Book
The Money Pit Mystery: The Costliest Treasure Hunt Ever
The 1972 standard work.
Research Sources
A curated guide for serious Oak Island researchers
Oak Island research spans over 231 years of documentation, from 19th-century newspaper accounts to modern archaeological reports. This guide organizes the a number of valuable sources for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the mystery.
Research Caveats
- No written documentation exists before 1849, the 1795 discovery story was recorded decades later
- Many artifacts have been lost, including the famous inscribed stone (disappeared ~1919)
- The cipher symbols first appeared in 1949, with unclear provenance
- 200+ years of excavation have destroyed much archaeological context
Essential Books
The definitive published works on Oak Island history and research
Book
The Secrets of Nolan's Cross
Brian Pharoah illustrates the hidden language of the Ancients. This hidden language is encoded in Nolan’s Cross on Oak Island, and in our daily lives. Hidden in plain sight. Within this hidden language of mathematics, geometry, words, music and astronomy are the keys to solving the Oak Island mystery.
Book
The Secret Treasure of Oak Island
Considered the definitive account. O'Connor researched this topic for decades with exclusive access to treasure hunters and primary documents. Multiple editions available.
Book
The Jerusalem Files
The best researched book detailing the wider history of the Oak Island mystery and the origins of North America. Published by Watkins/Penguin Random House. Investigates historical mysteries and hidden connections spanning centuries and three continents.
Book
Oak Island and Its Lost Treasure
Engineering-focused analysis with emphasis on geotechnical issues. Written by professionals with technical expertise in excavation challenges. Three editions published.
Book
The Curse of Oak Island: The Story of the World's Longest Treasure Hunt
Companion to the History Channel show. Well-researched with exclusive access to the Lagina brothers. Provides context the TV series doesn't have time to cover.
Book
The Oak Island Mystery
Important early scholarly account of the island's history, written when many original sources were still accessible.
Book
Oak Island Mystery: Solved
Alternative theory based on geological and historical research by a marine geologist and freelance researcher.
Book
The Oak Island Enigma: A History and Inquiry into the Origin of the Money Pit
First book proposing the Bacon/Shakespeare manuscript theory. Important for understanding how this theory originated. First self-published in 1953.
Book
The Oak Island Mystery: The Secret of the World's Greatest Treasure Hunt
Explores Knights Templar connections. The Fanthorpes have investigated mysteries for over 30 years.
Book
The Templar Mission to Oak Island and Beyond
The book that started the Knights Templar research of Oak Island.
Book
The Seven Steps to Mercy: with Shakespeare's Key to the Oak Island Templum
The standard work about the alleged real authors of Shakespeare's works and Oak Island.
Podcast
Audio podcasts about the Oak Island mystery and the Curse of Oak Island TV Show
Video
Jfree906 Podcast
Regular video podcasts about The Curse of Oak Island featuring guests that have a connection to the mystery. Hosted by Jeff Freeman and Tom Burns.
Audio
Diggin' Oak Island
Huge and high-quality collection of over 200 audio podcasts and interviews, hosted by Dave McBride.
Video
Oak Island Plus
YouTube channel focusing on primary source document research. McQuiston has appeared on The Curse of Oak Island and is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Online Archives & Databases
Digital collections of primary documents, letters, photographs, and research materials
Website
Oak Island Book
Archive of Oak Island historian Paul Troutman
Website
Oak Island Mystery Trees
Home of one of the largest bodies of research on everything Oak Island.
Website
Quest of Oak Island Facebook Group
70,000 members make this Facebook Group an interesting online Oak Island community.
Archive
OakIslandMystery.com
Houses the D'Arcy O'Connor Fonds, David Tobias and Les MacPhie Archives. Approximately 3,000 pages of letters, reports, photographs, and original documents donated to the Chester Municipal Heritage Society. Essential primary source collection.
Archive
The Oak Island Compendium
Originally by Doug Crowell and Kel Hancock, the compendium is one of the best online archives for Oak Island.
Website
Oak Island Treasure (UK)
One of the earliest Oak Island websites (since 2001). Contains excavation documents, artifact photos, carbon dating reports, and historical newspaper articles. Repository of documents donated by researchers over the years.
Archive
Nova Scotia Archives - Oak Island Maps
Historical maps of Oak Island from 1669 to 1960's, Crown land records, and official government documents. High-resolution images available for research.
Archive
OakIslandMystery.com - Research Index
Searchable database table of all individual items in the D'Arcy O'Connor research materials. Can be sorted and searched by keyword.
Website
Oak Island Legend
The official website of Cerca Trova Limited, the Nova Scotia registered company owned by Marty and Rick Lagina, Craig Tester and Alan Kostrava, with a goal to solve the mystery of Oak Island and recover any treasure under a Treasure Trove License granted by the Province.
Video Resources
Documentaries, podcasts, and video content for Oak Island research
Video
The Curse of Oak Island
Reality series documenting the Lagina brothers' excavation efforts. Running since 2014, currently in Season 12+. While entertainment-focused, documents actual archaeological finds.
Video
In Search Of... The Money Pit Mystery
Classic 1979 episode from the original In Search Of... series featuring Leonard Nimoy.
Skeptical & Academic Analysis
Critical examinations of the Oak Island legend and its historical claims
Website
History, Hoax, and Hype: The Oak Island Legend
The most thorough document-by-document analysis of how the Oak Island legend evolved. Notes that no written documentation exists prior to 1849. Essential reading for balanced research.
Journal
The Secrets of Oak Island
Published in Skeptical Inquirer, Vol. 24.2. Proposes the Money Pit is a natural sinkhole and identifies Masonic symbolism added to the legend over time.
Physical Archives
Institutions holding original documents and artifacts
Archive
Chester Municipal Heritage Society
Located in Chester, Nova Scotia. Holds the original D'Arcy O'Connor Fonds and David Tobias collection. Archives available to the general public.
Archive
Nova Scotia Archives
Halifax, Nova Scotia. Holds historical maps, Crown land records, and government documents related to Oak Island.
Archive
National Archives of Scotland
Edinburgh. Potential source for Templar and Masonic connection research.
Archive
British Museum / National Archives UK
London. Colonial-era documents related to Nova Scotia settlement and governance.
Historical Newspapers & Documents
Original newspaper accounts and primary source documents from the 19th and early 20th centuries
Document
A History of Lunenburg County
Published 1895, references earlier newspaper accounts and provides historical context for the region.
This list is maintained and expanded regularly. If you know of a valuable source we've missed, let us know.
Last updated: February 2026