From Readers Digest to Reality TV Phenomenon
In January 1965, a small article appeared in Reader's Digest. "The Mystery of Oak Island" introduced millions of readers to a 170-year-old treasure hunt on a tiny island in Nova Scotia. Among those readers were two young brothers from Michigan: Rick and Marty Lagina.
That article ignited an obsession that would last a lifetime.
The Lagina Brothers
Rick Lagina, a retired postal worker, never let go of his childhood dream. His younger brother Marty built a successful career in energy exploration, founding Terra Energy Ltd. and developing expertise in the kind of large-scale excavation Oak Island would require.
For decades, they followed the Oak Island story from afar. They watched as Dan Blankenship and David Tobias formed Triton Alliance and drilled Borehole 10-X. They read about the discoveries and the setbacks. And they waited.
In 2006, their patience paid off. The Oak Island Tourism Society, which controlled the treasure hunting rights, was looking for new partners. The Laginas made their move. By 2007, they had acquired a controlling interest in Oak Island Tours Inc., becoming the latest in a 200-year line of treasure hunters.
The History Channel Takes Notice
The brothers spent years conducting surveys, building relationships with researchers, and planning their approach. Their methodical, scientific strategy caught the attention of television producers at Prometheus Entertainment.
On January 5, 2014, "The Curse of Oak Island" premiered on the History Channel. The first episode drew over 3 million viewers, a massive debut for a cable documentary series. Audiences were hooked.
Unlike previous treasure hunting shows, this wasn't staged drama. The Laginas brought genuine expertise, real investment, and authentic emotion to their search. When Rick tears up discussing the island's history, it's real. When Marty expresses frustration at another setback, viewers feel it.
The Team
The show assembled a remarkable cast of experts and personalities:
Craig Tester is Marty's business partner and friend since college. An engineer who brings technical expertise and dry humor to the team.
Dan Blankenship was the legendary treasure hunter who dedicated over 50 years to Oak Island. His encyclopedic knowledge and unwavering belief inspired the Laginas. Dan passed away in March 2019 at age 95, but his presence still guides the search.
Dave Blankenship is Dan's son, who grew up on the island and continues his father's legacy. His intimate knowledge of Oak Island's geography and history proves invaluable.
Gary Drayton is a world-renowned metal detectorist from England. Gary's expertise has led to some of the show's most significant finds, including the medieval lead cross that may connect Oak Island to the Knights Templar.
Jack Begley is Craig's stepson, who brings youthful energy and genuine enthusiasm. His willingness to climb into any hole or handle any artifact makes him a fan favorite.
Alex Lagina is Marty's son, representing the next generation. A civil engineer, Alex brings both technical skills and fresh perspective to the investigation.
Corjan Mol is a Dutch researcher and historical investigator with deep expertise in medieval European history. His research connects Oak Island to early travel from Europe to North America. Corjan serves as the tourguide for the team on their research trips in Europe.
Technology and Investment
What sets the Lagina operation apart is scale. Previous treasure hunters worked with pick axes and hope. The Laginas brought millions of dollars and cutting-edge technology.
The team has employed seismic scanning to map underground anomalies, LiDAR surveys to reveal hidden structures on the surface, industrial excavation equipment capable of digging massive shafts, diving teams to explore flooded tunnels, and laboratory analysis of every significant find.
In 2019, they sunk a massive steel caisson (essentially a giant steel tube) into the Money Pit area, allowing excavation below the water table for the first time in Oak Island history. The "Garden Shaft" and subsequent digs have reached depths previous searchers could only dream of.
The Discoveries
The show has documented genuinely significant finds. Season after season, the evidence mounts:
A medieval lead cross, potentially linked to the Templar prison at Domme, France. Human bones from two individuals, one of European descent and one of Middle Eastern origin, carbon dated to the 1600s and 1700s. An elaborate underground tunnel system beneath Smith's Cove. The remains of a massive wooden ship in the swamp. Coins, pottery, and artifacts spanning several centuries. And most recently, evidence of early European presence that may rewrite North American history.
Perhaps most importantly, the show has proven that Oak Island's mysteries are real. The artificial beach, the flood tunnels, the Money Pit itself: these aren't legends. They're engineering projects that someone built centuries ago. The question remains: why?
Lead cross→The Money Pit on the Map
A Global Phenomenon
Now in its 12th season, "The Curse of Oak Island" has become one of the longest-running and most successful documentary series in cable television history. The show broadcasts in 79 countries, reaching tens of millions of viewers worldwide who tune in each week to follow the hunt.
It has spawned spin-offs including "The Curse of Oak Island: Drilling Down" and "Beyond Oak Island." It has inspired countless YouTube investigators and introduced a new generation to this 230-year-old mystery.
The show has also transformed Oak Island itself. Tourism to the tiny Nova Scotia island has exploded. The local economy has been revitalized. And researchers and historians from around the world have been drawn into the investigation.
The Search Continues
After more than a decade of filming, the Laginas have spent more money, employed more technology, and conducted more systematic research than all previous treasure hunters combined. They've made discoveries that would have been front-page news in any previous era.
And yet the central mystery remains unsolved. What lies at the bottom of the Money Pit? Who built the elaborate tunnel system? What were they protecting?
Rick Lagina, now in his seventies, has said he'll search until he physically can't continue. His brother Marty, despite occasional skepticism, keeps funding the operation. The next generation (Alex, Jack, and others) stands ready to continue.
The curse says seven must die before the treasure is found. Six already have. The Laginas are betting everything that they'll be the ones to finally solve the mystery and live to tell about it.
Every Tuesday night, tens of millions of viewers tune in to see if this will be the episode where everything changes.
The Oak Island Lab
One of the most significant additions to the Oak Island operation is OIMAS - Oak Island Materials and Archaeological Services. Located right on the island at 5 Oak Island Drive, this state-of-the-art laboratory is the only facility in Atlantic Canada offering combined XRD, XRF, and XRM analysis capabilities.
Run by archaeometallurgist Emma Culligan and an all-female team of scientists, OIMAS uses advanced Bruker equipment to analyze every artifact pulled from Oak Island's soil. CT scanning reveals the internal structure of objects without damaging them. X-ray fluorescence identifies elemental composition, helping date artifacts and trace their origins. X-ray diffraction analyzes mineral structures to understand how objects were made.
This on-site capability means the team no longer waits weeks for lab results from distant facilities. When Gary Drayton pulls a mysterious coin from the ground, Emma can have it under the scanner within hours, providing answers that drive the investigation forward in real time.
[map:the-lab]
Visit Oak Island
For fans who want to experience Oak Island firsthand, the island is open to visitors through the official tourism operation at oakislandlegend.com. The Oak Island Archives and Research Organization (OIARO) has partnered with Cerca Trova Ltd., the majority owners of Oak Island, to welcome visitors to this legendary destination.
Tours run seasonally aboard the "Money Pit Express," a guided 2-hour adventure that takes visitors past legendary landmarks, shares untold tales, and traces the footsteps of treasure hunters past and present. It's a chance to walk the same ground where 230 years of searchers have dug, drilled, and dreamed.
The island also features the Oak Island Treasure Shop and offers special experiences like the Amos Pewter Artisan Experience, where visitors can cast their own pewter keepsake.
For tour dates and bookings, visit oakislandlegend.com.
