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Lost Dutchman Mine Legend - Apache Junction, Arizona
EXHIBITS |
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GIFT & BOOK
STORE |
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The Superstition
Mountain Museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts, history
and folklore of the Superstition Mountains, Apache Junction and the
surrounding region.
Perhaps nowhere
in the entire United States is there an area full of legend, history
and intrigue as the rugged 160,000 acre Superstition Mountain range
in Central Arizona.
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| Archeological evidence
indicates that people were here some 9000 years ago. Later inhabitants
included the Salado, Hohokam and Apache Indians, followed by Spanish
explorers and Mexican Gold Miners. Early American trappers and
adventurers migrated to the area and were soon followed by cattlemen
and farmers. Eventually, the U.S. Cavalry was sent in to establish
forts to protect this rapidly population. |
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As modern times
approached, men and women began searching for what they believed
was the richest gold mine in the world. This mine was made famous
by Jacob Waltz, known as "the Dutchman", who took
the secret of "his mine" to the grave in 1891.
Even today, treasure
hunters scour the mountains searching for the Lost Dutchman
Mine, but now they share the region with campers, hikers, horseback
riders and conservationists in what has officially become the
Superstition Wilderness Area. |
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Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum is located 3½ miles
NE of Apache Junction at 4087 N. Apache Trail..
Get a feeling of what the ol' west was really like back at the
turn of the century. The museum has a variety of exhibits and
is open 364 days a year. |
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This 20 stamp ore crusher, was donated in 1989 by Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Jones of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Twenty eight days were required for five men to disassemble and move the mill to Apache Junction, Arizona. This mill was state of the art technology for recovering gold in the 1800s.
Rare, historical, surviving equipment of this nature today, can be counted on one hand, let alone in such great condition. |
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