List of The Curse of Oak Island episodes facts for kids
The Curse of Oak Island is a fun reality TV show that started on January 5, 2014. It's all about the exciting Oak Island mystery, where people try to find a legendary treasure! The show follows brothers Rick and Marty Lagina and their team as they search for clues and artifacts on Oak Island in Nova Scotia, Canada. They've been on this amazing adventure for many years, with the eleventh season starting on November 7, 2023.
About the Show
The Curse of Oak Island is about a real-life treasure hunt that has puzzled people for over 200 years. The Lagina brothers and their team use cool tools and machines to dig deep into the ground and explore the island's mysterious spots. They hope to find gold, jewels, or important historical items that many believe are hidden there.
The Oak Island Mystery
The Oak Island mystery began in 1795 when some teenagers found a strange pit on the island. They thought it might hide treasure. Since then, many people have tried to find it, but the island seems to be protected by clever traps, like tunnels that flood with seawater. Some even believe there's a "curse" that says seven people must die before the treasure is found. So far, six people have lost their lives trying to solve the mystery.
Who's Who on the Island
- Rick Lagina: He's one of the brothers and is very passionate about solving the mystery. He often leads the search efforts.
- Marty Lagina: Rick's brother, he's more practical and helps fund the big digs. He wants to see real results!
- Gary Drayton: The "metal detecting expert" who finds many cool artifacts with his metal detector.
- Jack Begley: Rick's nephew, he's often right there in the thick of the action, helping with the digs.
- Alex Lagina: Marty's son, he also helps with the search and research.
- Dan Blankenship: An older treasure hunter who lived on the island for many years and shared his knowledge with the team. He sadly passed away during the show's run.
- Charles Barkhouse: A local historian and friend of the team who knows a lot about Oak Island's past.
Seasons and Discoveries
The show has had many seasons, and each one brings new discoveries and challenges. The team explores different areas of the island, like the famous "Money Pit," the mysterious "Swamp," and "Smith's Cove."
Season 1 (2014)
The adventure begins! Brothers Rick and Marty Lagina arrive on Oak Island. They start digging in the "Money Pit" area and find old pottery. They also explore a deep shaft called "Borehole 10-X." At Smith's Cove, they find strange stones and coconut fibers, which are very old (from 1260 to 1400 AD!). They even find an old Spanish copper coin from 1652.
Season 2 (2014–2015)
The team keeps searching. They find more old coins and a 17th-century military button. They also hear theories that the Phoenicians or even the Knights Templar might have visited the island long ago. They try to find the famous "90-foot stone" and discover a cross on a coin that looks like a Templar cross. They use special sonar to scan the bottom of 10-X and think they see a hidden chamber!
Season 3 (2015–2016)
The team tries to make 10-X safe for divers. They use special scans that show tunnels and possible treasure. They also find a map that claims to show a "web of tunnels" on the island. They explore a triangular stone on Lot 6, where a rich former slave named Samuel Ball once lived. A camera sent into 10-X sees wooden posts. A big moment happens when Fred Nolan, another long-time island resident and treasure hunter, joins the team! They find an old pulley and a Roman sword (which turns out to be a modern copy).
Season 4 (2016–2017)
The team plans big digs. They hear about an old French map from 1347 that shows special spots on the island. They find a rectangular hole that might be a "hatch." Sadly, Fred Nolan passes away. The team finds old wood and pottery from past digs. They also find a stone with an "X" carved into it, which looks man-made. They use a huge machine to dig a large hole, and find more old wood. On Lot 6, they find a chain, a copper ring, and a coin. They also find human bone fragments, which are carbon-dated to the 1600s and 1700s, with one bone from the Middle East and one from Europe! They also find a lead cross that might be from the 13th century.
Season 5 (2017–2018)
Winter storms cause damage, but the team keeps going. They find an old axe blade and a coin at Isaac's Point. They use a special microscope to look at an old spike, confirming it's from before the 1800s. They find more 17th-century coins. A big machine called a "casing oscillator" is used to dig deeper. They find more wood and metal. A beautiful brooch with a garnet stone, possibly 400-500 years old, is found! They also find what looks like a steel plate deep underground.
