Read a book about US history, then hunt for treasure

Author Michael Cloherty O’Connell is a 61-year-old, recently retired history buff who took money out of his retirement funds to create multi-state treasure hunts guided by his two books. PHOTO: LADYLIBERTYTREASUREHUNT.COM

Talya Minsberg

UPDATED May 31, 2025, 01:15 PM

Thanks for sharing!

UNITED STATES – Ms Kelly Wakefield, a professional gardener, was doing her spring clean-up of a public park in Saint Albans City, Vermont, when she stumbled upon a mysterious metal box under a pile of leaves.

She shook the box and heard the telltale jangle of coins. “I didn’t know what to do,” she said recently , recalling the discovery.

She opened the metal box and was floored by the bounty inside. She ran to her truck and drove straight to her mother’s house. What exactly had she found? Was any of it real? Did she need a lawyer?

Ms Wakefield, 46, soon learnt that she had stumbled upon a treasure chest intentionally hidden by American author Michael Cloherty O’Connell, who had written two history books leading readers on scavenger hunts around the Northeastern United States.

The box contained various coins, antiques, a Civil War-era bullet, a map and a note from the author. It is now in a safe-deposit box, Ms Wakefield said, and has yet to be appraised. She will get to it eventually, she added.

O’Connell, the creator of the treasure hunt, is a 61-year-old, recently retired history buff who took money out of his retirement funds to create multi-state treasure hunts guided by his two books. One of his books, Lady Liberty’s Treasure Hunt (2024), is aimed at adults, and the other, Riley’s Treasure Chase (2024), at children.

Riley's Treasure Chase by Michael Cloherty O’Connell. PHOTO: ONE THEN TWO LANTERNS

Collectively, the hidden chests have antiques worth upwards of US$100,000 (S$129,000) , he said, though that has not been independently verified by The New York Times. He declined to say how many chests he had hidden. Nearly 10 have been found, he said.

O’Connell encouraged treasure hunters to read his books carefully for clues.

“I wanted it to be a little more cryptic, so it would be more fun,” he said in a telephone interview. “It’s a journey of discovery for the treasure searchers.”

It is also a way to engage readers with American history, O’Connell said. He was encouraged to pen his work after having a long conversation with David Hackett Fischer, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author.

Lady Liberty's Treasure Hunt by Michael Cloherty O’Connell. PHOTO: ONE THEN TWO LANTERNS

But O’Connell – who speaks about American history with an enthusiasm that rivals that of American TV presenter Bill Nye when it comes to science – knew a history book could be a hard sell, he said.

The author – a long-time scout leader who had held a variety of jobs, including working for a sheriff – stared at his bookshelf and brainstormed ways to bring history to life. He was inspired by other authors who had created treasure hunts for their readers.

In 1993, French author Regis Hauser penned a book encouraging readers to search for a golden owl, which was not found until 2024, 31 years after publication. In 2010, American author Forrest Fenn’s The Thrill Of The Chase provided clues to a chest full of gold nuggets and jewels in the Rocky Mountains. It was found in 2020.

More recently, there has been an audience for activities such as Pokemon Go, an augmented-reality game that fuses digital technology with the physical world, and geocaching, a hide-and-seek game powered by GPS technology.

A screenshot of some of the items that are part of the treasure chests created by author Michael Cloherty O’Connell. PHOTO: MICHAELCLOHERTYOCONNELL/INSTAGRAM

After having a conversation with his wife, O’Connell pulled money out of his retirement savings and went shopping to add to his trove of collectibles. His family, including his four children, were sceptical at first.

“They were like, ‘Dad, you’ll never get that money back’,” O’Connell said.

He conceded that his project chewed into each child’s inheritance, but insisted that his project was bigger than he is.

He purchased a variety of antiques, including 17th-century English and Irish coins that would allow him to put on a meaningful, historical hunt. Each chest would be packed with some antiques from his personal collection, some newly purchased collectibles and a congratulatory note with his contact information.

He sprinkled clues into his books between the history lessons, hoping that families would learn about historical sites before going to visit them in person.

Many have shared their treasure-hunting stories anonymously on Discord, a messaging service. O’Connell has popped in to remind people of the ground rules: No winter searching. Stay positive. And, for goodness’ sake, let the kids find the treasures from the children’s book.

Of the people who have found treasure boxes across the Northeastern US, only Ms Wakefield has shared her identity publicly.

It is a wonder she found it by accident. Most treasures are hidden somewhere with historical significance, and Ms Wakefield’s workplace, the gardens of Saint Albans City, are home to a famous 1864 raid by Confederate soldiers who sneaked into the US from Canada.

More on this Topic

She is also no stranger to a good hunt. She enjoys geocaching, as well as learning about local history.

In October 2024, while gardening in the same area, she found a rock with a skull and crossbones, a clue left by O’Connell. She did not realise what she had found. And by chance, her brother-in-law had gifted her one of O’Connell’s books for Christmas that year.

She made the connections only after finding the metal box. Now, she said: “I’m hooked. If I have time this summer, I’m going treasure hunting.”

That was exactly O’Connell’s hope. He wants to get people excited about being outdoors and learning about American history before July 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the country’s independence.

“If I’m helping America or making the country a better place in my small way,” he said, “maybe it will ripple across time, like throwing a rock in a pond.” NYTIMES

More on this Topic

Join  ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

Thanks for sharing!