Buried Treasure of Casco Bay: A Guide for the Modern Hunter

One of America's famous authors, Harriet Beecher Stowe, made this island stand out in the annals of Casco Bay by writing her popular story, "The Pearl of Orr's Island." This sto...

This long neck of scenic beauty is a close neighbor of Orr's Island. It lies to the north, northwest and can be reached by auto via the rotary traffic circle at Brunswick, Maine.

One of our next stops should include this island of Casco Bay. It is located just across the channel from Willard Beach, South Portland; in an easterly direction from Willard Be...

This large island lies between Orr's Island and the mainland. You will cross this island on your way to Orr's Island and Bailey's Island. It seems to be part of the mainland but...

In the vicinity of Harpswell you will find a small island that became one of the most treasure explored islands in Casco Bay. Here we find, if we check our legends of the island...

Many stories have been written about Cliff Island. Some were fact and others were legendary. We will try to stay with the facts as close as possible. First a little about the ge...

The history of this island, located just across the channel in a northerly direction from Peaks Island, dates back to the year 1635 when a lease was given to George Cleeves and...

Here we have one of the largest islands in Casco Bay. The name is pronounced "Shar-Big." This name in Indian language means "land of many springs." The Indians used this large i...

On our way down the bay we will find Long Island nestled in between Peaks and Great Chebeague Islands, but don't sell this island short, as it has a history going back to the si...

Here history tells us that the first settlers arrived about 1743. This island is one of the larger islands of Casco Bay and there are still many of the old homesteads there. A d...

The Island of Peaks is located in Casco Bay and is approximately three miles due east from Portland. It only takes a fifteen minute boat ride to arrive at Peaks.

Some of the treasure hunters that I know really load themselves down with all sorts of equipment. They remind me of a pack mule. You do not have to have a truck load of this har...

Here we have one of the earliest settlements in the Casco Bay area. In 1604, Champlain, the great explorer, landed here on Richmond's Island. This was, of course, sixteen years...

"Shelter Island," as you pronounce the name, it sounds almost like "Treasure Island" of Robert Louis Stevenson fame. It not only sounds like it, but this island comes as close t...

Here we have a fort that was started in 1808 and finished about 1812, just before the War of 1812. It was named for Commodore Preble, prominent in the Revolutionary Navy. At the...

To locate this small island we will follow Route 1 north from Portland until we reach Freeport Village. Here we will make a right turn at the yellow blinker light and follow the...

When starting out to check this shoreline a good starting point in my estimation would be at the "Two Lights" section of the Cape. Go along the shore checking as you proceed; al...

Considerable Indian interest is attached to French's Island in the lower bay. An Indian skull was found under three feet of clam shells and it was figured that the skull was thr...

This beach was used by the early settlers, of about 1813 as a landing spot for their fishing boats. Many little homesteads sprung up in this area in the early 1800's.

The history book tells us that many of the old sailing vessels came to grief in this area. Portland Head Light is located on the government reservation of Fort Williams and you...

The largest city in Maine offers the modern treasure seeker good hunting grounds, especially the eastern side of town. This area is called the east-end bathing beach. The shore...

The word, "treasure," has excited people the world over for centuries. When we were mere children we read about hidden treasure being buried on lonely isles, by bands of cutthro...

Now here is an island that fairly reeks with legend and treasure lore. Certainly no island in the Bay so ideally lends itself to piratical practices with its deep landlocked har...

Fort Gorges is on Hog Island, Portland Harbor, Casco Bay, it is a stone fort in a commanding position on a reef, guarding the entrances to the upper harbor as well as to the shi...

On House Island, Casco Bay, you will find Fort Scammell. This fort was built in 1808, under the direction of Mr. H.A.S. Dearborn, who under authorization of the War Department,...

Mackworth's Island has an unusual and interesting background. According to historians, the Indian Sagamore of Casco, known as Cocawesco, made his home here. On an old English ch...

This small island was settled by Ralph Turner in 1659. He was a farmer who kept his cows and garden on this island. He, however, did not live on the island, but had a house on t...