Treasure Hunting in New York

Revolutionary War battlefield density, colonial Hudson Valley estates, and Long Island pirate-era cache history.

Top New York treasure regions: Hudson Valley; Long Island shoreline; Adirondacks; Saratoga region (private only).

Famous documented cases in New York: Captain Kidd Long Island caches; Revolutionary paymaster (Saratoga); Dutch colonial silver (Hudson Valley).

Captain Kidd's Treasure (1699, status: partially recovered): Captain William Kidd buried portions of his treasure on Gardiners Island (NY) in 1699; this was recovered and used as evidence at his trial. Rumors persist of additional caches along the Long Island, Block Island, and New England coasts. Where: Long Island Sound, Block Island, Cape Cod, Damariscove ME. Land rules: Beach detecting varies by jurisdiction; Block Island has detector-friendly zones.

Terrain in New York: Glaciated forest, river valleys, and coastal plain.

Best seasons for field work in New York: April–November.

New York state parks are managed by New York State Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (https://parks.ny.gov/); check its rules before detecting in any state park.