Historic with Possible Buried Treasure: Knaggs Bridge – Bancroft, Michigan

This little bridge in Shiawassee County is surrounded by - and seeped in – history. It's the Knaggs Bridge, located southeast of Bancroft, and spans the Shiawassee River.

In 1817, the first white settler built a cabin in the area here along the river. In 1819, an Indian reservation was created in order to become the homes of two of Michigan's most famous Native American chiefs: Okemos and Wasso.

Peter Whitmore Knaggs had a trading post here beginning in the 1810s. In 1838, the bridge was built and named after him. Then, John Knaggs – I assume a relative - came along and used the trading post as his own store and tavern. One year later, John Knaggs left his store and tavern.

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In 1856, a dam was built, of which the remains can still be seen in the 2020s.

Okay, so all that stuff is the historical part. The more exciting aspects of the bridge and the area are the stories of local murders and even talk of a buried treasure. The legend says that 'supposedly' a large amount of gold was buried near the bridge; this rumor still brings treasure hunters to bring their metal detectors and search around the bridge

To get there, take I-69 east to exit 113 and turn right on Grand River. Take it through Bancroft until you get to Cole Road. Turn left and the bridge is just down the road. Even though the steel structure has been removed, the gallery below shows what it used to look like during the 1960s.

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