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<h1>More Kansas Treasures</h1>
<p>The vast plains and rolling hills of Kansas hold more than just golden wheat fields and picturesque sunsets. Whispers of hidden fortunes, buried loot, and long-lost caches echo through the state's history, beckoning treasure hunters and history buffs alike. From the wild west days of stagecoach robberies to the secretive habits of eccentric farmers, the stories of lost treasures in Kansas are as diverse and captivating as the state itself. Let's embark on a journey to explore some of these legendary tales, each a tantalizing glimpse into the potential riches hidden beneath the Kansas soil.</p>
<p><strong>Dodge City: A Western Stronghold with a Secret</strong></p>
<p>Dodge City, synonymous with the Wild West and its colorful characters, is rumored to hold a secret beyond its famed saloons and dusty streets. Legend has it that a treasure stolen from a Wells Fargo stagecoach was concealed somewhere west of Dodge City, within the boundaries of Ford County. The exact location remains a mystery, fueling speculation and inspiring countless searches. Imagine the thrill of uncovering a piece of the Old West, a tangible link to the daring robberies and high-stakes adventures that defined this iconic era. The story of a possible hidden Wells Fargo treasure near Dodge City is one of many stories that surround the state.</p>
<div id="attachment_14076"><p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-14076" title="Point of Rocks in Southwest, Kansas" src="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/PointOfRocks-da-300-300x199.jpg" alt="Point of Rocks in Southwest, Kansas" width="300" height="199"></p><p id="caption-attachment-14076">Point of Rocks in Southwest, Kansas.</p></div>
<p><strong>Elkhart: Point of Rocks and Bandit Booty</strong></p>
<p>Venturing southwest, we arrive near Elkhart, in Morton County, where another tale of hidden riches unfolds. The focal point of this legend is Point of Rocks, a distinctive geological formation that served as a landmark for travelers and, according to local lore, a convenient hiding place for bandits. It is said that stolen loot remains concealed somewhere in the vicinity of Point of Rocks, awaiting discovery. The rugged terrain and remote location would have provided the perfect cover for outlaws seeking to stash their ill-gotten gains. The lure of discovering bandit loot hidden near Elkhart is one of the **More Kansas Treasures** that people have attempted to find.</p>
<p><strong>Ellis: The Railroad Payroll of Big Creek</strong></p>
<p>In 1870, the town of Ellis experienced a daring robbery that became ingrained in local history. A railroad payroll, amounting to a considerable $22,000, was stolen from the Wells Fargo office. According to local legend, the perpetrators hid the money somewhere around the limestone banks of Big Creek, which flows just outside of town. Despite numerous searches and persistent rumors, the payroll has never been recovered, adding to the mystique of Ellis and its potential for hidden wealth. This instance is another reason to search for **More Kansas Treasures**.</p>
<div id="attachment_14077"><p><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-14077" src="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/LakinKs-1907-WSU-300x181.jpg" alt="Vintage Lakin, Kansas" width="300" height="181"></p><p id="caption-attachment-14077">Vintage Lakin, Kansas</p></div>
<p><strong>Lakin: The Lost Silver of Chouteau's Island</strong></p>
<p>The story of lost silver near Lakin is tied to the historical significance of the Santa Fe Trail and the ever-changing landscape of the Arkansas River. In 1828, a substantial sum of $24,000 in silver coins was reportedly buried on Chouteau's Island, located in the Arkansas River approximately five miles southwest of Lakin. Chouteau's Island served as a landmark along the Santa Fe Trail, a vital trade route connecting the East with the Southwest. However, the relentless erosion of the Arkansas River has caused the island to disappear entirely, leaving the treasure buried beneath the shifting sands of time. Some believe that the coins remain buried there, making it one of the many **More Kansas Treasures** that are worth seeking out.</p>
<p><strong>Lawrence: The Army Paymaster's Hidden Fortune</strong></p>
<p>The Civil War era brings us the tale of a robbed army paymaster near Lawrence. Around 1862, a paymaster transporting funds from Lawrence to Denver, Colorado, was ambushed and relieved of a staggering $195,000 in gold and silver coins. The coins are said to be buried somewhere between two sycamore trees, nestled between Lawrence and the Wakarusa River, in Douglas County. The sheer magnitude of the stolen amount fuels the imagination, painting a picture of a significant fortune waiting to be unearthed. The legend of the paymaster's lost money makes it another of the **More Kansas Treasures** that could be hidden away in the state.</p>
<p><strong>Morland: The Sunken Treasure of the Solomon River</strong></p>
<p>The legend of Morland involves a dramatic encounter and a treasure lost to the whims of nature. According to the story, a group of either Spaniards or California gold miners was transporting a treasure chest when they were attacked by Native Americans near the Solomon River. In a desperate attempt to protect their valuables, they threw the chest into the river. Over time, the river's course changed, leaving the treasure buried under dry ground. Some accounts claim that the chest contained gold bars worth an estimated $400,000, adding a significant incentive for those who dare to search. The sunken treasure near Morland is one of the many **More Kansas Treasures** that draw people to explore the state.</p>
<p><strong>Neosho Trail: The Buffalo Hunter's Saddlebags</strong></p>
<p>The Neosho Trail, a historical route connecting Baxter Springs and Coffeyville, is the setting for a tale of a buffalo hunter and a hidden cache of gold coins. The legend claims that a buffalo hunter, traveling along the trail, concealed a large quantity of gold coins in a pair of buffalo hide saddlebags at the point where the trail crosses a river. The exact location remains unknown, leaving treasure hunters to speculate and search for this elusive fortune.</p>
