The complete history of
the secret
June 26th, 1981
JoEllen Trilling Contract finalized
- This is the earliest date when construction of the prototype casque could begin.
July 6th, 1981
Byrons letter
- Byron mailed JoEllen a letter marked 'The Secret' from San Francisco. The contents of the letter are lost.
Aug 16, 1981
oct 1, 1981
Book Festival
- Dinosaurs Pg1
JAN 5th, 1982
JoEllen Trilling
Envelope, likely from a paycheck
April 8th, 1982
Advertising promo approved
- Final approval for Boston image advertisments, making the Boston painting 90% complete. Promo Version.
First week of may 1982
Phantasma Glory
- Phantasma Glory Photo was taken the first week of may
- Dated using magazine covers Link
may 31, 1982
San Francisco Chronical
-
- Emperor Norton returns in spirit Pg1
JUN 13, 1982
Washington Post
- He's got a Secret. Pg1
JULY/Aug 1982
Household Unfamiliers
- Household Unfamiliers Photo was taken end of July/early August
Credit: Scott Stewart - Dated using expiration date Link
Sept 2-6 1982
Chicon IV mini hunt
- Mini Hunt instructions for a promo event at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago. About two blocks from Grant Park
- Chicon IV Program
Sept 24, 1982
NY Daily News
- Science Fiction - Carol McGuirk. Pg1
oct 01, 1982
Publisher Weekly
- The Secret: A Treasure Hunt. Pg1
Oct 16, 1982
Canada - The Globe and Mail
- Valuable lessons offered by rejection Pg1
Oct 17, 1982
Portland Oregon
- Scott Carter KXL. Pg1
Oct 17, 1982
Portland Oregon
- Northwest Today Pg1
Oct 22, 1982
LA Daily News
-
- Touring troll has gem of a 'Secret' Pg1
Oct 24, 1982
Auburn Journal
-
- Best Sellers Pg1
Oct 24, 1982
San Francisco Chronical
-
- KGO-AM Jim Eason Show Pg1
Oct 25, 1982
San Francisco Chronical
-
- People are talking Pg1
Oct 26, 1982
Radio Highlights
- KGO-AM Jim Eason Show Pg1
Oct 27, 1982
Montreal Gazette
-
- 8:05pm CJAD Montreal Tonigth, Sean Kelly, The Secret: A Continental Treasure Hunt Pg1
Oct 28, 1982
LA Times
- Paper Weight Pg1
Oct 29, 1982
Philidelphia Daily News
- Report on a trio of hot books pg1
Oct 30 1982
-
Montreal Gazette

- Problems? Blame the little people pg1
Oct 30, 1982
Nov 1982
Arizona Republic
-
- Book points winding way to buried treasure pg1
Nov 1982
Stamford Advocate - Paperbacks by Peggy Constantine
Nov 1982
Starlog #64 - Mythology Explained
Nov 02, 1982
Nov 05th 1982
-
Seattle Times

- Treasure hunt book points way to jewels Pg1
Nov 6, 1982
Nov 07th 1982
El Paso Times
- Fantasy books are real treasures Pg1
Nov 11 1982
Newsday
-
- Publishers follow the leader with buried treasure pg1
Nov 14 1982
Cleveland Plain Dealer
-
- Big release Pg1
Nov 17 1982
The Leader-Post Regina, Saskatchewan
-
- Kelly's wee folk and their buried treasure Pg1
Nov 20 1982
Saskatchewan Star Pheonix
-
- Book on faries hard to sell Pg1
Nov 26th 1982
Edmonton Journal
-
- Writer treads rocky road in bid for book on fairies Pg1
Nov 31th 1982
Arkansas Gazette
- Want to go on a buried treasure chase? Pg1
Dec, 1982
National Lampoon
Dec 05, 1982
Clarion Ledger
- Despite funny verses, lovely art, The Secret may not get around Pg1
Dec 10, 1982
Philidelphia Inquirer
- The Secret Pg1
Dec 19 1982
Cleveland Plain Dealer
