CANYON, Texas — An Amarillo historian will dig into his family’s history of treasure hunting in an upcoming lecture for West Texas A&M University’s Center for the Study of the American West.
David Lewis, a contract engineer for the U.S. Department of Energy and member of the West Texas Historical Society, will speak at 7 p.m. June 15 in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus.
Admission is free. A reception with light refreshments will begin at 6 p.m.
Lewis’ presentation, “The San Saba Treasure: The History Behind the Folklore,” is based on his 2018 book “The San Saba Treasure: Legends of Silver Creek.”
His book recounts a fabled 1868 search for a lost mine on the San Saba River, near modern-day Menard. The story was popularized in J. Frank Dobie’s “Coronado’s Children,” but Lewis—whose great-great-great-grandfather Sam Flemming was one of the four members of the hunt—finds the truth behind the legend.
“CSAW is pleased to present a lively and entertaining summer lecture—Texas history, buried treasure, and all the false trails that go with it,” said Dr. Alex Hunt, Vincent/Haley Endowed Professor of Western Studies and CSAW director. “I’m grateful to Mr. Lewis for his fine book and for coming to WT to let us have this fun event.”
CSAW was formed in the fall of 2016 with a mission of fostering the study of the American West at WT and building bridges between the University, the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, and the regional populace.
CSAW seeks to promote the American West both as a culturally unique region and as a product of broad historical forces.
For information about CSAW and upcoming events, visit wtamu.edu/csaw.
Promoting regional research is a key aim of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.
That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021— has raised more than $125 million and will continue through 2025