<p><strong>Offerle: The Gold Dust of Taylor Ranch</strong></p>
<p>The tragic story near Offerle involves a party of returning California gold miners and their families who were attacked by Native Americans in 1851. To protect their hard-earned wealth, they buried $90,000 worth of gold dust in a Dutch oven at the site of what later became Taylor Ranch, a couple of miles southwest of Offerle. The only survivor of the massacre was an eight-year-old girl who was taken captive by the Native Americans. She later recounted the story to her descendants, sparking renewed interest in the lost gold. A woman claiming to be related to the survivor appeared in Kinsley in 1918 with a map indicating the location of the treasure, but she was unable to find it. This lost treasure adds to the lore of **More Kansas Treasures**.</p>
<p><em><strong>Reader's Update:</strong> I'm writing to you on behalf of an article you wrote. I am writing to let you know that this is only a myth. My family owned that land that you talk about, and we used it for grazing cattle and sold it to a farmer, of which I don't know the name, but if needed, I'm sure I can come up with it. I'm sure that his discs would have hit the treasure when the farmer had it. – Dylan, October 2004.</em></p>
<div id="attachment_14078"><p><img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-14078" src="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Paola-1863-WSU-300x188.jpg" alt="Vintage Paola, Kansas" width="300" height="188" srcset="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Paola-1863-WSU-300x188.jpg 300w, https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Paola-1863-WSU.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></p><p id="caption-attachment-14078">Vintage Paola, Kansas</p></div>
<p><strong>Paola: The Train Robbery and the Buried Safe</strong></p>
<p>The town of Paola witnessed a daring train robbery in 1918, adding another chapter to the state's treasure-hunting lore. Two men robbed the Missouri-Kansas & Texas passenger train near Paola. They stole a small safe containing gold and silver coins and carried it into a nearby field, where they attempted to open it without success. Fearing capture, the bandits buried the safe at the edge of the woods, approximately 100 yards from the railroad tracks. One of the robbers was later apprehended and confessed to the crime, revealing the location of the buried safe. However, despite the confession, the money has reportedly never been found.</p>
<p><strong>Randall: The Miserly Farmer's Hidden Hoard</strong></p>
<p>The story of Davey Morris, a miserly farmer who lived near Randall, offers a different kind of treasure hunt. Mr. Morris was a loner who lived frugally and accumulated wealth over decades of hard work. After his death in 1910, it was discovered that he had stashed away various amounts of cash in hiding places all over his cabin. However, rumor has it that Mr. Morris also hid sums outside of the cabin, on other areas of his property. These hidden stashes have never been found, adding to the allure of the Morris farm and its potential for undiscovered riches.</p>
<p><strong>Topeka: Abram Burnett's Buried Gold</strong></p>
<p>The state capital, Topeka, is said to be the location of a significant treasure buried on the old farm of Abram Burnett. According to legend, somewhere between $500,000 and $1 million in gold coins is buried on the north side of Shungannunga Creek, which flows through Topeka. His farm encompassed the SE 1/4 of Section 9, Twp. 11, R15 E in Mission township. The potential discovery of such a substantial amount of gold makes this one of the most enticing treasure legends in Kansas. This would be an incredible find and is what makes **More Kansas Treasures** so compelling.</p>
<div id="attachment_17423"><p><a href="https://photos.legendsofamerica.com/wallace-county/e314230e9"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-17423" src="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Pond-Creek-Station-Wallace-Kansas-500-300x199.jpg" alt="Pond Creek Station, Wallace, Kansas" width="300" height="199" srcset="https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Pond-Creek-Station-Wallace-Kansas-500-300x199.jpg 300w, https://www.nativehistory.info/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Pond-Creek-Station-Wallace-Kansas-500.jpg 500w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px"></a></p><p id="caption-attachment-17423">Pond Creek Station, Wallace, Kansas</p></div>
<p><strong>Wallace: The Merchant's Hidden Caches</strong></p>
<p>The town of Wallace, once a bustling frontier settlement, is rumored to hold the secrets of a prosperous merchant. Peter Robidoux, the first merchant to settle in Wallace, is said to have hidden several caches of gold and silver coins in and around the townsite. These caches went unrecovered after his death, leaving behind a legacy of potential riches waiting to be discovered. The prospect of finding Robidoux's hidden coins adds to the allure of Wallace and its historical significance.</p>
<p>These are just a few of the captivating tales that contribute to the rich tapestry of **More Kansas Treasures**. Whether you're a seasoned treasure hunter or simply a curious explorer, the stories of lost fortunes in Kansas offer a glimpse into the state's vibrant past and a chance to uncover a piece of history. The search for **More Kansas Treasures** can be an adventure in itself.</p>
<p>© <a href="https://www.nativehistory.info/about-us/">Kathy Alexander</a>/<a href="https://www.nativehistory.info/">Legends of America</a>, updated February 2023.</p>
<p><strong>Also See:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nativehistory.info/kansas/">Kansas Main Page</a></p>
<p><a href="https://photos.legendsofamerica.com/kansas">Kansas Photo Galleries</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nativehistory.info/treasures/">Lost Treasure Tales</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.nativehistory.info/kansas-treasure/">Treasure Hunting on the Kansas Prairie</a></p>
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