- Treasure of the fair people wainting to be discovered Pg1
Dec 19, 1982
Dayton Daily News
- True treasure lies in reading Pg1
Dec 21 1982
Sherbrooke Record
- Author convinced faries inhabit park Pg1
jan 1983
National Lampoon
-
- Ad Pg1
feb 11, 1983
Vernal Express
- Library Corner Pg1
Mar 6, 1983
Auburn Journal
- The Secret: A combined effort that doesnt combine Pg1
Aug 2, 1983
Chicago Casque Found
Jan 12, 1984
Chicago Tribune - Tempo
- Making books on treasure hunts Pg1
Jan 1993
Idea 236
- John Jude Palencar Feature
- First time Roanoke and Chicago Paintings were given names Pg1
mar 2003
Book Magazine
-
- Book magazine proudly presents ... a brief history of the literary world's most attention getting publicity stunts, most audacious hoaxes and most memorable tomfoolery Pg1
may 8, 2004
Cleveland Casque Found
jun 6, 2004
New Jersey Law Journal
-
- He's a digger! Pg1
Sep 25, 2004
Bergen Record
- A prize to be treasured forever Pg1
Jul 6, 2005
Wilhouse Emails
- On July 6th 2005 Wilhouse sent an email to byron about the Children's Zoo in Houston Link
2006
Spectrum 13
- Remembering Byron Preiss Pg1
Jun 2015
The New Filmore
-
- Could it be in Lafeyette Park? Pg1
Oct 24, 2015
The Hornet
-
-
- The true story about the US treasure hunt for buried treasure Pg1
-
May 31, 2016
Vice
-
- The 35-Year-Long Hunt to Find a Fantasy
Author's Hidden Treasure Pg1
- The 35-Year-Long Hunt to Find a Fantasy
jun 12, 2016
Mystery Surprise 728
-
-
- Korean TV show Link
- 신비한TV 서프라이즈 20160612
-
dec 7, 2017
The Secret Podcast
-
-
- Episode one premier Pg1
-
nov 26, 2017
Chicago Tribune
- Treasure hunt brings 'Expedition Unknown' host Gates to Grant Park Pg1
Jul 2018
Tribune Content Agency
-
- Expedition Unknown' revisits '80s treasure find in Chicago Pg1
Jul, 2018
Stanford Magazine
- Can this puzzle be solved? Pg1
Jun, 2019
Games Magazine
- Armchair Treasure Hunts: Romance, scandal, and wealth Pg1
jul 9, 2019
Jason Krupat's first email
-
- Intro email sent to Wes Construction Pg1
Sep 20, 2019
-
Atlas Obscura
- SF Marks the spot for buried treasure Pg1
Oct 6th, 2019
First photo of Boston Casque
Oct 17, 2019
The Secret Solved begins filming
Oct 30, 2019
The Secret Solved
- Air date Pg1
Nov 2, 2019
Eastern Medina Post
- Palencar surprise guest on 'Expedition Unknown' Pg1
Nov 25, 2019
Boston Globe
- Hidden Treasure, a family's quest and The Secret Pg1
Aug 21, 2020
Boston Globe
-
- This is your brain on treasure hunting Pg1
Oct 06, 2020
Boston Globe
- Could there be buried treasure underneath Boston? Pg1
May-Jun 2020
Gold Prospectors
Oct 06, 2020
Tampa Bay Times
- Treasure hunt from 1982 might lead to St. Petersburg Pg1
jan 11, 2021
Mystery Quiz
Feb 17, 2022
Atrium Magazine
-
- The mystery is yours to unravel Pg1
jul 10, 2022
St. Augustine Record
- Treasure hunters from around the world
search for a 40-year-old secret in St.
Augustine Pg1
jul 11, 2022
Sean Kelly Dies
-
- Article Link
sep 10, 2023
The Art of the Secret
-
-
- First known public display of art related to the Secret
- Shown at the Oldest House Museum in St. Augustine
-
sep 15, 2022
Holes: Stop digging up our city
-
- Presentation in Flagler Room St. Augustine
- Link















