The Deadly History Behind The Curse Of Oak Island

For nine seasons, Rick and Marty Lagina have devoted vast amounts of time, effort, and money to their pursuit of a fabled long-lost treasure on History’s “The Curse of Oak Island.” Over its 100-plus episode run, the show has seen the Laginas excavate the titular island again and again, bringing to bear every new piece of the legend and technology they possibly can. They’ve unearthed tantalizing archeological discoveries, endured failure after failure, and through it all have stopped at nothing in the pursuit of their obsession. However, the Laginas are far from the first to sacrifice themselves with the hope of dredging up the island’s secrets.

The infamous Oak Island has a long and storied history, dating back at least as far as the 1700s. Almost immediately after its settlement by European explorers, the site began to feature prominently in local mythology. After rumors that the notorious pirate Captain Kidd hid a large cache of booty there, the island began absorbing legend after legend, becoming a catch-all for lost treasures as disparate as Spanish doubloons, Marie Antoinette’s jewels, Shakespeare’s lost manuscripts, and even the Holy Grail.

Naturally, the gravity of these potential windfalls has drawn treasure seekers to Oak Island time and again, and some never returned. What possibly began as mere fantasy has caused a few actual deaths through the centuries. Here is the deadly history behind “The Curse of Oak Island.”

There is allegedly a real curse surrounding Oak Island and its treasure. Though the legend has a dubious origin, it has come to be commonly cited as, “Seven must die before the treasure will be found” or some variation thereof. Whether through the curse’s malicious magic, inevitable statistics, or just dumb luck, the unfortunate promise of the curse is slowly coming true.

For over 200 years, treasure-hunters have mounted expeditions to Oak Island in search of one supposed hidden bounty or another. As none have found any significant deposits or renowned relics as of yet, whether it be the Ark of the Covenant or the Laginas’ coveted Money Pit, it’s safe to label each quest a failure to some degree. However, while some explorers merely failed to gain their intended fortune, some were doomed to lose everything. To date, six (or possibly more, as you’ll read later) people have died on Oak Island while searching for its treasure.

Even if no evil ward lies over the island, there is a real curse — the possibility of instant riches has led multiple people to their deaths. And if Oak Island does indeed suffer from a supernatural spell, then at least one more fatality may yet be due.