San Francisco's Great Diamond Hoax of 1872

San Francisco, California. When someone shares a secret, it rarely stays quiet. Just like a game of telephone, each person adds their own little extra detail, and the story grows bigger and more exciting with each new version. That is pretty much how rumors work, and it's exactly what happened in this case, too. Back in 1872, a whispered hint about diamonds, hidden somewhere in the American wilderness, started small. TIMELINE 1850: in the United States. 1865: it sank right off the coast here. 1872: a whispered hint about diamonds, hidden somewhere in the American wilderness, started small. 1898: in Bloomington, Illinois. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of San Francisco is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 155 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters If you liked this: Episode 88 (Crescent City, California) Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy