A Department of Parks official stands amid the wreckage of the ancient tree. This last storm was just too much for it. It’s a shame. Everyone will miss this tree. I’m trying to save the carvings at least—the rest will be hauled off as waste. The official has sorted many of the carvings by date….
View Little Falls Playground »The staff at the library is in a tizzy, and yellow tape is strung across the door. A plainclothes police officer approaches you. I’m afraid the library was burglarized last night—several books, furniture, and works of art were stolen. We’ll have the case wrapped up soon, but until then the library is closed to the…
View Chevy Chase Library »This appears to reproduce entries from various logs Blackbeard kept from 1713 until his death. Most of the pages are mundane accounts of daily life at sea, with the occasional skirmish in the Caribbean. One page in particular draws your attention: Local historians have identified many modern sites in the Washington, DC, area that correspond…
View Blackbeard’s Log »
Anchored in Annapolis harbor next to the museum is an 18th-century sloop with the name Legend emblazoned across the stern. A volunteer greets all visitors as they board the ship. Welcome to the Maryland Maritime Museum and our special exhibit, Blackbeard’s Last Stand. You’re welcome to just wander around the Legend, check out Blackbeard’s Log…
View The Maryland Maritime Museum »
Ballpeen thanks you profusely for his rescue and apologizes that most of the Blackbeard memorabilia has been sent away for appraisal. Of course I had to keep the map here. As you can see, it’s something special.” What you see is not what you expected. The map apparently is painted directly on a slab of…
View Blackbeard’s Map »
Over the years, I've created or competed in a number of puzzling treasure hunts. Learn about the history behind these events, and test your wits in online versions!
View Treasure Hunts »After serving behind the scenes for two Hunts, I was eager to compete for a change. Steve Williams took up the challenge of organizing the 1989 event, which was a scavenger hunt instead of the puzzle-centric events of previous years. Seekers were tasked to find the following items: Any Cleveland Indians or Tampa Bay Buccaneers…
View Hunt 1989: Scavenger Hunt »
The second time around, we wanted to up the stakes a bit. Having teams compete was fun—but what if solvers could strike off on their own at any time? What if you couldn't trust your teammates? For this kind of backstabbing scenario, a secret agent theme felt natural. Participants could work together temporarily to solve…
View Hunt 1988: Spy Game »
Unindicted co-conspirator Amber Blaha and I put together the first Hunt during the summer of 1987. It was a straightforward series of puzzles, with the answer to each being the location of the next clue. The prize—a basket of goodies, I think?—was hidden at the final location, a secret glen in Rock Creek Park that…
View Hunt 1987: It All Starts Here »
Move over, Beatles—Sgt. Pepper isn’t alone in celebrating an anniversary this year. It was 30 years ago today We made a Treasure Hunt so folks could play It’s been going in and out of style But I hope that you’ll still flash a smile When we send this invite to you To the Hunt you’ve known…
View Hunt 2017: Capture the Firebird »