What is treasure hunting?

Treasure hunting is the pursuit of lost coins, relics, and historical artifacts using research, field exploration, and ethical recovery methods. Modern treasure hunters combine historical records, geological insight, and detection tools to responsibly discover and preserve items of cultural and monetary value.

How do you start treasure hunting?

Start with research — learn local history, study old maps, and identify promising sites on public land. Invest in a quality entry-level metal detector, join a local club, and always obtain landowner permission before searching private property.

Is treasure hunting legal?

Treasure hunting is legal on most public and private land with permission, but laws vary by state and country. Key restrictions include the Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) on federal land, underwater salvage laws, and cultural heritage regulations. Always research local laws before hunting.

What tools do treasure hunters use?

Essential tools include metal detectors, gold pans, sluice boxes, pinpointers, digging tools, and GPS devices. Serious researchers also use historical maps, land records, newspaper archives, and geological surveys to identify productive sites.

Can you keep treasure you find?

Ownership depends on where and how the treasure is found. On private land with permission, finds typically belong to the hunter (or are split with the landowner). On federal or state land, artifacts may be protected. Shipwreck salvage has its own admiralty law framework. Always understand local ownership laws.

What mistakes do beginner treasure hunters make?

Common mistakes include hunting without permission, ignoring local laws, skipping research, buying overly expensive equipment too early, and having unrealistic expectations. The most productive hunters spend more time researching than detecting.

How to Research with Sanborn Maps, Fire Maps, and Survey Maps

By Randy Salars·Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Sanborn maps provide building-by-building detail of historical towns and cities — construction materials, number of stories, business names, and lot layouts. They are among the most underused and most powerful research tools available.

What Are Sanborn Maps?

The Sanborn Map Company produced detailed fire insurance maps for over 12,000 American towns and cities from 1867 to 2017. These maps show individual buildings, streets, lot numbers, building materials, and occupancies.

What Sanborn Maps Show:

• Building footprints with construction materials (brick, wood, iron)
• Number of stories and roof type
• Business names and occupancies
• Street names and lot numbers
• Fire hydrant locations and water sources
• Railroad sidings and industrial infrastructure

Where to Find Them

• Library of Congress — Largest free collection of digitized Sanborn maps (loc.gov/collections/sanborn-maps)
• ProQuest Digital Sanborn Maps — Complete digital collection (subscription, available through many libraries)
• State libraries and university libraries — Many hold physical copies and microfilm
• Local historical societies — May hold unique editions not digitized elsewhere

Other Survey Maps for Research

USGS Topographic Maps

Multiple editions spanning 100+ years. Compare editions to see how terrain, roads, and development changed.

GLO Survey Plats

Original government land surveys with section lines, natural features, and early settler notations.

Railroad Survey Maps

Detailed surveys of railroad right-of-way, including adjacent properties and terrain.

County Atlases

Published in the 1870s–1900s, these show property owners by name on detailed maps. Gold mines for genealogists and treasure researchers.

Master Map-Based Research

The Treasure Hunter's Research Guide includes detailed map interpretation techniques and overlay methodology.

Get the Research Guide →

Treasure Research Intelligence

Map research techniques, Sanborn guides, and survey analysis.

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