It looks like NBC is getting into the game with their new Treasure Hunters show. They have created a Treasure Hunters Challenge site that you can play to enhance the experience. While not as immense in scope as The Hanso Foundation, it’s still not bad (and you may win money). What’s more is that it seems to have some end in site, while The Lost Experience seems almost never-ending.
While I originally started to put the details of the challenges here in this one entry, it quickly overwhelmed the size of this entry. So in order to make things a little more manageable, I’ve broken each week out into its very own entry, which should help to keep things somewhat orderly and help you to find what you need a little faster. At least that’s the plan. Things may change once we see what’s working and what’s not. Stay tuned for further developments on that front.
Each week is listed, along with the primary focus of that week’s challenge, which may or may not agree with what you think the challenge should be named. I’m not trying to be difficult (I promise), but I figured that it would be better to give the challenge some sort of descriptive name, rather than just “Week 1”, “Week 2”, “Week 3”, and hopefully what is there will be enough to help you find what you need. If not, I’m sorry. Click the link and read up to see if it’s what you need. If not, come on back and try the next week. Ultimately there are only 9 challenges (and only 8 weeks) so it shouldn’t take long.
- Week 1: Golden Spruce
- Week 2: Abraham Lincoln
- Week 3: West Point
- Week 4: Thomas Edison
- Week 5: Fulton Paddleboat
- Week 6: Ghost Town
- Week 7: Sleepy Hollow
- Week 8: Spanish Doubloon (and Fireplace)
Just a reminder: Since the details were getting so long, I’ve split this post into detailed reviews of each week’s challenge. Check back here, where I’ll update this list with links to each review, or keep an eye out for the detailed reviews.
If you want to discuss the overall game theory, discuss it here please, and leave the other entries for challenge-specific information.
Update August 15, 2006: For those who have been waiting, the answer has been posted.
We were indeed looking for the Star Spangled Banner at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. Apparently either Smithsonian and/or The National Museum of American History was accepted as a correct answer. The ten winners names have been posted.
Thanks, RobH, for the pointer to the post, and to everyone for playing along! If anyone who participated here was among them, congratulations and good luck in the contest!
Comments
144 responses to “Treasure Hunters Challenge”
I think that’s as good an idea as any, which would likely make “reef” translate to “free”, making a bit more sense. Using that…
The original copy of the song is apparently at the Maryland Historical Society, which is charging a $1 admission through September. Not much, but not quite free either. Admission to the NMAH, however, is free.
I can not figure out where to make the cut to get the order of the symbols. Can anyone help?
The last clue “I seek thy reef”…you can rearrange the letters and get “The key is free”. Could this be pointing towards Francis Scott Key and the Star Spangled Banner?
Does anyone know the order of the pieces for the final puzzle with all the pieces we have collected after each challenge? I am not sure if I’m doing it right. Thanks!
Hey, Dave. I am not so easily swayed. I am going back and forth on the SSB and now have added The GW Masonic National Memorial and/or the cornerstone of the Capitol to my list of possibilities. Every picture in the Genworth book appears in the GWMNM and their are numerous references to the cornerstone at tht site.
However, someone did state that the SSB is no longer at the NMAH, which appears to be incorrect according to their website. The petagon flag is on exhibit, but the SSB is as well and it closes on September 4, 2006. Just in time for a major plug for the renovations.
Five more minutes and we shall receive a clue that may break one out of three possibilities for my guesses (man it was so much easier when there was only one!).
The Masonic conspiracy of DC is an interesting thought, as I just got done watching the Freemason special on the History Channel, which discusses the issue at hand. Modern maps show that the pentagram is incomplete, and you could find the square and compass in almost any major city.
I do believe there is a Masonic connection between TH and DC, but my best throught as of now is George Washington and the Capitol Building. He laid the cornerstone of the Capitol in full Mason regalia.
I think one of the connections we will see in a future episode is that George Washington was an key player in the American Revolution. He acted as the liason between the American Colonies and England until 1774 when the British imposed the Intolerable Acts on the colonies; during those two years actions lead by our founding faters lead to the American Revolution and all that happened in 1776.
Just a thought… throwing that out there, you can toss it right back if it does not fit.
New to this site and it is much appreciated. After sorting through all of the crazy and not so crazy theories out there, I believe that the “symbol” that is laid out is the masonic symbol in the Capital Mall. It is clearly seen on most DC maps and for a clearer picture you can check out one of the many satanic conspiracy sites out there.
Any thoughts?
Anyone know of any signifigance of the wording on the sides of the clues we find?
Has anyone looked in the Genworth Book at the begining? Because there is a clue in it. At least that’s what I think.
7 stars, Maryland is the 7th state in the union. And in Maryland they have the Maryland Historical Society. Which holds the Original Manuscript of “The Star Spangled Banner”, which was a drinking song back in the day…just a few things to think about.
I see what you mean by the image being the same in Game 6 as in the Game 7. But after looking at the globe in Game 6, the symbol in the fireplace goes away when you click on the globe from the gameroom.