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Episode 249: The Beale Ciphers Treasure, An American Mystery
Season 8 · Episode 249

Episode 249: The Beale Ciphers Treasure, An American Mystery

In the 1820s, a mysterious traveler named Thomas J. Beale left a locked box with a Virginia innkeeper, instructing him not to open it unless ten years passed without anyone coming to claim it. When the box was finally opened decades later, it contained three coded messages and claims of buried treasure worth millions hidden somewhere in Bedford County, Virginia. More than 200 years later, only one cipher has ever been cracked, revealing the treasure’s contents but not its location. Treasure hunters have dug up mountains and cemeteries, cryptographers (and even reportedly the NSA) have analyzed the codes, and theories range from an elaborate hoax by entrepreneur James B. Ward to secret ties with President Thomas Jefferson or poet Edgar Allan Poe. Is the treasure still out there somewhere or has it already been found? Somebody call Nic Cage because on this episode of Let’s Get Haunted, Aly and Nat break down the Beale Ciphers’ history, codes, government intrigue, and theories.

Let's Get Haunted · Aly & Nat | Daylight Media

February 25, 20261h 53m

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Show Notes

Welcome to “Episode 249: The Beale Ciphers Treasure Mystery”! In the 1820s, a mysterious traveler named Thomas J. Beale left a locked box with a Virginia innkeeper, instructing him not to open it unless ten years passed without anyone coming to claim it. When the box was finally opened decades later, it contained three coded messages and claims of buried treasure worth millions hidden somewhere in Bedford County, Virginia. More than 200 years later, only one cipher has ever been cracked, revealing the treasure’s contents but not its location. Treasure hunters have dug up mountains and cemeteries, cryptographers (and even reportedly the NSA) have analyzed the codes, and theories range from an elaborate hoax by entrepreneur James B. Ward to secret ties with President Thomas Jefferson or poet Edgar Allan Poe. Is the treasure still out there somewhere or has it already been found? Somebody call Nic Cage because on this episode of Let’s Get Haunted, Aly and Nat break down the Beale Ciphers’ history, codes, government intrigue, and theories.


TIME STAMPS

00:00:00 - HOOK/INTRO

00:04:48 - NUTRAFOL AD

00:06:35 - PART I: THOMAS BEALE’S TREASURE

00:33:39 - VERACITY AD

00:35:30 - PART II: THE HUNT IS ON

00:52:43 - BLISSY AD

00:54:28 - PART III: LINGERING QUESTIONS

01:30:52 - PART IV: THE THEORIES

01:41:55 - CLOSING CREDITS

THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED!! Find out more about this week’s advertisers below:

Link to Aly’s Slideshow: https://bit.ly/4tI66Hz 

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Other Important Stuff:

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BACKGROUND MUSIC:

  1. “MAGIC TRANSITION SOUND - NO COPYRIGHT” BY SOUND TRUST, LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNHMu3Upgu4 

  2. “(Free) Horror Ambiance - Ominous Background Music” by ESN Productions, link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAO3x-Uhfoo 

  3. “Elevator” - Local Forecast, License Dar Golan - Elevator Music - Royalty free music, “Elevator Music (Royalty Free, Infinite Loop)” by Dar Golan, free download link here: https://www.dargolan-free.com/funny-music 

  4. “Haunted Memories” by David Fesliyan, link: https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/downloads-c/detective-music/80 Fesliyan Studios purchase license code 4d8f4582-7de6-4a3f-acc8-b492041f011a

  5. “Wild West | Country Ambient Guitar | Relaxing Cowboy Western Music” by Western Ambient, link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k80JI9DvvJA 

VIDEO ASSETS USED IN THIS EPISODE WERE ALL PURCHASED AND LICENSED VIA STORYBLOCKS.COM

ALL OTHER AUDIO ASSETS INCLUDING MUSIC AND SOUND EFFECTS LICENSED AND PURCHASED THROUGH: artlist.io 

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KEYWORDS: Virginia, America, American, United States, Civil War, Treasure, Mystery, Unsolved, Unresolved, Unknown, Cipher, Code, Codebreaking, computer, algorithm, NSA, government, conspiracy, Edgar Allen Poe, Thomas Jefferson, freemason, freemasons, esoteric, secret society, secret, history

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