Buried Treasures of the American Southwest
Jameson is a good storyteller and has done extensive research in tracking down all these tales. -Library Journal
Legends have long circulated in the American Southwest, and now for the first time they are collected in a single volume. Jameson gathered his material from his own extensive, on-site research in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and from interviews with people whose lives have been entwined with the search for particular treasures.
His book contains 36 stories, chapters on each state where he visited and performed research, location maps, accounts of gold mines where the nuggets are piles so deep they can be gathered with a rake and hidden caverns where bars of silver are stacked like firewood and caches of treasure are guarded by skeletons...
Though the lore sounds fabulous, it has all grown out of the actual histories of Indians, outlaws, conquistadors, priests, and ranchers – characters well documented in the drama of the unfolding West. In this collection of conquistadors, bandits and southwestern heroes, readers will learn the importance of courage, responsibility, and resourcefulness.
Legends have long circulated in the American Southwest, and now for the first time they are collected in a single volume. Jameson gathered his material from his own extensive, on-site research in Arizona, Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, and from interviews with people whose lives have been entwined with the search for particular treasures.
His book contains 36 stories, chapters on each state where he visited and performed research, location maps, accounts of gold mines where the nuggets are piles so deep they can be gathered with a rake and hidden caverns where bars of silver are stacked like firewood and caches of treasure are guarded by skeletons...
Though the lore sounds fabulous, it has all grown out of the actual histories of Indians, outlaws, conquistadors, priests, and ranchers – characters well documented in the drama of the unfolding West. In this collection of conquistadors, bandits and southwestern heroes, readers will learn the importance of courage, responsibility, and resourcefulness.
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Community Reviews
If you’re someone who loves a good mystery, a dash of danger, and the romantic lure of the untamed West, Buried Treasures of the American Southwest is a must-read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book—it’s an engaging mix of folklore, historical intrigue, and real-life treasure hunting.
What stood out most to me was how deeply human each story felt. These aren’t just legends about gold bars and lost mines; they’re tales of hardship, obsession, betrayal, and sometimes, curses that seem to follow those who dig too deep—literally and metaphorically. The book gave me a new appreciation for how the search for treasure has shaped the history and culture of the Southwest.
From the cursed riches of Victorio Peak to the mystery of West Texas Mines, each chapter made me wonder: is the treasure still out there, or did the desert take it—and its seekers—with it?
This book isn’t just for treasure hunters. It’s for dreamers, historians, skeptics, and believers. And after reading it, I’m convinced that sometimes the real treasure is in the stories themselves—haunting, hopeful, and deeply rooted in the land.
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