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Oak Island Gold
“Crooker, who is a good historian and also quite witty, tells a tale of folly and obsession” surrounding the legendary treasure off of Canada’s east coast ( Booklist ).
For over two centuries, the mysterious labyrinth of shafts and tunnels under Oak Island, a tiny island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, has been the scene of a frantic search by scores of treasure hunters from two continents. They believe that the shafts and intricate man-made flooding system hold the secret to a treasure of untold wealth. Although millions have been spent, bitter feuds have erupted, and men have died, the treasure has remained as elusive as the answers to who built the labyrinth, why and how it was constructed, and the nature of the treasure itself. Until now. In his second book on the Oak Island mystery, William Crooker meticulously sifts through the evidence unearthed by treasure hunters on the island, past and present. Then, armed with some starling new discoveries, he neatly fits the pieces together to offer a plausible solution to the baffling puzzle of Oak Island.
“Crooker, an engineer and surveyor, presents both a thorough historical review of the various digs and a look at all the theories about the treasure.” — Library Journal
For over two centuries, the mysterious labyrinth of shafts and tunnels under Oak Island, a tiny island on Nova Scotia’s South Shore, has been the scene of a frantic search by scores of treasure hunters from two continents. They believe that the shafts and intricate man-made flooding system hold the secret to a treasure of untold wealth. Although millions have been spent, bitter feuds have erupted, and men have died, the treasure has remained as elusive as the answers to who built the labyrinth, why and how it was constructed, and the nature of the treasure itself. Until now. In his second book on the Oak Island mystery, William Crooker meticulously sifts through the evidence unearthed by treasure hunters on the island, past and present. Then, armed with some starling new discoveries, he neatly fits the pieces together to offer a plausible solution to the baffling puzzle of Oak Island.
“Crooker, an engineer and surveyor, presents both a thorough historical review of the various digs and a look at all the theories about the treasure.” — Library Journal
- GenresNonfictionHistoryCanada
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 1993
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131 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 22, 2024
Have been on a bender, reading "Oak Island" books. This one is more of a linear narrative, going through each of the attempts to mine / dig / scrape / explode / tunnel / drill / pump the supposed location of the dreamed-of treasure on this little island off the coast of Nova Scotia.
I had not realized how many different attempts have been made, over the years, and how much damage has been done to the site. No wonder today the location of the so-called "Money Pit" can only be guessed at, but one thing is certain: the Money Pit is definitely a location where people dump a lot of money, never to be seen again.
3.5 stars, rounded down, because my Oak Island soil is saturated.
I had not realized how many different attempts have been made, over the years, and how much damage has been done to the site. No wonder today the location of the so-called "Money Pit" can only be guessed at, but one thing is certain: the Money Pit is definitely a location where people dump a lot of money, never to be seen again.
3.5 stars, rounded down, because my Oak Island soil is saturated.
February 8, 2016
I enjoyed this book on Oak Island. I have to admit, I'm an acorn - such a fan of the show. Hope they do find something. I like the details about the various digs William Crooker provides - more details than are on the show.
The book is over 20 years old. Fred Nolan has just revealed the news about the head stone (rock with skull carvings) and details about Nolan's cross. Loved learning more about the Nolan/Blankenship feud. I also like the author's ideas about what is really buried there on Oak Island.
It was a fun read (if you're into the whole Oak Island mystery thing).
The book is over 20 years old. Fred Nolan has just revealed the news about the head stone (rock with skull carvings) and details about Nolan's cross. Loved learning more about the Nolan/Blankenship feud. I also like the author's ideas about what is really buried there on Oak Island.
It was a fun read (if you're into the whole Oak Island mystery thing).
December 10, 2021
I've been fascinated by the legend of Oak Island since I was a kid. The idea of a massive treasure, buried beneath a giant booby trap, took hold and led me on some wild adventures of the mind (and made me much more susceptible to loving The Goonies), and I would read as much as I could about the buried treasure. It's been a lifelong obsession of sorts, enough so that I've watched the first couple of seasons of The Curse of Oak Island, but it's been a long time since I've read a book about it.
Enter Oak Island Gold. Not much of the material in the book is new, and there are some historical asides that Crooker inserts into his narrative that don't have much to do with any of his theories. I think he uses the detail to debunk other theories, but he spends a LOT of time talking about pirates whose connection to the legend is tangential. He does wind the book down into a theory of his own, but he makes a lot of suppositions about historical events and lost cities and lost ships and lost treasure, all from times where there are few (if any) firm records relating to any of it. What's most interesting to me is that this theory, which to me seems far-fetched and based on flimsy connections, follows a paragraph where the author writes of another theory, "I too would like to believe ... but I am too much a pragmatist to build a theory on such a weak foundation of circumstantial evidence."
