Maricopa County Persons of Interest

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth

Adolph Ruth

The disappearance and death of Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in 1931 is one of the most enduring mysteries associated with the…
The skull of Adolph Ruth being held by searcher Brownie Holmes.

George ‘Brownie’ Holmes

George "Brownie" Holmes (April 11, 1892 – April 11, 1980) was a notable figure in Arizona history, best known for his lifelong pursuit of the…
Herman Petrasch ( April 6 1864 - 23 Nov 23, 1953 ), Photo by Desert Magazine January 1954 Issue

Herman Petrasch

Herman Petrasch ( April 6 1864 - 23 Nov 23, 1953 ), Photo by Desert Magazine January 1954 Issue Herman Petrasch of Phoenix, Arizona, is…
Photograph take of Jacob Waltz after his arrival in New York.

Jacob Waltz the “Dutchman”

Photograph take of Jacob Waltz after his arrival in New York. Jacob Waltz, often referred to as "Dutchman," was a German immigrant whose life became…
Henry Wickenburg (November 21, 1819 – May 14, 1905)

Johannes Henricus “Henry” Wickenburg

Henry Wickenburg was a pioneering figure in the American mining industry during the mid-19th century. Known for his role in discovering the Vulture Mine, one…
Cover of a "Map of the Lost Dutchman" Area by J. Allan Stirrat Copy 1948 and Reprinted in 1959

Julia Thomas

Julia Thomas (c. 1862–1917) was a pivotal figure in the enduring legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, a tale of hidden gold in Arizona’s Superstition…

Rhinehart Petrasch

Rhinehart Petrasch of Phoenix, Arizona, is best known for prospecting and ranching, and was said to have spent considerable time searching for the Lost Dutchman…