What would you do if you found a gold nugget as big as a chocolate bar?

A glint of gold inspired Alice Shea to turn again and find this nugget wedged in a boulder while walking along a creek to her husband’s claim in northern BC in 1937. Alice’s husband Vern Shea sold it to the BC government that year for a mere $1500.

After being sold, the nugget was placed in a vault and nearly forgotten about until 1994. It was discovered when workers for the BC Finance Ministry completed an inventory. A locksmith had to pry open the box to reveal the glowing treasure!

Today, the Turnagain nugget is one of the Royal BC Museum’s prized display objects for the Gold Rush: El Eldorado in BC exhibition.