Season 6 (2018–2019)
A new "war room" is built for planning. The team uses seismic testing to map underground areas and finds a mysterious chamber. They find a copper coin and a stone with holes and a triangle. The lead cross they found earlier is tested and found to be from southern France, before the 1500s! They start digging a huge coffer dam at Smith's Cove to keep the water out. They find a crossbow bolt (which an expert thinks is a Roman pilum) and more old wood. They uncover a U-shaped wooden structure at Smith's Cove that was waterproofed with clay. They also find a lead bracelet and a carved stone that some think might be Viking.
Season 7 (2019–2020)
The season starts with a sad note, as Dan Blankenship has passed away. The team continues his legacy. They find a silver button from the 1700s and an old stonemason's tool. They drill in the swamp and find dry clay, suggesting it might be a tunnel. They find old "swages" (tools for sharpening rock drills) from the late 1400s, hinting at a big mining operation. They also find pieces of dynamite from an old attempt to destroy the flood tunnels. A brooch with 13 branches, like the "Appeal to Heaven" flag, is found. They find a 159-year-old sluiceway (a channel for water) that still works! They uncover more wooden structures at Smith's Cove, including one that might be part of a French military fort. They find a lead artifact with mercury and tin, possibly from Greece, Cyprus, or Turkey!
Season 8 (2020–2021)
Even with a worldwide pandemic, the team returns! They find evidence of an old tar kiln. They discover an expanding stone roadway under the swamp, which they think might lead to the Money Pit. They find a plumb bob, blue pottery, and charcoal. The charcoal from a "serpent mound" structure is dated to 1320-1440, linking to the Templars. They find evidence of human activity from 1492! Gary Drayton finds gold in the swamp. They also find old English cannon fragments from almost 100 years before the Money Pit was discovered. Scientific data shows a huge amount of silver in the Money Pit!
Season 9 (2021–2022)
The team is excited by the silver and gold findings. They discover more gold in the Money Pit area, and it seems to be of Spanish origin! They continue to find evidence of the stone roadway in the swamp. They find more proof of a ship buried in the swamp. An ancient Portuguese presence is suggested by new artifacts. They find a remarkable ancient artifact in the swamp. The "big dig" begins! They find relics and more evidence that the Knights Templar were involved. They also find evidence that past treasure hunters like Robert Dunfield missed. An expedition to Portugal gives them strong proof of a Knights Templar connection to Oak Island!
Season 10 (2022–2023)
The team gets a clear look at an underground structure. Marty and Alex find a shocking Templar connection while researching in England. They find scientific evidence of tunnels connected to the "Garden Shaft." Gary finds many artifacts near a ship's wharf. Old ship logs suggest a French armada visited the island. They find a collapsed tunnel in the Money Pit area. They find proof for both Fred Nolan's and Zena Halpern's theories. Scientific research narrows down where the gold is. They find a man-made stone foundation on Lot 5. Rick Lagina goes underground! They find more gold traces as they dig deeper in the Garden Shaft. They find an ancient safe and more connections to Italy. A new discovery in the swamp and a cryptic link between the "H.O. Stone" and Templars in Italy keep the mystery going.
Season 11 (2023–2024)
The investigation relaunches! Four coins are found on Lot 5. Tests confirm gold and silver below the Garden Shaft. Lot 5 is linked to an English privateer named William Phipps. Rick and Gary find an artifact with Roman numerals on it at Smith's Cove. More evidence points to multiple treasure-depositing operations in the Money Pit. Muon tomography reveals a cavity called "Aladdin's Cave" with man-made entrances! The Garden Shaft reopens, but a flood tunnel threatens it. They find a new structure in the swamp and might have found the "Chappell Vault." They find more discoveries in the swamp and continue to chase a hidden tunnel in the Money Pit. Science connects Lot 5 and the Money Pit. The team finally hits the tunnel they've been looking for in the Garden Shaft. A new theory links Nolan's Cross to the Knights Templar. They find another structure under the swamp, and a theory suggests Vikings worked with Templars. They dig up treasure on Lot 5! The team reaches the target depth in the Garden Shaft, but a legendary flood tunnel might stop them. A theory about Nolan's Cross comes true, and they plan a trip to Europe, where they find more Templar connections. New evidence suggests whoever was on Lot 5 was also deep in the Money Pit.
Beyond Oak Island
This spin-off show follows Rick and Marty Lagina, along with Matty Blake and Gary Drayton, as they explore other treasure mysteries around the world. They've looked for pirate treasures, Wild West gold, lost Spanish ships, and even Montezuma's treasure! It's a chance to see them help other treasure hunters with their exciting quests.
