foretelling that seven individuals would die before the treasure of Oak Island is found—
a grim prophecy, considering that the search has claimed six lives already.
So, in the multiple attempts spanning centuries, has someone actually found any treasure?
No, but this lack of success hasn’t stopped people from trying.

Even today, brothers Rick and Marty Lagina continue their quest for the Oak Island treasure on their reality TV series,
keeping the mystery alive. This raises a question: what exactly are these treasure hunters hoping to find?
Many still believe that the island holds riches buried by pirates, perhaps even by Blackbeard.
Others think that Oak Island may be holding Marie Antoinette’s jewels or Francis Bacon’s original manuscript.
Some even dare to dream of discovering the Holy Grail itself.

Despite these theories, the findings documented in the series are limited to a single coin and a silver button.
However, the true treasure just might be hidden in plain sight:
the massive revenue generated by their History Channel show.

So, if you’re still wondering, why do the Lagina brothers keep digging here when there doesn’t appear to be much of a reason to?
Since it began airing in 2014, The Curse of Oak Island has spanned 11 seasons and 180 episodes, yet the treasure remains hidden.
The costs of excavating Oak Island have undoubtedly soared into the multi-millions,
and while Marty Lagina and his business partner partially fund the dig,
additional support comes from private investors, including the History Channel,
island tourism, and grants from the Canadian government.

As of 2020, the production of The Curse of Oak Island received a boost of around $1.5 million from a fund established by Nova Scotia Business Inc.,
aimed at promoting film and television production in the province.
After all, it is ranked as the most-watched program on the History Channel,
and the show’s success has not only captivated audiences but also sparked renewed interest in Nova Scotia,
significantly impacting tourism on Oak Island.

With a global audience, the show has brought widespread attention
and inspired visitors to explore the island’s landmarks, such as the renowned Money Pit and Smith’s Cove.
As Oak Island has emerged as a tourist destination, local businesses on the island have seized the opportunity
to cater to fans by offering themed experiences, merchandise, and even tours tailored