The bottom line is that the legend of Oak Island relies on belief. Anyone with enough time and obsession can come up with a theory that, to them, makes perfect sense, but sounds like a crackpot theory to everyone else. These theories are diverse, but they run deep into conspiracy, and hinge on people thinking there's easy money to be had. Myself, I believe there's nothing there. I believe the three teenagers who discovered the depression came up with wild ideas of buried treasure, spent a day digging and speculating on what it could be, either (a) found some unusual characteristics that led them to believe it was a man-made pit that had been filled in, or (b) were so caught up in their speculation that they added details to make it more exciting. Word got out, the expeditions became more elaborate, and eventually people had spent so much money on trying to find something that they couldn't be convinced there was nothing there. I believe there are enough natural explanations to account for the flooding of the tunnel and all the other "booby traps"; I believe that most of the clues found in the money pit were made up to secure financing, and fell into legend (especially since most of them have since been "lost"); I believe that treasure hunters are so caught up in the hunt they'll believe that any small, newly-discovered detail is another clue instead of just another coincidence.
The legend, though, is still entertaining, and I'll always have a soft spot for Oak Island. I just think it's far more entertaining to read a fictional account of the legend (like Riptide) instead of anything purporting to claim it's all fact.
Enter Oak Island Gold. Not much of the material in the book is new, and there are some historical asides that Crooker inserts into his narrative that don't have much to do with any of his theories. I think he uses the detail to debunk other theories, but he spends a LOT of time talking about pirates whose connection to the legend is tangential. He does wind the book down into a theory of his own, but he makes a lot of suppositions about historical events and lost cities and lost ships and lost treasure, all from times where there are few (if any) firm records relating to any of it. What's most interesting to me is that this theory, which to me seems far-fetched and based on flimsy connections, follows a paragraph where the author writes of another theory, "I too would like to believe ... but I am too much a pragmatist to build a theory on such a weak foundation of circumstantial evidence."
The bottom line is that the legend of Oak Island relies on belief. Anyone with enough time and obsession can come up with a theory that, to them, makes perfect sense, but sounds like a crackpot theory to everyone else. These theories are diverse, but they run deep into conspiracy, and hinge on people thinking there's easy money to be had. Myself, I believe there's nothing there. I believe the three teenagers who discovered the depression came up with wild ideas of buried treasure, spent a day digging and speculating on what it could be, either (a) found some unusual characteristics that led them to believe it was a man-made pit that had been filled in, or (b) were so caught up in their speculation that they added details to make it more exciting. Word got out, the expeditions became more elaborate, and eventually people had spent so much money on trying to find something that they couldn't be convinced there was nothing there. I believe there are enough natural explanations to account for the flooding of the tunnel and all the other "booby traps"; I believe that most of the clues found in the money pit were made up to secure financing, and fell into legend (especially since most of them have since been "lost"); I believe that treasure hunters are so caught up in the hunt they'll believe that any small, newly-discovered detail is another clue instead of just another coincidence.
The legend, though, is still entertaining, and I'll always have a soft spot for Oak Island. I just think it's far more entertaining to read a fictional account of the legend (like Riptide) instead of anything purporting to claim it's all fact.
May 10, 2016
This book was truly fascinating and was able to completely capture my attention. Even after I finished reading a few chapters, I went on thinking and talking about the mystery of Oak Island to whoever would listen to me. The exciting part of Oak Island which is a tiny island on Nova Scotia's South Shore is that the mysterious maze of tunnels and shafts under the island are indeed man made and totally unexplainable. This is in addition to the strange markers, rocks and false beach found above ground. Who could have created and designed such a hiding place for something seemingly very valuable? Was it the Knights Templar protecting priceless Christian artifacts, pirates such as Captain Kidd hiding their treasures or is the gold buried deep in the ground on this island from the Siege of Havana in the 1700's? Either way, I am now a firm believer that there was indeed something of great value buried on this island secretly. The only questions now that have to be answered is what exactly is it and is it still there or has someone already found it? I will be anxiously awaiting a discovery by my two favourite treasure hunters on the "Curse of Oak Island" television program!
