Oak Island

The story begins in 1795 with a teenager finding a depression in the ground and, so the account goes, layers of logs as he dug. Two centuries of excavation followed: shafts, flood tunnels, dynamite, drilling rigs and several syndicates including one that Franklin Roosevelt invested in as a young man. Nothing conclusive has been found. Six people have died in the workings, and a supposed prophecy that seven must die before the treasure is revealed circulates locally. A long-running television series revived interest and funds continuing work. The island is private and access is only on scheduled guided tours.

The main sights

• The Money Pit area - the ground worked and reworked since 1795.
• The excavation history - shafts, tunnels and machinery from two centuries.
• The interpretive centre - artefacts and the documented record of the digs.
• The island setting - a small wooded island reached by causeway.

When to go

May to October; tours run in season only and must be booked in advance, with limited places. The island is closed to unaccompanied visitors year-round.

Practical notes

No treasure has ever been found and most archaeologists regard the natural explanations as sufficient. Access is by booked tour only and they sell out. Much of the site is active excavation and fenced.

Nearby

Mahone Bay lies east; Lunenburg is beyond it.

Key facts