I’ve compiled a list of important events in the history of Oak Island. It is not a complete list of all the activity that has happened on the Island, but covers the most important aspects concerning the case of the Treasure Pit.

I won’t vouch for the authenticity of any of the points, but keep in mind that the more recent it took place, the more likely it is to have happened as reported. Much of the early information on the site should be questioned for its accuracy. Most of the objects found at the site are no longer available for study.

At the end I will include links to a few sites with more information.

(Graphic of the Treasure PIt. Found on The UnMuseum.)

Here are the facts:

1795 - Daniel McGinnis discovers a strange circular impression in the ground on Oak Island. Much mayhem ensues.

1795a - Over the next several days McGinnis, John Smith and Anthony Vaughan dig at the site. Two feet under the surface they come across a layer of flagstones. They begin discussing how they are going to spend their millions.

1795b - At approximately the ten, twenty and thirty foot depths they ran into a layers of oak logs. After this point they weren’t able to continue and plan to return at a later date.

1803 - McGinnis and friends had a lot to do and couldn’t return until eight-years later. This time it was personal. The Onslow company was formed and digging resumed. They quickly made it back to the thirty-foot depth and continued down to the ninety-foot depth, finding layers of logs every ten feet, as well as a layer of charcoal at forty feet, a layer of putty at fifty feet and a layer of coconut fiber at sixty feet

1803a - At ninety feet one of the most mysterious items associated with the site was found. An inscribed stone. It’s generally agreed that the inscription reads, “Forty Feet Below Two Million Pounds Are Buried”. An alternate reading of the inscription reads: “Buried Are Two Million Pounds. Feet Below Forty” Yoda is immediately suspected of involvement.

(Inscription found on the Stone Tablet. Found on The Active Mind )

1803b - At ninety feet water started to seep into the pit, and within a day became almost sixty feet deep. None of the efforts used in an attempt to empty the pit of water worked. The project was abandoned. Much swearing occurred.

1804 - A parallel pit was dug in an attempt to bypass the flooded area. It was dug down to a depth of one-hundred feet. A tunnel was the excavated to connect the original with the new pit. Water flooded in again, and the new pit was abandoned. Much swearing occurred.

*People claim that a five-hundred foot booby-trap had been created that connected the pit to nearby Pit’s Cove, which is where the flood water was coming.*

1849 - The Truro Company was formed. They dug down to eighty-six feet before the pit was flooded. They decided to drill into the pit before continuing to find, to see what might lay buried.

1849a - At ninety-eight feet the drill went through a layer of spruce, before going through four inches of oak and then twenty-two inches of what appeared to be pieces of metal. It was believed that they had drilled through chests of coins. Three small links from a chain were also found due to drilling. A brawl erupted amongst the workers as each wanted the treasure; many claimed they were the infamous missing links of evolution, which was very peculiar since Darwin hadn’t published his work on Natural Selection yet.

1850 - The Truro Company returned to dig another parallel pit, and then a tunnel to join it to the Money Pit. Just like with the last effort the tunnel flooded.

1861 - The Oak Island Association was formed. They cleared out the Money Pit down to eighty-eight feet. They dug a second pit to the east in an attempt to intersect water coming in from the Cove. The new shaft was dug down to one-hundred and twenty feet without discovering a channel.

1861a - They dug a third pit to the west of the Money Pit and again tried to join the two by a tunnel. The pits began flooding once again. This time bailing the pit appeared to work and waters receded.

1861b - While bailing continued and hopes were raising, the bottom of the pit fell approximately fifteen feet further. Workers blamed it on the Mormons.

1893 - The Oak Island Treasure Company began their search. After spending time trying to stop the flow of water, unsuccessfully, they decided to drill into the pit for another sample.

1893a - At one-hundred and twenty-six feet wood and iron were struck. It was suspected that this was the same material as had been at the higher level before the cave-in.

1893b - Between one-hundred and thirty feet and one-hundred and fifty-one feet blue clay was found. This was a putty like substance that was believed to be used as a watertight seal. Another putty layer was found between the one-hundred and sixty foot and one-hundred and seventy foot layer. Late one night several workers absconded with some of the putty. The next year Silly Putty was released to the public as a toy for children.

1893c - Between the putty layers is what is believed to be a cement vault. The walls of the vault were seven inches thick. Inside the vault the drill first struck wood, and then a void, before hitting an unknown substance. After this the drill hit a layer of soft metal, and then a layer of metal pieces, before hitting another layer of soft metal. It’s rumoured that Geraldo Rivera’s dignity may be buried in the vault.

1893d - When the drill was brought back to the surface a piece of parchment was attached to it with the letters ‘vi’ or ‘ui’ or ‘wi’ on it.

1893e - Excited by this find the Oak Island Treasure Company started to sink a series of holes in an attempt to reach this chamber. All of the new pits eventually flooded and the treasure remained out of reach.

1899 - A second flood tunnel was discovered, the entrance located in the South Shore Cove.

1909 - Franklin D. Roosevelt, interested in the treasure, became part of a team to tackle the problem. Through test drilling discovered a cement like material at one-hundred and fifty feet. A sample submitted to Columbia University were reported to be man made. Much celebration occurred. Filled with confidence Roosevelt declared himself King of Oak Island. The next day a bloodless coup dethroned Roosevelt and he was replaced with a potato.

1936 - Old timbers, joined using wooden pins, were discovered in Smith’s Cove. Thought to be very old, possible placed there by those who buried the treasure.

1959 - Bob Restall and his family work on the site. A rock with ‘1704′ is discovered on the island. Could this be the date that the treasure was originally buried? Some researchers think so. Other’s believe it is the first example of ‘7eet’ speak known to man.

*Some believe the stone is a prank left by previous diggers*

1965 - While excavating Bob Restall is overcome by fumes from a generator, and falls into the water at the bottom of the shaft. His son and two other workers try to save him, but are also overcome with carbon monoxide, and pass out. All four drown.

1965a - Bob Dunfield brings heavy machinery onto the island. He attempts to block the inflow of water from Smith’s Cove. It is determined that at one-hundred and forty feet there is a two foot layer of limestone. Beneath this is a forty foot void, at the bottom of which is a layer of bedrock. The dreams of previous treasure hunters are found floating in the void.

1967 - A pair of wrought-iron scissors are found, buried below the drains at Smith’s Cove. It is determined that they are of Spanish-American origin, probably made in Mexico, and are around three-hundred years old. A heart shaped stone was also found.

1970 - Triton Alliance builds a new cofferdam at the cove. During construction they discover the original builder’s cofferdam. There are roman numerals carved into the wooden logs. The wood is carbon dated to 250 years ago.

1976 - A camera is lowered down a borehole, and into what is thought to be an artificial cavity. Images of a severed hand, body, and wooden chests are claimed to be seen in the video. Some people believe the middle finger of the severed hand is slightly raised.

*Many skeptics claim that no such things can be seen in the video and it’s too murky to identify anything*

The story of Oak Island.

Mysteries of Canada.

Critical Enquiry.

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