The legend of Oak Island starts in 1799. While out on a fishing expedition, the story goes, three teenaged boys - Daniel McGinnis, Anthony Vaughn and John Smith, had discovered a depression in the ground after they came ashore to restock on supplies. Investigating the strange depression, they soon found that the dirt was noticeably loose, unlike the surrounding, hard packed ground.
McGinnis had heard a story involving a sailor from the crew of the infamous Scottish pirate, Captain Kidd, who had supposedly buried a treasure - over £2 million from Kidd's loot - somewhere in the surrounding area, and thought that they had possibly found its resting place.
Digging down, the three boys dug down for over 30 feet (9.1 m), after finding a layer of flagstones, oak platforms and tool marks and pick scrapes on the wall of the pit.
For some unclear reason, after digging 30 feet down, the boys decided to abandon their search and return home. Some accounts cite superstition as the main reason, while others believe they may have found something - and kept it a secret. Whatever the reason, the pit which the boys had dug, then already called "The Money Pit," was abandoned.
But the boy's story did not go unnoticed.
A few years later, a group known as the Onslow Company returned to the island, this time equipped with excavation tools, and continued the dig McGinnis had started. Digging down to 90 feet (27 m), they continued to find stacked layers of logs in ten feet intervals, until they found a large stone… inscribed with mysterious symbols.
There are many speculations and theories about what the treasure might actually be.
Some believe that it might be Marie Antoinette’s jewels, while others speculate that the pit hides manuscripts indicating Francis Bacon was the actual author behind the works of William Shakespeare.
The pit has also, over the years, provided extraordinary evidence. It's not without reason that the island has been home to the efforts of researchers, adventurers and historians for over two centuries.
One of William Chappell's most important discoveries was a fluke anchor which was found on the tunnel, and there was also an instrument that appeared to be a 250-year-old Acadian axe. Other essential discoveries included parts of an oil lamp, and a miner's pick.
How these artifacts got to the remote island, and why they were all buried in approximately the same place remains a mystery, but strengthens the conviction of those who believe that there's more to the island than meets the eye.
One of the most compelling reasons researchers believe that there really is treasure hidden on Oak Island, is the vast amount of wars and conflicts that occurred around the time the island was first discovered, including the French-Indian War and the Seven Years War.
Wars have a tendency to drive people away, seeking safety and stability in odd places. Oak Island is, even today, just about the farthest away anyone can get from Europe's long and bloody wars - so if anyone was looking to hide their riches away from the dangers of war, and had the means to get there - Oak Island would have been an ideal location.
Another set of historical circumstances make Oak Island an attractive location to bury treasure: Pirates.
Between the years 1690 and 1730, during the period historians call the Golden Age of Piracy, many pirates were known to travel to and around the mysterious Oak Island.
Aside from being a "goldmine" for natural resources, where pirates could safely stock up on wood, water and other important provisions away from major Naval powers, the island was also an ideal place for these pirates to stash their treasures and loot.
Many people believed that pirates had, indeed, left their riches on the island - but one treasure hunter in particular might surprise you.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt became interested in unveiling the secret of Oak Island as a young man.
Roosevelt joined Captain Henry L. Bowdoin in August 1909, as part of an expedition organized by the Old Gold Salvage Group.
The Group had come equipped with divers and advanced excavation equipment, but were unable to find anything of interest in the Money Pit.
Despite their lack of success, Roosevelt continued to show interest in Oak Island, and kept up with developments and news regarding the hunt for treasure there for the rest of his life - even as President of the United States.
The brothers Marty and Rick Lagina have, for all intents and purposes, dedicated their entire lives to solving the riddle of Oak Island and unlocking its hidden secrets - with the hope of treasure in their hearts.
While they have spent many years toiling hard to uncover the island's secrets with very little headway, it appears that their latest treasure hunting expedition has really taken a productive turn.
In recent years, the Lagina brothers have made some serious discoveries on Oak Island - and, some say, opened a door to uncovering its hidden treasure.
Join us as we look at their discoveries - and try to unravel the island's centuries old mystery.
In 2006, the Lagina Brothers decided to pursue their treasure hunting dream full time.
Following extensive research into the Oak Island legend - and several expeditions to the island and its famed Money Pit, they two siblings purchased 50% of the Oak Island Tour company, which included land on the island - and the rights to any treasure found in it - while the other half remained owned by the local Blankenship Clan.
