About the Author
Clyde W. Blackburn’s interest in history and treasure hunting springs from a heritage passed down from a family of Western pioneers. Grandson of one of the first settlers on the plains of Western Kansas, his ancestry includes teamsters who guided wagon trains west following the Civil War; an Army scout during the Indian wars of the plains, and a gold seeker who was one of the founders of Tonopah, Nevada.
A lifetime resident of Western Kansas, he has devoted the last quarter century promoting the preservation of history, as a heritage that can be passed onto the next generations. His knowledge and unique insight into the people who settled the plains has been shared in hundreds of speeches and TV appearances, and as a contributing author to Kansas Territorial magazine he has furthered his reputation as a historian and treasure hunter.
His determination to search out and research these sites of historic interest, resulted in his buying his first metal detector... and from this grew his fascination with the instrument, and with the tracks of litter left by man on the plains. His discoveries have included artifacts from ancient Indian occupation; evidence establishing the routes of Spanish trails into the territory; remnants left by prospectors whose love affair with gold led them across the prairie; trappings of the plainsmen, and tools and other cherished properties of the pioneer. The vestiges of these visits provide a link with the past, and in their rediscovery, constitute an indelible imprint on the annals of the area.
Often referred to as a walking encyclopedia of Great Plains history, Clyde Blackburn has "practiced what he preaches," and his belief in the importance of history and its preservation has led him to establish historical societies and museums in many communities in the area. His enthusiasm also led to his being appointed to the Governor’s Board for the United States Bi-Centennial in 1976.