Maximilian Gold — Fort Concho (San Angelo)

Sun shading (lidar)

Adjust simulated sun direction on the lidar hillshade. Azimuth = compass bearing of the light (0° north, 90° east). Altitude = height above the horizon (low = long shadows).

Historical map overlays

USGS scanned historical topographic maps. Enable an overlay and adjust its opacity. Works in 2D and 3D.

Sun azimuth: 315°   Sun altitude: 45°   Z factor: 1   Lidar opacity: 1
center: —   mouse: —   zoom: —

Maximilian Gold — Fort Concho (San Angelo)

Lost Treasure TX • Tom Green County County
Description
J. Frank Dobie's legend of Emperor Maximilian's wagon train loot: survivor Bill Murdock was left deathly ill at Fort Concho while companions rode ahead — only to be killed by Indians, leaving Murdock the sole keeper of a map to buried imperial gold.
Historical Notes
The Castle Gap / Maximilian tale describes Austrian treasure disguised as flour barrels crossing West Texas in 1866–1867. After a massacre at Castle Gap in Upton County, six Confederate escorts buried the hoard and rode east with saddlebags of coins. According to the Dobie tradition retold on TreasureNet, leader Bill Murdock fell ill and was left behind when the group reached Fort Concho in San Angelo. His companions were later killed in an Indian ambush; Murdock allegedly carried the only map to the burial site before dying in a Denton County jail. Historians dispute the Maximilian connection, but Fort Concho (1867–1889) is the documented anchor for this branch of the legend. Coordinates mark Fort Concho National Historic Landmark. Related entry: "Castle Gap Treasure (Maximilian's Gold)" in Upton County.
Status / Verification legend — Legendary or approximate

Take Add Data / Take Notes

Log in or create an account to save private field notes for this location. Your notes are only visible to you.

Forgot password?
or

Enter your email and we'll send you a link to reset your password.

Back to log in
or