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Adolph Ruth is the man responsible for not letting the story of the Lost Dutchman fade away to history .

The tale of the lost dutchman mine has been around for over one hundred years but the story of the hoodoo man is somewhat new .

The Superstition MountainsThe Lost Dutchman State Park. Arizona’s Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. The name sounds so mysterious and legendary. In fact, it’s both. And almost two centuries later the title still holds intrigue over explorers and followers of Pinal County history.

Searching for gold in the Superstition Mountains.

The story begins in the 1840s when the Peralta family of Mexico was mining in the Superstition Mountains . In 1848 after numerous trips the Apache who occupied the land had had enough . They attacked the mule train killing all but two of the group who escaped back to Mexico . The story is the ore laid on the ground for year's along side of the bleached bones of men and mules . Was this the dutchman find ?

It was in 1871 that a shipment of 24 Colt Dragoon Pistols was making its way to camp McDowell. Along the way the convey was ambushed by Apaches. The scrambled but split up . The remaining men hid the pistols in a cave in the Superstition Mountains . A few men made it back to safety but could not remember the exact cave upon returning . The pistols have never been found .

Tales about this mountain range started back when the Spanish named these mountains the Superstitions. The Apache called this area a Gateway and people feared it . More than 159 people have lost there lives hunting The Lost Dutchman gold mine . Every year countless people are rescued from this area .

The legend of Hacksaw Tom lives on today in an exhibit in the Superstition Mountain Museum. No one knows where Tom came from and how he ended up in Fish creek but his legend has lives on today . He would wait for the wagon trains to slow for the steep corner to the bridge and jump out with his sawed off double barreled shotgun . Legend states no one was ever hurt or injured during his robberys . Hacksaw Tom was never caught but they did find relics in a cave of his past deeds .

Jacob Waltz (the lost dutchman) left behind clues that are suppose to show where his hidden mine is . Regardless if you believe the story or not people have been searching the Superstition Mountains for over 100 years . Even though no one has ever publicly declared they have found it maybe it's your time to find the lost dutchman gold !

(Apache Junction, AZ) Don’t be surprised if seasoned Arizona hikers list Silly Mountain in Apache Junction as one of their favorite spots. With its variety of different trails, gorgeous views, and native wildlife, it might become your go-to hiking destination as well, whether you’re new to the state or a longtime resident.

The Dolly Steamboat, Tortilla Flat, AZCourtesy of The Dolly Steamboat. (Tortilla Flat, AZ) Unlike its neighbor to the west, Arizona doesn’t have an entire ocean running up its spine, but it does have over 125 lakes to enjoy, and although the landscape is much different that its coastal sister, its scenery remains archetypical of everything the Southwest represents. There might not be anything more characteristic of this vision than the Superstition Mountains.