March 25, 2021
I’ve followed the Oak Island mystery since early 90’s. The current History Channel show has revived with a vengeance the folk lore around this centuries of mystery. This book came out in early 90’s & takes a look at the people associated with the mining of the island and breaks down all the theories one by one. This book has turned out to be a good companion to the series because each searcher group, each theory has its own voice instead of a quick tv sound bite. While you don’t get a conclusion you do get some information that I’ve not seen as actively pursued. There are maps & historical pictures that are only glimpses in the show. When you realize how much digging has been done on the island. It makes you wonder why the whole place doesn’t just collapse in on itself. I recommend this book as a well thought out easy to read background to what is going on today at Oak Island.
January 25, 2018
Bill Crooker does a good job describing the history of treasure hunting on Oak Island. He covers all the major players and minor ones, and all the major and minor discoveries. He offers a glimpse at all the current (as of 1993) theories on what could be buried on the island. He offers some logic to disprove many of these theories. He even offers a solid argument for his own theory. I became interested in this book because I'm obsessed with the History Channel's Curse of Oak Island with the Lagina brothers. Here's my two cents:
From the show, it's extremely frustrating how inept many prior searchers were. Bill Crooker does a good job in explaining exactly what happened. Sometimes it's the "island," but most of the time it's bureaucracy and competition, and a little bit of stupid. After reading the history of the search, it's no wonder men continue to botch this recovery. Even the Laginas only seem to be getting it right this season, and they've been searching for several years (5 televised). I will admit, the most sensational theory is the one that I secretly wish is true - that Francis Bacon designed this complicated system to hide away the secrets of the world including the Templar treasure and his original manuscripts... but logically, the Havana theory presented by Bill makes the most sense. He supports it well. It does fit a covert military operation. It fits the time frame. The treasure missing is worth the effort. He even explains why no one came back for it. Regardless, I'm still convinced there is some sort of treasure there. And in the Epilogue, Bill alludes to the concept that maybe previous people did uncover the treasure and just never told anyone.... it's something to definitely consider. The more it's advertised you found it, the less you get to keep. Which, if it was already recovered, would make me very sad for the Laginas. It is sad that Fred Nolan passed recently and didn't have any further discoveries to share except that his "Christian Cross" may actually be the Tree of Life. I really hope we solve it soon, just so that I can stop thinking about it. I'm glad that the Laginas finally seem to be taking it seriously and approaching the search with some sense.
From the show, it's extremely frustrating how inept many prior searchers were. Bill Crooker does a good job in explaining exactly what happened. Sometimes it's the "island," but most of the time it's bureaucracy and competition, and a little bit of stupid. After reading the history of the search, it's no wonder men continue to botch this recovery. Even the Laginas only seem to be getting it right this season, and they've been searching for several years (5 televised). I will admit, the most sensational theory is the one that I secretly wish is true - that Francis Bacon designed this complicated system to hide away the secrets of the world including the Templar treasure and his original manuscripts... but logically, the Havana theory presented by Bill makes the most sense. He supports it well. It does fit a covert military operation. It fits the time frame. The treasure missing is worth the effort. He even explains why no one came back for it. Regardless, I'm still convinced there is some sort of treasure there. And in the Epilogue, Bill alludes to the concept that maybe previous people did uncover the treasure and just never told anyone.... it's something to definitely consider. The more it's advertised you found it, the less you get to keep. Which, if it was already recovered, would make me very sad for the Laginas. It is sad that Fred Nolan passed recently and didn't have any further discoveries to share except that his "Christian Cross" may actually be the Tree of Life. I really hope we solve it soon, just so that I can stop thinking about it. I'm glad that the Laginas finally seem to be taking it seriously and approaching the search with some sense.
December 18, 2014
A fascinating mystery that continues to this day. The author's theory of who dug the elaborate 120 ft deep pit on Oak Island is pretty persuasive. Who would spend so much time and effort, even designing flood tunnels to fill the pit, if there really wasn't treasure buried down there.
May 12, 2025
I grew up just down the road from Oak Island, so have always been passingly familiar with the legend of buried treasure on the island. The folk wisdom in Lunenburg County is that there is a pirate's treasure trove buried on the island, probably Captain Kidd's (as evidenced by the proliferation of that particular buccaneer's name in restaurant and gift-shop titles). That it has an immense value is also "self-evident" because of the booby-traps set up to foil treasure hunters - and the traps have had the upper hand for the last 230 years!
