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.
Aug 16, 1981

Updated list of fair folk

oct 1, 1981

Book Festival

JAN 5th, 1982

JoEllen Trilling

  • Envelope, likely from a paycheck
j
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
j
may 31, 1982

San Francisco Chronical

    • Emperor Norton returns in spirit Pg1
j
Jun 13, 1982

Washington Post

  • He’s got a Secret. Pg1
Sept 2-6 1982

Chicon IV mini hunt

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 25, 1982

St. Louis Post Dispatch

    • Elves and Trolls Bury Treasures, Get In Some Digs Pg1 Pg2
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

Vancouver Sun

  • Two funny men with a sixth sense of humor pg1
Nov 1982

Arizona Republic

    • Book points winding way to buried treasure pg1
Nov 1982

Stamford Advocate – Paperbacks by Peggy Constantine

Nov 1982

Heavy Metal – Gallery: The Secret

Nov 1982

Starlog #64 – Mythology Explained

Nov 01 1982

Bantam Books

  • The Secret – Official release
  • Press release Pg1 Pg2
Nov 02, 1982

S.F. Chronical

  • A modern guide to buried treasure Pg1

 

Nov 05th 1982
  • Seattle Times

    • Treasure hunt book points way to jewels Pg1

     

Nov 6, 1982

Asbury Park Press

  • I haven’t a clue what the clues mean pg1

 

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 16, 1982

Chicago Tribune

    • Fantasy tale sparks treasure hunt pg1 pg2 pg3
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 28 1982
  • Las Vegas Review
    • The Hunt: The Secret focuses on the lure of buried treasure Pg1 Pg2
Nov 31th 1982

Arkansas Gazette

  • Want to go on a buried treasure chase? Pg1
Dec 05, 1982

Clarion Ledger

  • Despite funny verses, lovely art, The Secret may not get around Pg1
Dec 10, 1982

Philidelphia Inquirer

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

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

Aug 09, 1983

Chicago Tribune

  • Chicago pals unearth ‘Secret’ treasure Pg1 Pg2
Dec 15, 1983

Philidelphia Inquirer

  • Taking a leaf from a guilded book
  • Pg1 Pg2
Jan 12, 1984

Chicago Tribune

  • Inventive authors make book – and money –
  • on literary treasure hunts Pg1 Pg2
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
Jun 13, 2004
  • Cleveland Plain Dealer

Jul 18th 2004

Bergen Record

  • Treasure: A 22 year quest ends in park in Cleveland Pg1
  • Treasure-hunting books were a popular genre of the Eighties 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
Jul 9, 2005

Byron Dies

Jul 11, 2005

New York Times

  • Byron Preiss, 52, Digital Publishing Pioneer, Dies Pg1
  • Obituary Link
Jul 28th 2005

Asbury Park Press

    • Artist does not toy around with craft Pg1 Pg2
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
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
oct 20, 2018

St. Louis Post Dispatch

  • a real life da vinci code Pg1 Pg2
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 4, 2019

Boston Casque found

Oct 6th, 2019

First photo of Boston Casque

Oct 17, 2019

The Secret Solved begins filming

Oct 30, 2019

The Secret Solved

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
sep 13, 2020

Medina Post

    • Heading back to the 80’s Pg1 Pg2
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
sep 15, 2021

Venice Gondolier

    • Hidden treasure in St. Pete, Tampa, or even St. Ausgustine? Pg1 Pg2
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

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