The Secret

In 1982, Byron Preiss buried twelve treasures across North America and hid the clues in a book of paintings and verses. This is where the people still looking for them gather.

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Where the hunt points

still buriedfound

Pins mark each city, not a dig site. Tap one to open its painting.

Keep the lights on in the hunters’ home.

No ads, no paywall. The scans, the translations, the podcast and the archive all run on a server paid for by readers, and by George’s paycheck when that falls short.

If this site has helped your hunt, chip in.

Covered by hunters $50 of $250 a month

Server, storage and podcast hosting, averaged over the year. Updated November 2026.

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With thanks to the hunters who keep this running

  • Givers: Dan Y. Diggers: Jason R. kearney, mesquita76, Katherine J. Solvers & Hunters: Grau Geist, Ash S., David D., Jeff S. Supporters: Eric R., Cyn, James L, Cathy, Sarah W.

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New to The Secret?

Back in 1982 a man named Byron Preiss decided it would be a good idea to publish a treasure hunt. He spent a year or so traveling around the country, burying small ceramic boxes two feet underground. He wrote a few poems, and had a friend of his paint some images. The goal was to match a poem with a painting, produce a treasure map of sorts, then go dig up the treasures. He thought it would be easy. Forty years later we are finding out he was wrong.

The Secret was created by a community of friends, and it is my opinion that a community of friends is the only way to solve it. This site gathers everything known about The Secret, in the open, so the community as a whole can solve the remaining nine.

Good luck everyone. Party on.

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