Crooker takes us through the various searches on the island, starting with the original find in the latter 18th century. Interspersed are chapters dealing with the various legends surrounding the island, including some of the superstitions (pirates would bury someone with the treasure so their ghost would guard it, for instance). Oddly, he does not repeat the local legend that the treasure will not be found until 10 lives (I think that's the number) have been claimed, or until all the oak trees on the island are cut down. He convincingly debunks the idea that pirates could be responsible (they wouldn't be disciplined, educated, or have the time to construct such elaborate traps). He then presents and eliminate a host of other theories - conquistadores, Incas, Templars, Marie Antoinette, etc. He eventually settles on a favourite of the English king George III as the most likely suspect - why and how I'll leave for you to discover.
Unfortunately, the book is somewhat dry - Crooker is an engineer and the description of the various digs are analysed as an engineer, complete with the number of holes drilled, depths, distances from landmarks, etc. In addition, the Oak Island mystery is going to leave a reader unsatisfied because the treasure hunt has not been solved, and is currently bogged down with lawsuits and ownership battles. Crooker does his best to make such wranglings interesting, and in fact the last few chapters are by far the best of the book.
Crooker takes us through the various searches on the island, starting with the original find in the latter 18th century. Interspersed are chapters dealing with the various legends surrounding the island, including some of the superstitions (pirates would bury someone with the treasure so their ghost would guard it, for instance). Oddly, he does not repeat the local legend that the treasure will not be found until 10 lives (I think that's the number) have been claimed, or until all the oak trees on the island are cut down. He convincingly debunks the idea that pirates could be responsible (they wouldn't be disciplined, educated, or have the time to construct such elaborate traps). He then presents and eliminate a host of other theories - conquistadores, Incas, Templars, Marie Antoinette, etc. He eventually settles on a favourite of the English king George III as the most likely suspect - why and how I'll leave for you to discover.
Unfortunately, the book is somewhat dry - Crooker is an engineer and the description of the various digs are analysed as an engineer, complete with the number of holes drilled, depths, distances from landmarks, etc. In addition, the Oak Island mystery is going to leave a reader unsatisfied because the treasure hunt has not been solved, and is currently bogged down with lawsuits and ownership battles. Crooker does his best to make such wranglings interesting, and in fact the last few chapters are by far the best of the book.
December 25, 2024
This book is a fairly easy read that tells an engaging story about the treasure of Oak Island! In general the book is well written and captures the imagination of forgotten treasure. It also paints a good picture of how amateur treasure hunters destroyed evidence and made difficult digs much harder than they needed to be.
Unfortunately, this book suffers from a similar challenge as many of the History Channels ‘documentaries’. There is no actual proof and much of the book is conjecture. This book fails to deliver anything that actual supports a theory and ultimately feels like a ‘buy my next book’ to learn more.
Unfortunately, this book suffers from a similar challenge as many of the History Channels ‘documentaries’. There is no actual proof and much of the book is conjecture. This book fails to deliver anything that actual supports a theory and ultimately feels like a ‘buy my next book’ to learn more.
August 3, 2020
My guilty pleasure: Oak Island. 😎 Soakin’ up the mystery and the history....with a grain or two salt.
August 27, 2022
Just read the Oak Island Mystery Solved by Joy A. Steele instead. She covers everything in this book in the first 3 chapters of her book, and in a much easier-to-read language. The only thing she doesn't seem to mention is the source that proves the inscription (and translation) on the old stone is a hoax.
July 11, 2023
One of the must-read books after getting drawn into the mystery and history of the underground works at Oak Island. There is far more to it than I ever imagined.
March 18, 2024
Read for class, well written but not my cup of tea.
August 7, 2016
For years I've heard about people searching for treasure on Oak Island. I had no idea why people are so convinced that there must be something there. This book was highly illuminating - shafts more than 100 ft deep, an artificial beach, hidden water channels running from the shafts out to the ocean. Real facts and artifacts to support the belief that something must have been hidden on the island. The author did a good job of trying to remain objective about the various theories about what the treasure might be (or have been), who put it there, and why. Overall a very informative and fascinating book.
December 21, 2015
I would guess that most people share a deep love of the thought of finding buried treasure. This book details the efforts at one site where the mystery around the location had tantalized treasure hunters for centuries. I want to like the tv shows about the search for buried treasure that sounds today, but I much prefer reading about the journey, defeats, and intrigue that surrounds the oak island treasure mystery.
November 16, 2012
Inspired by traveling to Nova Scotia for my brother's wedding. His in-laws are from this area and introduced us to this story and others from a cool area of the world. Thank you to an amazing family.
April 29, 2022
A decent summary of much to do with Oak Island. I found a lot of this interesting, but the decision to include every possible story and legend made it unwieldy and at the end, more extraneous material bogged the book down. A fascinating mystery though.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews