For more than a century, rumors of gold veins, rivers of gold and lost treasure have lured prospectors to the Mojave Desert. Among the most enduring legends is that of the Lost Dutch Oven Mine, said to contain rich gold deposits hidden somewhere in the desert.
In the 1890s, Tom Schofield, a railroad worker, decided to prospect during his time off. While exploring the Clipper Mountains in San Bernardino County northwest of Essex, he came across an abandoned stone house and soon after discovered a nearby spring.
Near the spring, Schofield found an old trail that led over a hill to a large boulder split in two. The path went through the narrow opening and into what he believed was an old Spanish camp. As he searched the area, Schofield reportedly tripped over a rusted Dutch oven, spilling gold nuggets onto the ground. He filled his pockets with as much gold as he could carry and returned to town to sell it.
Months later, Schofield went back to the Clipper Mountains to recover more gold but was unable to relocate the site. He could not even find the trail. He spent the rest of his life searching for the mine without success.
Schofield is said to have left behind several maps of landmarks he remembered from his visit. Over the years, others attempted to find the mine, also without success.
In 1963, three men from Salt Lake City claimed they had located the Lost Dutch Oven Mine. However, the site contained very little gold and was far less impressive than the legend suggested.
The men and their associates believed they had found the mine, arguing the discovery confirmed the story, even if it was disappointing. Others disputed the claim, saying the site did not match Schofield’s description of the large gold vein deposit.
As a result, many believe the Lost Dutch Oven Mine is still hidden in the Mojave Desert.
The information in this historical feature was originally part of a video series produced by the Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk’s office.
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