Here are a few of

GHOST TOWN USA's

Favorite Treasure Hunting Websites

For ghost town chasing, metal detecting/treasure hunting (TH'ing), prospecting, genealogy, and searching for old towns your ancestors lived in, as well as lots of other interesting links, these sites are well worth visiting...There are literally thousands of related websites out there, and this list is not intended to be all inclusive. These are just a few of the sites I find interesting. I hope you do too. Happy web surfing!

The Ghost Town Guru…

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TREASURE HUNTING

General Notes

For folks new to the hobby of

Treasure Hunting

If you are either unfamiliar with, or new to the hobby of treasure hunting/metal detecting, there may be a few terms you see on these or the linked pages that may seem unfamiliar. In general, most treasure hunters use metal detectors to search in the ground for lost coins, jewelry or metallic relics. There are MANY facets to this hobby, but the majority of treasure hunting hobbiests fall into this category.

Since the early 1960s most metal detector users have been called treasure hunters, which was popularly shortened to “TH’ers.” Treasure hunting was also abbreviated to “TH’ing.” During the past 10-15 years those abbreviated terms have been mostly replaced by the term “Metal Detectorist.” As time goes on, even that term is being slowly replaced by “Metal Detector User.”

No matter what you want to call yourself, this is a great hobby, and one that truly can enrich an avid pursuer. I hope this helps clarify a few terms not commonly used outside the hobby.

General Sites

Gold Miners Headquarters – Information Center for Prospectors

In addition to its Internet links, this international recreational gold mining directory lists over 500 businesses that do not have an Internet web site! ”This is the largest directory in the world and a great effort to help our gold mining community. Please help us help others. Show your support to the Gold Miner's Headquarters! Miners helping Miners...”

Treasurenet.com

“TreasureNet offers an interactive service on the Internet that enables people from around the world to find, use and share information related to the treasures of the world.”

Specific Interest Sites

BOTTLES/INSULATORS

Glass Insulators Reference Site

Antique bottles.com

COINS

EXONUMIA

Exonumia.com

A connoisseur’s guide to Tokens, medals, buttons, badges, ribbons, World's Fair, political, Masonic/fraternal, Indian peace medals and slave tags. If you collect this type of exonumia, this a great site for you. Rich Hartzog also sells hundreds of books to help you identify your finds.

LICENSE PLATES

SEE: Specific page with links to LICENSE PLATE clubs and collectors.

RELICS

Treasure Hunting Equipment Manufacturers/Distributors

METAL DETECTOR Manufacturers

WHITES Electronics

Metal detector manufacturer & publisher of my book, Dust in the Wind –A Guide to American Ghost Towns.

BOUNTY HUNTER Metal Detectors

Metal Detector Manufacturer

FISHER Metal Detectors

Metal Detector Manufacturer

GARRETT Metal Detectors

Metal Detector Manufacturer

MINELAB Metal Detectors

Metal Detector Manufacturer

TESORO Electronics, Inc

Metal Detector Manufacturer

TROY Custom Detectors

Metal Detector Manufacturer (Manufacturer of the Shadow Metal Detector)

METAL DETECTOR-PROSPECTING/

GENERAL ACCESSORY dealers

Big Valley Metal Detectors

A Sacramento-based, multi-line metal detector dealership.

Detect Enterprises

A Canadian multi-line metal detector dealer.

Detector Electronics Corp.

Metal detecting accessories.

Detectors Unlimited

“Detectors Unlimited is an authorized dealer carrying all brands of metal detectors including Tesoro, Bounty Hunter, Garrett, Troy, Hays and Detector Pro at maximum allowed manufacturer discounts. The right equipment yields results! Visit them today.”

This multiple-line metal detector also carries a full line of metal detecting accessories. (GBS note)

Discount Detector Sales

Multi-line metal detectors sales.

Hays Electronics

Metal detector sales, accessories, books and maps.

Jimmy Sierra Products

WHITE’S metal detector distributor and general treasure hunting accessories.

Kellyco Metal Detectors

Multiple line metal detector “Superstore”

Metal Detectors of Minneapolis

Multi-line metal detectors sales, accessories, books, maps, videos, and recovery tools.

Pioneer Mining Supplies

Gold prospecting and metal detecting equipment superstore. Located in Auburn, CA.

Reilly’s Treasured Gold

Multi-line metal detectors sales, accessories, books and maps.

SPECIFIC ACCESSORIES

COILTEK, U.S.A.

Optional “Super Coils” for Minelab metal detectors

Detector Pro

Metal detecting HEADPHONES

Treasure Coast Scoops

SAND SCOOPS designed for metal detecting on beaches.

TRAVEL

Discovery Tours International

Metal Detect in England with Jimmy Sierra

METAL DETECTOR REPAIRS

General Treasure Hunting Clubs/Organizations

USA

NATIONAL

FMDAC – Federation of Metal Detector and Archeological Clubs.

This is a National organization dedicated to preservation of recreational metal detecting, as well as protecting the rights of individual metal detectorists. Many local clubs affiliate with this organization.

California Wreck Divers

Club Mission Statement – “To perpetuate the awareness of maritime history through organized exploration, research, restoration and display"

Prospectors Club of Southern California

“The Prospector's Club of Southern California is a legally chartered, non-profit corporation - Dedicated to gold prospecting, metal detecting and treasure hunting.”

Riverside Treasure Hunters Club

Based in Riverside, this very active club meets the first Friday of the month at 7 PM at Reid Park in Riverside. It serves treasure hunters located throughout the greater Inland Empire. (PLEASE NOTE – It would not load on Dec 31, 2007)

Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Assoc

“The Northern Virginia Relic Hunters Association (NVRHA), (a non profit organization), was organized to promote the study and preservation of American history through the location, identification and preservation of military and related historical artifacts.”

Springfield-Woodbridge Detectors Club

An Alexandria VA metal detecting/relic-hunting club.